Maritime Codes & Conventions: The Complete List
Complete list of maritime codes and conventions: ISM, IMDG, FSS, LSA, IMSBC, IBC, ISPS, NOx Code and SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, Load Line, Tonnage, Ballast Water Management and Antifouling.
1. Code vs Convention
- A CONVENTION is an international treaty agreed by governments at a conference — for example SOLAS or MARPOL. Once ratified and in force, it is binding.
- A CODE is a detailed technical rulebook giving the practical requirements that support a convention or flag-state regulation — for example the ISM Code or the IMDG Code.
- Some codes are made mandatory by being given force through a convention (e.g. ISM under SOLAS Chapter IX, ISPS under SOLAS Chapter XI-2).
Easy way to remember: the Convention says "what and why" (the treaty obligation); the Code says "how" (the technical detail used to comply).
2. The Codes
| Code | Full Name |
|---|---|
| ISM | International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention |
| IMDG | International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code |
| FSS | International Code for Fire Safety Systems |
| LSA | International Life-Saving Appliance Code |
| IMSBC | International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code |
| IBC | International Bulk Chemical Code |
| ISPS | International Ship and Port Facility Security Code |
| NOx Technical Code | Technical Code on Control of Emission of Nitrogen Oxides from Marine Diesel Engines |
Grouped by subject, the eight codes fall into three families: safety codes (ISM, FSS, LSA, ISPS), cargo codes (IMDG, IMSBC, IBC) and the emissions code (NOx Technical Code).
FSS and LSA belong together. FSS (fire safety systems) and LSA (life-saving appliances) are the two SOLAS codes covering the ship’s means of fighting a fire and abandoning the ship. Remember the pairing: FSS fights fire, LSA abandons ship.
3. The Conventions
| Convention | Full Name |
|---|---|
| SOLAS | International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea |
| MARPOL | International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships |
| STCW | International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers |
| Load Line | International Load Line Convention |
| Tonnage | International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships |
| BWM | International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments |
| AFS | International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships |
- SOLAS — International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.
- MARPOL — International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (marine pollution).
- STCW — International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers / Sea Farers.
- Load Line — International Load Line Convention.
- Tonnage — International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships.
- BWM — International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (Ballast Water Management).
- AFS — International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships (Antifouling).
4. Surveyor Asks — Memory Aid
Typical question: "Name the codes and conventions you know." Give each abbreviation with its full name, and if asked to expand, explain which convention gives the code its force (ISM/ISPS under SOLAS).
Answer by family, then expand each abbreviation: the pollution family (MARPOL, BWM, AFS), the safety family (SOLAS, ISM, FSS, LSA, ISPS), and cargo and people (IMDG, IMSBC, IBC, STCW).
| Group | Members |
|---|---|
| Pollution (MARPOL family) | MARPOL, BWM, AFS |
| Safety (SOLAS family) | SOLAS, Load Line, ISM, FSS, LSA, ISPS |
| Cargo | IMDG, IMSBC, IBC |
| People | STCW |
| Measurement | Tonnage |
| Emissions | NOx Technical Code |
Standards & sources referenced
- SOLAS: International standards for the safety of life at sea.
- MARPOL: International rules to prevent pollution from ships.
- STCW: International standards for seafarer training, certification and watchkeeping.
- ISM Code: The safety management code for ships and shipping companies.
- IMDG Code: Requirements for the safe carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form.
- Conventions index
Practise this in the question bank
- Certificates & Statutory Survey — 52 questions
- Human Element - MLC & STCW — 20 questions
Found a mistake, or something unclear?
Report it in a few seconds — it goes straight to the editors.
- Major Certificates & Documents to Carry On Board
- The Saturday Routine: Planned Maintenance Checks
- Dry-Docking: Preparation, Procedure & Survey
- Bunkering & Oil Transfer: Precautions & Procedures
- Conditions of Assignment of Freeboard
- Why Oil Tankers Have Less Freeboard
- Safety on Oxygen & Acetylene Bottles
- Tonnage Measurement: Gross & Net Tonnage
- Load Line: Marks, Letters & Conventions
- Loadicator / Loading Computer
- Difference Between Audit and Survey
- Emergency Generator: Testing & Requirements
- MGPS — Marine Growth Prevention / Anti-Fouling System
- Quick Closing Valve: Construction & Working
- How to Measure the Depth of the Ship (Echo Sounder)
- New Amendments (1 January 2013): SOLAS & MARPOL
- Ship Accommodation, Midship Section & Container Stowage
- Rudder: Construction, Types & Support
- Fuel Consumption & Speed Relationship
- Maritime Codes & Conventions: The Complete List
- STCW: The Convention & Its Eight Chapters
- Emergency Safeguards: Remote Fuel Shut-offs, Skylights & Fire Dampers