1914–1974: International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

The International Convention of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) in its successive forms is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships.

1914

• The Titanic disaster catalyzed the implementation of SOLAS, the first international maritime treaty. The Convention established regulations and policies for international safety standards on the water. Its progress was soon halted due to the start of World War I.

1929

• The second SOLAS Convention was adopted, completing some of the work from 1914, particularly on fire safety on board ships.

1948

• Following the United Nations conference in Geneva, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is established, a permanent international body promoting maritime safety and governing SOLAS. A major finding of the convention was the importance of airway protection for life jackets.
• The IMO was known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) until 1982.

1960

• The Fourth Convention established requirements for approved life jackets to be carried for all passengers, including children, It also permitted inflatables to be used by crew on noon-passenger vessels. The most notable requirement was that the life jacket had to be to turn a body in the water to a safe floating position.

1974

• The current SOLAS convention was adopted. It created a new amendment procedure that allowed for continuing amendments. One of several amendments since then is SOLAS Chapter III: Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements, which describes requirements for lifeboats, rescue boats, and life jackets according to the type of ship.
• The International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code provides more specific technical requirements for the manufacturing, testing, maintenance, and recordkeeping of life-saving appliances. The number, capacity, and type of life-saving appliances differ from ship to ship, depending on the size, shipping activity, and voyage, The LSA Code stipulates minimum compliance requirements to make a ship safe for its passengers and crew.