• Current International Maritime Organization (IMO) publication carriage requirements were approved by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC,) held from May 10 to 19, 2006 and the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC,) held from July 18 to 22, 2005, (See MSC-MEPC.2/Circ.2) and are detailed in Required Publications below.

• The MSC and MEPC shall review and update the list of required publications, as required.

• Instruments, such as Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS,) International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships (MARPOL,) Load Lines (LL,) the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) are concerned with many operational aspects, including: navigational responsibilities, safety and training drills, safe handling of cargo, prevention of oil spills, watchkeeping standards and collision avoidance measures. While not expressly required, these instruments may be necessary in order to enhance crew members' knowledge and the incorporation of required provisions.

         

• Many countries have national instruments, which incorporate required instruments; when such instruments are carried on board it is not necessary to carry required publications.

• Publications may be stored in electronic format, such as on a CD or hard drive, instead of carrying physical paper copies. Electronic publications must issued by the IMO or authorized administrations to prevent illegal copying and to ensure the completeness and accuracy of data. An electronic storage method may contain one publication or many: all data should be handled in accordance with Safety Management System (SMS) document control procedures regular updates.

• Publications for emergency use, such as the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual and the International Code of Signals should always be readily available in physical, paper form so that they may be readily accessed in emergency situations, including during power outages and so that they are not restricted in the physical space in which they may be accessed.                    

Required Publications

All publications on board vessels, in any of format, should be the most current edition or updated with the latest corrections. Unless stated otherwise, official digital publications are permitted. It is recommended however mariners consult with their respective flag state authority regularly on the use of digitized publications and their acceptance.

*E = Available in electronic format.

¹ Emergency use copies of these publications must always be readily available in physical, paper editions.

² Nautical Charts & Publications

1. Adequate charts for the intended voyage – up to date
2. Chart catalog – up to date
3. Admiralty Sailing Directions / NGA Sailing Directions
4. Admiralty List of Lights / NGA List of Lights
5. Notices to Mariners
6. Admiralty Tide Tables / NOAA Tide Tables
7. Mariners Handbook
8. Nautical Almanac
9. Navigational Tables
10. Admiralty List Of Radio Signals Volumes I to VI Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) / NGA Radio Aids
11. Tidal stream atlases
12. Ocean Passages for the World

The following table provides carriage guidance on international regulatory materials; easy access to which is useful for mariners on board vessels. It also provides guidance on appropriate listed publications in the vessel's SMS manual or relevant extracts from which that may be included in the SMS manual. The following are recommended publications in accordance with applicable international instruments for carriage on board vessels.

Recommended Publications

*E = Available in electronic format.

Note: No actions should be filed by control authorities from surveyors, port states and/or ISM code auditors for vessels, which do not carry these publications. Carriage of these publications is optional unless such publications are required by the ship's Administration and/or SMS manual. All publications on board ships must be the latest editions or updated with current information.

Disclaimer: American Nautical Services, Inc. assumes no responsibility for the accuracy and contents of this article.The information in this article has been provided for informational purposes only. Mariners should consult with their respective flag state authority, company administration, and safety management system (SMS) to ensure compliance with all current chart and publication carriage requirements on the domestic and international level.