The complete structured reference for international maritime regulations — organized by vessel type, flag, class, tonnage, and cargo. Instantly identify what applies, what is mandatory, and what has changed.
Each vessel hub consolidates all applicable international conventions, flag requirements, class rules, certificates, surveys, and crewing obligations.
Enter your vessel parameters and instantly retrieve the applicable regulations, required certificates, and compliance obligations.
A bulk carrier is defined under SOLAS Chapter XII Regulation 1 as a ship constructed with a single deck, top-side tanks and hopper side tanks in cargo spaces, intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk. This definition captures Handysize, Supramax, Panamax, Kamsarmax, Capesize, and VLOC categories.
All instruments below are applicable to bulk carriers engaged on international voyages. Conventions are listed with their relevant chapter or annex for this vessel type.
The primary convention for ship safety. Bulk carriers are subject to most chapters, with Chapter XII providing bulk carrier-specific structural requirements.
Environmental obligations for all seagoing ships. Bulk carriers must comply with multiple Annexes depending on cargo, size, and trade area.
The comprehensive seafarers' rights and welfare instrument. Applies to all ships of 500 GT or above operating internationally.
Crew training and certification standards. The Manila Amendments (2010) updated requirements. Specific bulk carrier endorsements may be required.
Governs the freeboard and stability requirements for cargo ships on international voyages. All bulk carriers above 24m must comply.
Requires bulk carriers to manage ballast water to prevent transfer of invasive species. D-2 standard now applies to all ships.
The table below shows all certificates required for a bulk carrier ≥ 500 GT engaged on international voyages. Some certificates are conditional on tonnage, equipment, or cargo.
| Certificate | Issuing Authority | Validity | GT Threshold | Survey Interval | Convention | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Safety Construction Certificate (CSC) SOLAS Chapter I |
Flag State / RO | 5 years | ≥ 500 GT | Annual + Renewal | SOLAS | Mandatory |
Safety Equipment Certificate (CSE) SOLAS Chapter III & IV |
Flag State / RO | 5 years | ≥ 500 GT | Annual | SOLAS | Mandatory |
Safety Radio Certificate (CSR) SOLAS Chapter IV |
Flag State | 1 year | ≥ 300 GT | Annual | SOLAS | Mandatory |
International Load Line Certificate (ILLC) LL Conv. 1966/1988 Protocol |
Flag State / RO | 5 years | All | Annual | Load Line | Mandatory |
International Oil Pollution Prevention Cert. (IOPP) MARPOL Annex I |
Flag State / RO | 5 years | ≥ 400 GT | Annual + Intermediate | MARPOL | Mandatory |
Document of Compliance (DOC) ISM Code |
Flag State | 5 years | ≥ 500 GT (Company) | Annual | ISM Code | Mandatory |
Safety Management Certificate (SMC) ISM Code |
Flag State / RO | 5 years | ≥ 500 GT | Intermediate (2.5yr) | ISM Code | Mandatory |
International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) ISPS Code |
Flag State / RSO | 5 years | ≥ 500 GT (international) | Intermediate (2.5yr) | ISPS Code | Mandatory |
Maritime Labour Certificate (MLC) MLC 2006 |
Flag State / RO | 5 years | ≥ 500 GT | Intermediate (2.5yr) | MLC 2006 | Mandatory |
International Ballast Water Mgmt Certificate BWM Convention 2004 |
Flag State / RO | 5 years | All (international) | Annual + Renewal | BWM Conv. | Mandatory |
Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR) SOLAS Ch. XI-1 Reg. 5 |
Flag State | Permanent | ≥ 500 GT | On change | SOLAS | Mandatory |
Minimum Safe Manning Certificate SOLAS Ch. V Reg. 14 |
Flag State | Variable | ≥ 500 GT | On change | SOLAS | Mandatory |
Garbage Management Plan & Record Book MARPOL Annex V |
Company / Ship | Ongoing | ≥ 100 GT | Continuous | MARPOL | Mandatory |
Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) with CII MARPOL Annex VI Reg. 22A |
Ship / Class | Annual review | ≥ 5,000 GT | Annual | MARPOL | Mandatory |
Carried out each year (within 3-month window of anniversary date). Hull, machinery, equipment, fire safety systems, and load line condition examined. Any outstanding class conditions must be resolved.
LSA and fire-fighting equipment inspected annually. EPIRB, SART, immersion suits, lifeboat release systems, and pyrotechnics verified. Service intervals must be confirmed.
SMC, ISSC, and MLC certificate intermediate verifications conducted between 2nd and 3rd anniversary. Internal audit records, drill records, and corrective action register reviewed.
Comprehensive hull, structural, and machinery examination. All sea chests, stern tube, rudder, anchoring, and cargo hold coatings assessed. ESP (Enhanced Survey Programme) applies to bulk carriers over 5 years old.
Applies to bulk carriers ≥ 500 GT over 5 years old. Close-up surveys of structural members, tank and void space thickness measurements, coating assessment. Timing tied to Special Survey cycle.
BWTS operational efficiency verified against approved test methods. Ballast Water Record Book checked. Biological efficacy sampling may be conducted by PSC.
