SOLAS 2026 Amendments: Lifting Appliances (II-1/3-13), PFOS Foam Ban, Container Loss & LSA Code Guide

Promulgated in the official IMO SOLAS Consolidated Edition 2024 — January 2026 Supplement (QH110E) and the LSA Code 2023 Edition — January 2026 Supplement (2QF982E), the 1 January 2026 regulatory cycle introduces mandatory convention rules covering deck/engine cranes and anchor handling winches, fire-fighting foam chemistry, bunker fuel flashpoint documentation, overboard container loss reporting, electronic inclinometers, ro-ro passenger fire safety, and survival craft lowering speeds.

Historically, shipboard cranes, derricks, hose-handling cranes, stores cranes and engine-room overhead cranes were governed by ILO Convention 152, national flag regulations (such as UK LOLER or Bahamas 1988 Lifting Regulations) and classification society rules rather than a direct SOLAS regulation. SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13 elevates lifting appliances, anchor handling winches (AHWs) and all associated loose gear (hooks, blocks, chains, shackles, swivels, slings and spreaders) into mandatory SOLAS scope:

• Scope & exclusions (Reg. II-1/3-13.1): Applies to all shipboard lifting appliances and anchor handling winches and their loose gear, except launching appliances for survival craft/rescue boats (SOLAS Ch. III), gangways and accommodation ladders (SOLAS II-1/3-9), pilot transfer arrangements (SOLAS V/23), and offshore mobile drilling/construction units. Administrations determine to what extent the design/construction rules apply to lifting appliances with a Safe Working Load (SWL) below 1,000 kg (Reg. II-1/3-13.1.3), though operational maintenance and inspection rules still apply across the board.
• Design, construction, load testing & thorough examination (Reg. II-1/3-13.2 & MSC.1/Circ.1663): Lifting appliances installed on or after 1 January 2026 must be designed, constructed and installed in accordance with classification society rules recognised by the Administration (Reg. II-1/3-13.2.1) and load-tested and thoroughly examined after installation and before being taken into service, and after any major repair or modification (Reg. II-1/3-13.2.2). Anchor handling winches installed on or after 1 January 2026 must meet MSC.1/Circ.1662 (Reg. II-1/3-13.2.3).
• Proof load test scale (MSC.1/Circ.1663): Under the IMO Guidelines for Lifting Appliances (MSC.1/Circ.1663), proof load testing before entry into service, after major structural repair, and at 5-yearly intervals uses the international proof load scale: for SWL under 20 t, proof load is 1.25 × SWL (+25%); for 20 t ≤ SWL ≤ 50 t, proof load is SWL + 5 tonnes; and for SWL over 50 t, proof load is 1.10 × SWL (+10%).
• Existing ship deadline (Reg. II-1/3-13.2.4 & .2.5): Lifting appliances and anchor handling winches installed before 1 January 2026 that lack compliant load-test and thorough-examination certification must be tested and thoroughly examined no later than the date of the first Cargo Ship Safety Construction / Passenger Ship Safety renewal survey on or after 1 January 2026.
• Annual thorough examination, Cargo Gear Register & SWL markings (Reg. II-1/3-13.3): Every lifting appliance and item of loose gear must be clearly marked with its SWL (and minimum operating radius / angle where variable), thoroughly examined by a Competent Person at least once every 12 months, and recorded in the Register of Ship's Lifting Appliances and Cargo Handling Gear (MSC.1/Circ.1663 Appendix 1).
• Inoperative lifting appliances or winches (Reg. II-1/3-13.4): If any lifting appliance, anchor handling winch or item of loose gear is inoperative or lacks valid testing/examination, it is not an automatic detention or off-hire ground provided the Master: (1) takes the inoperative lifting appliance, winch or loose gear out of service (physical lockout and prominent "DO NOT USE — OUT OF SERVICE" signage), (2) secures the appliance in its stowed sea-fastened position so it cannot affect the safe operation of the ship, and (3) records the defect, corrective precautions and planned repair in the deck logbook and SMS defect system.

Following the Stockholm Convention ban on persistent organic pollutants, SOLAS Regulation II-2/10.11 (and corresponding 1994/2000 HSC Code amendments MSC.536(107) & MSC.537(107)) bans fire-fighting foams containing perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts, and PFOS-related compounds:

• Threshold (10 mg/kg): Under Footnote 17 to Regulation II-2/10.11.1, extinguishing media containing PFOS means fire-extinguishing media in which PFOS is present in concentrations above 10 mg/kg (0.001% by weight / 10 ppm).
• Phase-out deadline (Reg. II-2/10.11.2): Prohibited upon delivery for ships constructed on or after 1 January 2026, and prohibited not later than the date of the first survey (annual, periodical or renewal) on or after 1 January 2026 for ships constructed before 1 January 2026.
• Scope, disposal & survey evidence (Reg. II-2/10.11.3): Applies to both fixed foam fire-extinguishing systems (deck foam tanks, machinery-space high/low-expansion foam tanks, helideck foam tanks) and portable foam applicators / extinguishers. Removed PFOS foam must be delivered to appropriate shore reception facilities with the reception receipt retained on board, and laboratory analysis reports or manufacturer declarations (≤ 10 mg/kg PFOS) must be filed inside your SOLAS II-2/14 Fire Maintenance Plan binder.

To prevent navigational hazards from floating containers and reduce parametric-rolling container losses, two major navigation amendments entered into force on 1 January 2026:

• Ship losing containers (SOLAS Reg. V/31.2.1 & V/32.3.1, MSC.550(108)): The Master of every ship involved in the loss of freight container(s) must communicate the particulars of such loss without delay and to the fullest extent possible to ships in the vicinity, to the nearest coastal State, and to the Flag State (which reports to the IMO via GISIS), followed by a confirmation report once the total number lost is verified. The message must state: (1) ship identity, UTC date/time and actual/estimated/en-route loss position, (2) total number of containers lost, (3) dangerous goods status (IMDG Class & UN number), (4) container dimensions/types and whether any were seen floating, and (5) wind, sea state, current and cargo spill details.
• Ship sighting drifting containers (SOLAS Reg. V/31.2.3 & V/32.3.2): The Master of any ship that observes freight container(s) drifting at sea must communicate the sighting (UTC date/time, position, total sighted, and descriptive details) to ships in the vicinity and to the nearest coastal State.
• Electronic Inclinometers on Container Ships & Bulk Carriers (SOLAS V/19.2.12, MSC.532(107)): Container ships and bulk carriers of ≥ 3,000 GT constructed on or after 1 January 2026 must be fitted with an electronic inclinometer (type-approved to IMO Res. MSC.363(92)) to determine, display and record the ship's roll motion and period to the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), and carry updated Record of Equipment Forms P, E or C.

Before every bunkering operation, verify your supplier's ISO 2719:2016 flashpoint declaration and BDN entries using the Bunkering & Fuel Changeover Checklist.