TECHNICAL PUBLICATION

IMO requirements on carriage of

publications on board ships

MARCH 2019
CONTENT
introduction

publications on bard ships

additional publications

updated list of publications

bibliography
Technical Publication
INTRODUCTION
The Maritime Safety Committee together with Marine Environmental Protection Committee provided
requirements on carriage of publications on board ships (refer to MSC-MEPC.2/CIRC.2 issued on June 01,
2006).

The Committees review and update the list of required publications, whenever is required.
Technical Publication
PUBLICATIONS ON BOARD SHIPS
The publications listed on the table below are explicitly required by IMO instruments and shall always be
carried on board.

Publication Required by Applicability Remarks

Chemical
IBC Code IBC, par. 16.2.1 Built after July 01, 1986
Tankers
Chemical
BCH Code BCH, par. 5.2.1 Built after July 01, 1986
Tankers
IGC Code ICG, par. 18.1.3 Gas Carrier Built after July 01, 1986
International Code of Signals SOLAS V/21.1 All ships
IAMSAR Manual Volume III SOLAS V/21.2 All ships
Nautical Charts & SOLAS V/19.2.1 &
All ships
Publications V/27
Required publications are those
Publications required by ISM ISM Code, par. specifically mentioned to be
All ships
Code 1.2.3 & 11.3 carried by the ship’s SMS
manual

The International Code of Signals and the IAMSAR Manual Volume III shall always be carried on board the
vessel in the form of a hard copy since both publications are for emergency use. All publications regardless
the format, should be the latest editions or duly corrected up to date. In case where copies of national
regulations incorporating the provisions of the required instruments are provided on board, publications of
such instruments need not to be carried on board.

ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Other IMO publications such as the SOLAS, MARPOL, LL, COLREG and STCW Conventions shall also be
carried on board either in hard copy or electronic format. As stated in IMO guidelines: “These publications,
although not expressly required by IMO instruments, may need to be carried on board in order to improve
the crew’s knowledge and to enhance the implementation of IMO instruments”.
Technical Publication
UPDATED LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
The table below includes the updated list of publications. Although the table includes the latest editions, ship
owners, managers and operators must always review and ensure that the latest publications are carried on
board.
IMO Publication
SOLAS Consolidated Edition as
Amended
ILO/IMO/WHO International
Medical Guide for Ships
International Ship Port Facility
Security Code (ISPS Code)
Guide to Maritime Security and
the ISPS Code
International Safety
Management Code (ISM Code)
International Code for Fire Safety
Systems (FSS Code)
International Maritime
Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG
Code)
International Maritime
Dangerous Goods Code
Supplement (IMDG Code
Supplement)
International Maritime Solid Bulk
Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code) and
supplement
International Code on the
enhanced programme of
inspections during surveys of
bulk carriers and oil tankers
International Code for the Safe
Carriage of Grain in Bulk
(International Grain Code)
Code of Safe Practice for ships
carrying Timber Deck Cargoes,
2011
Type of ship that is
Remarks
applicable
Latest Consolidated Edition 2014. Older
editions shall also be carried on board
All ships
depending on the year of build of
corresponding vessel.
All ships 3rd Edition
Latest Edition 2012. The ISPS Code 2003
All ships
Edition I116E) is still valid.
All ships Latest Edition 2012
Latest Edition 2018 which includes guidelines
All ships
on implementation of the ISM Code
All ships Latest Edition 2015
All ships provided with a
Document of Compliance
with the Special Latest edition 2018 which includes amendment
Requirements for Ships 39-18
Carrying Dangerous
Goods
All ships provided with a
Document of Compliance
with the Special
Latest Edition 2018
Requirements for Ships
Carrying Dangerous
Goods
All ships provided with a
Certificate of Compliance
Latest Edition 2018 incorporating amendments
with the International
04-17
Maritime Solid Bulk
Cargoes Code
Bulk Carriers and Oil
Latest Edition 2013
Tankers
All ships provided with
Document of
Latest Edition 1991
Authorization for Carriage
of Grain
All ships carrying timber
Latest Edition 2011
deck cargoes
Technical Publication
Type of ship that is
IMO Publication Remarks
applicable

