IMSML Website Article 1/2026: Resolution MSC.549(108) - Amendments to Chapter II-1 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974

Kicking off 2026 is a series of about a dozen articles catching up with Resolutions Adopted by the International Maritime Organisation’s 108th Session of its Maritime Safety Committee (MSC108). In particular, these series of Resolutions which commences with Resolution MSC.549(108), was introduced into this country via Malaysian Shipping Notice (MSN) 06/2024, issued on 16 October 2024.

Today’s short article is on Amendments to Chapter II-1 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 which was made through Resolution MSC.549(108), will enter into force on 1 January 2028. It is a new requirement for all new ships other than tankers, of not less than 20,000 GT to be fitted with emergency towing arrangements. In short, the amendment requires ships to have towing devices to facilitate emergency assistance and towing operations.

What are the arrangements for ships (other than tankers) of not less than 20,000 gross tonnage?

It is mandatory for emergency towing arrangements to be fitted on such ships, if constructed on or after 1 January 2028, see Section 2.1. Note that this is part of a new Section 2 that has been added after an existing Section 1 (ie emergrency towing arrangements on tankers).

What are the characteristics of these towing arrangements?

[1] Capable of rapid deployment in the absence of main power on the ship to be towed and easy connection to the towing ship, see Section 2.2.1;

[2] Be of adequate strength taking into account the size of the ship, and the expected forces during bad weather conditions, see Section 2.2.2;

[3] Approval by IMO of the design and construction, including prototype testing of emergency towing arrangements, see Section 2.2.2.

Thank you for reading IMSML Website Article 1/2026

Stay tuned for the next IMSML Website Article 2/2026: Resolution MSC.550(108) - Amendments to Chapter II-2 and V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974

Signing-off for today,

Dr Irwin Ooi Ui Joo, LL.B(Hons.)(Glamorgan); LL.M (Cardiff); Ph.D (Cardiff); CMILT

Professor of Maritime and Transport Law

Faculty of Law

Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam

Selangor, Malaysia

Tuesday, 6 January 2026

Note that I am the corresponding author for the IMSML Website Articles. My official email address is: uijoo310@uitm.edu.my