Amendments to IMO instruments: upcoming and recent entry into force/effective dates
Listed below are amendments expected to enter into force in the current year and forthcoming periods, in accordance with the amendment procedures set out in IMO instruments and the resolutions by which they have been adopted.
Where applicable, these dates may also refer to other specified “effective dates” as provided in the relevant instruments.
Date of entry into force/Effective date | Instruments and description of amendments | Resolutions |
|---|---|---|
1 Jan 2026 | SOLAS and IGC and IGF Code | |
SOLAS chapter II-2 in relation to flashpoint - amendments to SOLAS chapter II-2, intended to prevent the supply of oil fuel not complying SOLAS flashpoint requirements (60°C), enhancing the safety of ships using oil fuel. The amendments add new definitions and provisions to SOLAS regulation II-2/4 (Probability of ignition), including requiring that ships carrying oil fuel shall prior to bunkering be provided with a declaration signed and certified by the fuel oil supplier's representative that the oil fuel supplied is in conformity with regulation SOLAS II.2/4.2.1 and with the test method used for determining the flashpoint. | ||
SOLAS Protocol of 1978 - amendments to the 1978 SOLAS Protocol concern the Form of Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships, ensuring harmonization with the forms of certificates in the appendix (Certificates) to the annex to the 1974 SOLAS Convention, amended by resolution MSC.496(105) for consistency, as a result of the GMDSS modernization. | ||
IGC and IGF Code amendments: amendments to chapter 6 of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code); and to chapter 7 of the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) concern the application of high manganese austenitic steel for cryogenic service in cargo and fuel tanks of LNG carriers and LNG-fuelled ships. | ||
Amendments to Chapters II-2 and V of SOLAS 1974 | ||
Amendments to the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) | ||
Amendments to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code | ||
Amendments to the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) | ||
Amendments to the performance standard for protective coatings for dedicated seawater ballast tanks in all types of ships and double side skin spaces of bulk carriers (Resolution MSC.215(82), as amended) | ||
Amendments to the Requirements for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear (Resolution MSC.402(96)) | ||
Amendments to the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk (Resolution MSC.23 (59)) | ||
Amendments to the International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections during Surveys of Bulk carriers and Oil Tankers, 2011 | ||
Amendments to Chapters II-1, II-2, V and XIV and the appendix of SOLAS 1974 | ||
Amendments to the Performance standard for protective coatings for cargo oil tanks of crude oil tankers (Resolution MSC.288(87), as amended) | ||
Amendments to the appendix of SOLAS Protocol 1978 | ||
Amendments to the appendix of SOLAS Protocol 1988 | ||
Amendments to the International Code of Safety for High-speed Craft, 1994 (1994 HSC Code) | ||
Amendments to the International Code of Safety for High-speed Craft, 2000 (2000 HSC Code) | ||
1 Jan 2026 | LSA Code | |
Amendments to the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code (Amendment 07-23) | ||
Amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance Code (LSA Code) | ||
1 Jan 2026 | MARPOL | |
Amendments to Protocol I of the MARPOL Convention | ||
1 Jan 2026 | Polar Code | |
Amendments to the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) | ||
1 Mar 2026 | MARPOL | |
Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI (Designation of the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea as Emission Control Areas for Nitrogen Oxides, Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter, as appropriate) | ||
1 Jul 2026 | SOLAS and IGC and IGF Code | |
Amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) | ||
1 Sept 2026 | MARPOL | |
Amendments to the NOx Technical Code 2008 (Certification of an engine subject to substantial modification or being certified to a Tier to which the engine was not certified at the time of its installation) | ||
1 Mar 2027 | MARPOL | |
Amendments to the NOx Technical Code 2008 (Use of multiple engine operational profiles for a marine diesel engine, including clarifying engine test cycles) | ||
1 Jan 2028 | SOLAS and IGC and IGF Code | |
Amendments to Chapter II-1 of SOLAS 1974 | ||
Amendments to the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) |