Jan 9

Key Maritime Regulatory Changes from 1 January 2026

1) Life Saving Appliances (LSA)

Primary instrument: LSA Code and SOLAS Chapter III
General effective date: 1 January 2026 (UK and international)
Lifeboats (ventilation)

Totally enclosed lifeboats must have the means to achieve a ventilation rate of at least 5 m³/h per person for 24 hours.

Annual thorough examinations must include checking the condition and operation of this ventilation system.

Although the amendment enters into force in 2026, the ventilation requirement applies to lifeboats installed on or after 1 January 2029.

Lifejackets

Lifejackets must turn an unconscious casualty into a safe orientation. The previous allowance for failure to right a person during testing is revoked.

Applies to equipment installed on or after 1 January 2026.

Release hooks and launching appliances

New design and use requirements for lifeboat/rescue boat release hooks are introduced to prevent inadvertent release.

Launching appliances now have a specified safe maximum and minimum lowering speed.

Applies to equipment installed on or after 1 January 2026.

2) Seafarer training (STCW)

Primary instrument: STCW Code Table A-VI/1-4 (PSSR)
Effective date: 1 January 2026

The PSSR course will include mandatory content on the prevention of violence and harassment, including bullying, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.

Applicability

New seafarers: Mandatory for those undertaking training on or after 1 January 2026.

Existing seafarers: Those holding valid PSSR certificates issued before this date do not need to retrain. Existing certificates remain valid indefinitely, though companies are strongly recommended to provide guidance on the new content.

3) Navigation equipment, navigation reporting, and incident reporting

A) Electronic inclinometers for new container ships and bulk carriers

This is a new requirement under SOLAS Regulation V/19.2.12 (Resolution MSC.532(107)) requiring the carriage of electronic inclinometers (or other means) on certain new ships, coming into force on 1 January 2026. 

Who it applies to

Containerships and bulk carriers of 3,000 gross tonnage and above, constructed on or after 1 January 2026, must be fitted with an electronic inclinometer (or other means) to determine, display and record the ship’s roll motion. 

It does not apply to existing bulk carriers and container ships, nor to cargo ships occasionally carrying cargo in bulk and general cargo ships carrying containers on deck. 

Performance standard

Performance standards for electronic inclinometers are contained in Resolution MSC.363(92). 

Certification/records

“Containership” will be recorded as a ship type option on the SOLAS Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships, and the electronic inclinometer will be recorded under Section 3 (“Details of navigational systems and equipment”) in the Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate (Form E).


UK implementation note (as stated in the MGN)

The Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2020 include an ambulatory reference provision, meaning that from 1 January 2026 Resolution MSC.532(107) enters into UK law through that ambulatory reference provision. 

B) Loss of freight containers (Danger Messages)

Primary instrument: SOLAS Chapter V
Effective date: 1 January 2026

Masters of ships involved in the loss of freight containers must report the incident to nearby ships, the nearest coastal State, and the flag State.

Masters observing drifting containers must also report them.

Reports must include the position, number of containers, and whether dangerous goods are involved.

UK implementation note (from your original text): while internationally binding on 1 January 2026, the current UK “ambulatory reference” in the 2020 Regulations does not automatically capture this specific change.

New UK regulations are expected by the end of 2026 to formalise this, but the international requirement remains.

C) Pollution reporting alignment

Primary instrument: MARPOL Protocol 1
Effective date: 1 January 2026

MARPOL Protocol 1 has been amended to align with the SOLAS changes. If a container loss involves harmful substances, the report must follow the specific Danger Message requirements outlined in SOLAS Regulations V/31 and V/32.

4) Carriage of Cargoes

Primary instruments: International Grain Code, IGC Code, IMSBC Code

A) International Grain Code

Effective date: 1 January 2026

A new class of loading condition is introduced for a “specially suitable compartment, partly filled in way of the hatch opening, with ends untrimmed”.

These compartments are exempt from certain trimming requirements if filled to a level equal to or above the bottom edge of hatch end beams, and specific calculations for heeling moments apply.

B) IGC Code (liquefied gases)

Effective date: 1 January 2026 (material) and 1 July 2026 (fuel)

From 1 January 2026, high manganese austenitic steel is permitted for cargo tanks and piping for temperatures down to -165°C.

From 1 July 2026, the code permits toxic cargoes (identified in column “f” of chapter 19) to be used as fuel, provided they meet safety levels equivalent to natural gas (methane) and receive Administration approval.

C) IMSBC Code (solid bulk cargoes)

Effective date: 1 January 2027 (mandatory) and 1 January 2026 (voluntary)

Amendment 08-25 adds new schedules (including Aluminium Sulphate Granular, Fish Meal Stabilized, and Iron Ore Briquettes) and includes clarifications (including updates to “Castor Beans” and “Fish Meal” schedules).

Transitional period: between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2026, ships may use either the 2023 Edition (07-23) or the 2025 Edition (08-25).