Code of Safe Practice for Cargo

Stowage and Security (CSS All ships Latest Edition 2011
Code)
International Convention for safe
Container ships Latest Edition 2014
containers 1972 (CSC 1972)
Nairobi International Convention
All ships Latest Edition 2008
on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007
BLU Code Bulk Carriers Latest Edition 2011 including BLU Manual
MARPOL 73/78 All ships Latest Consolidated Edition 2017
MARPOL 73/78 Annex VI and
All ships Latest Edition 2017
NOx Code
International Safety Guide for Oil
Oil Tankers Latest Edition 5th
Tankers and Terminals (ISGOTT)
Tanker Safety Guide (Liquified
LNG Tankers 2nd 1995 edition
Gas)
ICS Tanker Safety Guide
Chemical Tankers 4th 2014 Edition
(Chemicals)
Nairobi International Convention
All ships Latest Edition 2008
on the removal of wrecks 2007
All ships provided with
Antifouling Convention 2001 Antifouling Certificate or Latest Edition 2005
Statement of Compliance
International Medical Guide for
All ships Latest Edition 3rd
ships
International Convention on Civil
Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution All ships Latest Edition 2004
Damage, 2001
Civil Liability for Oil Pollution All ships that carry oil in
Latest Edition 1996
Damage bulk as cargo
Navtex Manual All ships Latest Edition 2017
Ballast Water Management
Convention and the guidelines All ships Latest Edition 2018
for its implementation
International Convention on
All ships Latest Edition 2011
Load Lines, 1966
International Convention on
Tonnage Measurement of Ships, All Ships Latest Edition 1969
1969
International Code for the All ships provided with
Construction and Equipment of Certificate of Fitness for
Latest Edition 2016
ships carrying Dangerous the Carriage of Dangerous
Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code) Chemicals in Bulk
All ships provided with
Code for the Construction and Document of Compliance
Equipment of ships carrying with the Special
Latest Edition 2008
dangerous chemicals in bulk Requirements for Ships
(BCH Code) Carrying Chemicals in
Bulk
Convention on the International All Ships Latest Consolidated Edition 2003
Technical Publication
Type of ship that is
IMO Publication Remarks
applicable

Regulations for preventing

collisions at sea, 1972 (COLREG
1972)
Maritime Labour Convention All ships Latest Edition 2006
International Convention on
Liability and Compensation for
All ships that carry
damage in connection with the
hazardous and noxious Latest Edition 2013
carriage of hazardous and
substances
noxious substances at sea (HNS
Convention)
International Code for the All ships provided with
Construction and Equipment of Certificate of Fitness for
Latest Edition 1993
ships carrying Liquefied Gases in the carriage of liquefied
Bulk (IGC Code) gases in bulk
Ships’ Routeing All ships Latest Edition 2017
International Convention on
standards of training, All ships with
certification and watchkeeping exception to fishing Latest Edition 2017
for seafarers, 1978 (STCW vessels
1978)
STCW - F 95 Fishing Vessels 1996 Edition
International Life-saving
All ships Latest Edition 2017
appliances code (LSA Code)
International Aeronautical and
Maritime Search and Rescue
All ships Latest Edition 2016
Manual (IAMSAR Manual)
Volume III – Mobile Facilities
International Code of Signals All Ships Latest Edition 2005
Notice to Mariners All ships Weekly Updated Edition
Admiralty Chart Catalogue All ships Latest Edition 2016
Nautical Almanac Browns All ships Latest Edition 2016
Admiralty sailing directions All ships Latest Edition vary based on the coverage area
Admiralty Tide Tables All ships Latest Edition vary based on the coverage area
Admiralty List of Lights All ships Latest Edition vary based on the coverage area
Admiralty List of Radio signal All ships Latest Edition vary based on the coverage area
Procedures for Port State Control All ships Latest Edition 2018
ITU List of Coast Stations All ships Latest Edition 2015
ITU List of Ship Stations All ships Latest Edition 2015
ITU List of Radiodetermination
All ships Latest Edition 2008
and Special Service station
ITU List of Call Signs and
Numerical Identities of Stations
used by the Maritime Mobile & All ships Latest Edition 2009
Maritime Mobile Satellite
Services
ITU Manual for use by the
All ships Latest Edition 2013
Maritime & Maritime Mobile
Technical Publication
Type of ship that is
IMO Publication Remarks
applicable

Satellite Services
Global Maritime Distress and
Safety System Manual (GMDSS
Manual)
Bridge Procedures Guide
IMO Standard Marine
Communication Phrases (SMCP)
High Speed Craft (1994 HSC)
MODU Code 2009
MODU Code 2001
Code of Safe Practice for the
Carriage of Cargoes & Persons
by Offshore Supply Vessels
(OSV)
Polar water guidelines
Best Management Practices
(BIMCO)
ICS Guide to helicopter/ship
operations
All ships Latest Edition 2017
All Ships 5th Edition
Applicable to all vessels to
which SOLAS chapter I 2004 Edition
applies
High Speed Craft
Constructed on and after
1994 Edition
January 1, 1996 and
before July 1, 2002.
Mobile offshore drilling
unit
2009 Edition
Constructed on and after
Jan 1, 2012
Mobile offshore drilling
unit
2001 Edition
Constructed on before Jan
1, 2012
Offshore supply vessels 2001 Edition
Vessels sailing in Polar
2010 Edition
areas
Vessels sailing trough
areas with piracy activity 5th Edition
reported
Vessels involved in
4th 2009 Edition
helicopter operations
Technical Publication
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Listing of Current IMO Publications at 13 Feb 2019 [IMO].
2. American Nautical Services [https://www.amnautical.com/blogs/news/17586460-imo-
publication-carriage-requirements-on-board-vessels#.XJNWUiIzaUk]