SOLAS 2022 Corrections: What Shipping Companies and Shipowners Must Review

Key data

If your company operates vessels under the Spanish flag or is subject to Spanish law, the version of the SOLAS 2022 amendments you must apply has changed. The BOE of 31 March 2026 publishes the corrigendum to the 2022 Amendments to the 1988 Protocol of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS 1974), adopted through Resolution MSC.497(105) in London on 28 April 2022.

These are not new substantive obligations, but technical corrections affecting the wording of on-board safety requirements. However, from the moment of publication, the corrected version is the applicable standard. Any internal procedure based on the previous version may be outdated.

What does this regulation establish?

This BOE publication formalises the incorporation into Spanish law of the technical corrections to the 2022 amendments to the 1988 Protocol of the SOLAS Convention. The SOLAS Convention (Safety of Life at Sea) is the main international instrument regulating safety standards on board merchant vessels.

The corrections are technical in nature: their purpose is to ensure the correct application of the safety requirements already established in the 2022 amendments, not to expand or reduce them. In other words, drafting or transcription errors that could create ambiguity in the practical application of the standard are being corrected.

The affected regulatory framework can be summarised as follows:

• Base convention: SOLAS 1974 (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea)
• Applicable protocol: 1988 Protocol relating to the SOLAS Convention
• Corrected amendments: 2022 Amendments, adopted through Resolution MSC.497(105)
• Place and date of adoption: London, 28 April 2022
• Incorporation into Spanish law: BOE of 31 March 2026, reference BOE-A-2026-7294

Publication in the BOE is the legal act that makes these corrections binding in Spain. From that moment, the corrected version supersedes the previous one in any inspection, audit or administrative procedure.

Economic and operational impact

As these are technical corrections rather than new substantive obligations, the direct economic impact cannot be quantified from the data available in the publication. No new fees, specific penalties or adaptation deadlines with associated costs are established.

However, the operational impact is real and must be managed:

• Documentary review: Safety manuals, on-board procedures and technical documentation that explicitly reference the 2022 amendments must be updated to reflect the corrected version.
• Inspection risk: Maritime authorities and classification bodies will apply the corrected version in their inspections. Operating with procedures based on the previous version may generate observations or non-conformities.
• Safety audits: Companies subject to Safety Management System (SMS) audits under the ISM Code must ensure their reference documents are up to date.
• Update costs: These will depend on the size of the fleet and the number of affected procedures. The publication contains no data to allow generic quantification.

Who is affected?

The regulation directly affects all entities operating under the SOLAS Convention and the 1988 Protocol within the Spanish legal order:

• Shipowners with vessels under the Spanish flag or subject to inspection by Spanish authorities
• Shipping companies managing fleets of merchant vessels on domestic and international routes
• Maritime transport companies operating under SOLAS standards
• Vessel operators responsible for the Safety Management System (SMS) in accordance with the ISM Code
• Classification societies and recognised organisations carrying out inspections and certifications under SOLAS
• Legal and technical advisors in the maritime sector advising on regulatory compliance

Practical example

A Spanish shipping company operating three general cargo vessels under the SOLAS Convention has implemented a Safety Management System (SMS) in accordance with the ISM Code. Its on-board safety procedures make explicit reference to the 2022 amendments adopted through Resolution MSC.497(105).

Following the publication of this corrigendum in the BOE on 31 March 2026, the version of the amendments applied in its procedures may contain the technical errors that are now being corrected. If the shipping company is subject to an inspection by the Spanish Maritime Administration or a renewal audit of the Document of Compliance (DOC), the inspector will apply the corrected version as the reference.

The specific action this shipping company must take is to review its documented procedures, identify whether any of them reference the corrected sections, and update the documentation before the next scheduled inspection or audit. The cost of this review will depend on the complexity of the SMS and the number of vessels affected, but it is an internal management cost, not a direct fee or penalty.

What should companies do now?

1. Locate the corrected version: Access the official text published in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-7294) and obtain the corrected version of the 2022 amendments to Resolution MSC.497(105).
2. Audit internal documentation: Review all procedures, safety manuals and SMS documents that reference the 2022 amendments to the 1988 Protocol of the SOLAS Convention.
3. Identify discrepancies: Compare internal documentation with the corrected version to detect which sections or references need to be updated.
4. Update and record changes: Amend the affected documents and record the change with a date, in accordance with the ISM Code requirements on document control.
5. Communicate to crew and officers: Ensure that on-board personnel responsible for implementing safety procedures are aware of the updated version.
6. Confirm the entry into force date: Since the publication does not specify an entry into force date, consult the Dirección General de la Marina Mercante or the competent authority to confirm the exact application deadline.
7. Coordinate with the classification society: Inform the classification or recognised organisation managing the vessel's certifications so that it is aware of the regulatory update at the next inspections.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7294