Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) affecting many aspects of ship safety go into effect on July 1, including a new revised SOLAS chapter on fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction, amendments to chapters II-1, IX and X (to make a new High-Speed Craft Code mandatory) and record of equipment attached to safety certificates. A revised SOLAS chapter II-2 (Construction - Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction) enters into force, which also makes a new International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) mandatory. The revised chapter was developed over eight years by…