Safety of Life at Sea Treaty Law and Legal Definition
Safety of Life at Sea Treaty (SOLAS) is an international treaty promoting the safety of life at sea. The first SOLAS treaty was concluded in 1914, two years after the Titanic disaster, which was followed by additions of provisions in 1920, 1930, 1939, 1948, 1960 and 1974. SOLAS applies only to shipping in high seas and does not cover warships, small cargo ships, fishing vessels and sail boats. The member states are obligated to certify that ships using its ports comply with SOLAS. SOLAS endeavors to promote maritime safety by inspecting ship construction, specifying load limits and standardizing the handling of freight containers.