For bulk carriers ≥ 150m, hatch cover weathertightness and structural integrity assessed. Hose and ultrasonic testing required at annual and Special Surveys. Class requirements may be more onerous than the statutory minimum.
SOLAS Ch. V Reg. 14 requires every ship to have a Minimum Safe Manning Document issued by the flag state. The document specifies the minimum number and qualifications of officers and crew.
STCW Section A-V/1-1 requires all masters, officers, and ratings assigned duties on bulk carriers to complete approved familiarisation and basic safety training.
The Maritime Labour Convention establishes minimum working and living standards for seafarers. Key requirements for bulk carriers include:
Each flag state implements IMO instruments through national legislation and may impose additional requirements. Select a flag below for specific obligations.
Classification societies set structural, mechanical, and equipment standards for bulk carriers, in addition to acting as Recognized Organizations (ROs) on behalf of flag states for statutory survey work.
| Instrument | Type | Status | Applies To | Entered Into Force | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SOLAS — International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea IMO SOLAS 1974 (as amended) |
Convention | In Force | All Ships ≥ 500 GT (international) | 25 May 1980 | View → |
MARPOL 73/78 — Prevention of Pollution from Ships IMO MARPOL 1973/78 (consolidated) |
Convention | In Force | All Ships (varies by Annex) | 02 Oct 1983 | View → |
MLC 2006 — Maritime Labour Convention ILO MLC 2006 (as amended) |
Convention | In Force | Ships ≥ 500 GT (international) | 20 Aug 2013 | View → |
STCW Convention and Code (Manila Amendments 2010) IMO STCW 1978 / 2010 Manila Amendments |
Convention | In Force | All Seafarers | 01 Jan 2012 | View → |
ISM Code — International Safety Management Code IMO Res. A.741(18) — SOLAS Ch. IX |
Code | In Force | Ships ≥ 500 GT (international), HSC | 01 Jul 1998 | View → |
ISPS Code — International Ship and Port Facility Security Code IMO SOLAS Ch. XI-2, ISPS Code 2002 |
Code | In Force | Ships ≥ 500 GT (international) | 01 Jul 2004 | View → |
IMSBC Code — International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes IMO Res. MSC.268(85) (mandatory under SOLAS) |
Code | In Force | Bulk Carriers (all sizes) | 01 Jan 2011 | View → |
IBC Code — International Bulk Chemical Code IMO Res. MSC.4(48) / MEPC.19(22) (mandatory) |
Code | In Force | Chemical Tankers (built 1986+) | 01 Jul 1986 | View → |
Polar Code — International Code for Ships in Polar Waters IMO Res. MSC.385(94) / MEPC.264(68) |
Code | In Force | Ships operating in Polar Waters | 01 Jan 2017 | View → |
BWM Convention — Ballast Water Management IMO BWM Convention 2004 (D-2 standard) |
Convention | In Force | All Ships in Ballast (international) | 08 Sep 2017 | View → |
EEXI — Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index MARPOL Annex VI Reg. 23 — MSC/MEPC.1/Circ.795 |
Regulation | In Force | Ships ≥ 400 GT | 01 Nov 2022 | View → |
CII Carbon Intensity Indicator — Rating System MARPOL Annex VI Reg. 28 — MEPC.338(76) |
Regulation | In Force | Ships ≥ 5,000 GT | 01 Nov 2022 | View → |
Hong Kong Convention — Ship Recycling IMO Hong Kong Convention 2009 (SR/CONF/45) |
Convention | Upcoming — 26 Jun 2025 | Ships ≥ 500 GT | 26 Jun 2025 | View → |
AFS Convention — Anti-Fouling Systems IMO AFS Convention 2001 — Res. MEPC.102(48) |
Convention | In Force | All Ships ≥ 400 GT | 01 Sep 2008 | View → |
Each flag page covers national implementation of IMO instruments, additional circulars, certification requirements, and the relevant Recognized Organization (RO) arrangements.
MaritimeLex is a structured regulatory intelligence platform designed for shipowners, technical managers, DPAs, masters, superintendents, auditors, and crewing departments who need fast, accurate answers about vessel-specific regulatory obligations.
Unlike static document libraries, MaritimeLex organizes every regulation against vessel parameters — type, tonnage, flag, class, cargo, and build date — so users retrieve only what is relevant to their ship.
This platform is built on WordPress with the following technical architecture:
Regulations, Vessel Types, Flags, Class Societies, Certificates, Surveys, FAQs — each as independent, searchable content types with full ACF field sets.
Convention, Vessel Category, Regulation Status, Applicability Tags, Cargo Type, GT Band, Flag, Class — enabling multi-dimensional filtering.
Semantic, filtered, and natural-language search with synonym support, FAQ indexing, and cross-linked entries. Supports vessel-specific queries.
Wizard-driven vessel profiling queries the CPT database for applicable instruments based on GT, DWT, flag, class, and build date — displaying only relevant results.
Python/Node scrapers monitor IMO, flag, and class websites. AI-assisted classification and summary generation. Human review queue before publication. Full version history maintained.