Members and owners to take note of new regulations, some of which takes place as early as 1 January 2026.New regulations that may affect your operations include:Life Saving Appliances (LSA) CodeLifeboats and rescue boats fitted with single-fall and hook systems are subject to similar risks of inadvertent release during recovery operations as those fitted with twin-fall and hook systems. As these systems are operated and tested in much the same way as twin-fall lifeboats, they should therefore be held to equivalent safety standards. In response, the IMO has adopted amendments to the LSA Code, which specify that hooks must not be capable of supporting any load unless they are fully reset and must not be able to release the boat unless it is completely waterborne.Minimum performance standards for life jackets have been enhanced for their in-water performance, ensuring that a lifejacket can turn the body of an unconscious person to a face-up position.The lowering speed of survival crafts and rescue boats has been revised to include a minimum and maximum speed limit. These limits are 1m/s (subject to height calculations) for the lower limit and 1.3m/s for the upper.The above amendments are all adopted by resolution MSC.554(108) and apply only to new lifejackets and boat installations, and not to existing equipment. The regulation is applicable to all cargo ships of 500 GT and above, and to passenger ships, where the LSA appliances are installed on or after 1 January 2026. Shipowners should ensure these new requirements are met and certified accordingly for any new LSA installed onboard.Anchor Handling WinchesNew requirements have been developed for anchor handling winches, as adopted by MSC.532(107). Winches installed on or after 1 January 2026, are required to be designed, constructed and installed in accordance with classification requirements. Guidelines are available using MSC.1/Circ.1662. A thorough examination and load test must be performed before the winch is used and permanently marked with a Safe Working Load (SWL). Existing winches are subject to the same examination and SWL markings and should be carried out no later than the first certificate renewal date in 2026.These changes are outlined further in our article here. Fire SafetyAmendments have been made to SOLAS Chapter II-2/20 which is applicable to all ships that are intended for the carriage of vehicles. These changes apply to new vehicle carriers from 1 January 2026, existing vehicle carriers must comply with some of the requirements no later than the first survey on or after 1 January 2028. MSC.550(108) outlines the changes, some of these are:Individually identifiable smoke and heat detector systemsFire detection and alarm system requirements for weather decks including safe distances from vehicle lanes to normally occupied areas.Video monitoring of vehicle spacesFixed water-based firefighting system requirements for weather decksIn addition, the Fire Safety Systems Code (FSS), has been amended with improvements to enhance fire safety for vehicle carriers. Impacting vessels constructed on or after 1 January 2026, and not existing vessels, this is outlined in MSC.555(108).Further amendments have been made to SOLAS Chapter II-2 which now prohibits the use of firefighting foams containing PFOS. This applies to new ships from 1 January 2026, existing ships must comply no later than the date of the next initial, annual, periodical or renewal survey for the vessels’ safety certificate (passenger or cargo) after 1 January 2026. This is further outlined in our article here.SOLAS regulation II-2/7.5.5 has been amended (MSC.550(108)) to extend fire detection requirements on cargo ships to additionally cover control stations, cargo control rooms and accommodation, these changes are only applicable to new ships constructed on or after 1 January 2026. As a consequence, corresponding amendments to the Unified Interpretations of SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the FSS and FTP Codes were