Watertight doors on passenger ships The revised Explanatory Notes to SOLAS Chapter II-1 include a new Explanatory Note to Regulation 17.3 regarding doors above the bulkhead deck for passenger ships. The purpose is to add clarity to the requirements for fire safety, watertightness and escape. The MSC 102 approved amendments to the associated MSC.1/Circ. 1572 regarding doors in watertight bulkheads of passenger ships and cargo ships. Non-SOLAS ships in polar waters Incidents in polar waters pose risks to human life, to the polar environment and to search and rescue operations. The IMO has initiated a phase 2 of the Polar Code to address safety measures also for non-SOLAS ships operating in polar waters. This has resulted in draft guidelines for fishing vessels of at least 24 metres in length and for non- commercial pleasure yachts above 300 GT. The MSC 102 agreed to develop safety guidelines for commercial yachts and for cargo ships between 300 and 500 GT, operating in polar waters.
