Regulation library

Findings in a ShipCheckAI report cite paragraph numbers of the publications below. The publications themselves belong to their publishers: each row links to the official source, and nothing here is a copy of it. We check for new editions every week, and a rule is re-verified before it is served against a new one.

Current rulebook release: rulebook@2026.43 · 110 rules in force

Showing what applies to yacht (commercial) under the British Virgin Islands flag, with the international instruments every ship meets.

Conventions and codes

Read through their own publishers; IMO texts are referenced and paraphrased, never copied.

International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM), 2004
Open official source ↗
IMO · 2018 Edition · in force 8 Sept 2017
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force
International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC), 1992 Protocol
Open official source ↗
IMO · 1992 Protocol · in force 30 May 1996
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force
International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code)
Open official source ↗
IMO · 2026 Edition · in force 1 Jul 2002
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force
Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152)
Open official source ↗
ILO
© ILO — link only · checked by hand · 1 rule in force
International Safety Management (ISM) Code
Open official source ↗
IMO · 2018 Edition · in force 1 Jul 1998
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 3 rules in force
International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code
Open official source ↗
IMO · 2003 Edition · in force 1 Jul 2004
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force
International Convention on Load Lines, 1966
Open official source ↗
IMO · 2021 Edition · in force 21 Jul 1968
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 7 rules in force
International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code
Open official source ↗
IMO · 2023 Edition
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force
MARPOL Annex I - Prevention of pollution by oil
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2022 · in force 2 Oct 1983
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 7 rules in force
MARPOL Annex IV - Prevention of pollution by sewage from ships
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2022 · in force 2 Oct 1983
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 2 rules in force
MARPOL Annex V - Prevention of pollution by garbage from ships
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2022 · in force 2 Oct 1983
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force
MARPOL Annex VI - Prevention of air pollution from ships
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2022 · in force 2 Oct 1983
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force
Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended
Open official source ↗
ILO · As amended to 2022 (consolidated text) · in force 20 Aug 2013
© ILO — link only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 16 rules in force
SOLAS Chapter I - General provisions
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2024 · in force 25 May 1980
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 2 rules in force
SOLAS Chapter II-1 - Construction - structure, subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2024 · in force 25 May 1980
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 10 rules in force
SOLAS Chapter II-2 - Construction - fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2024 · in force 25 May 1980
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 15 rules in force
SOLAS Chapter III - Life-saving appliances and arrangements
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2024 · in force 25 May 1980
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 18 rules in force
SOLAS Chapter IX - Management for the safe operation of ships
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2024 · in force 25 May 1980
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force
SOLAS Chapter V - Safety of navigation
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2024 · in force 25 May 1980
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 3 rules in force
SOLAS Chapter XI-1 - Special measures to enhance maritime safety
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2024 · in force 25 May 1980
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force
SOLAS Chapter XI-2 - Special measures to enhance maritime security
Open official source ↗
IMO · Consolidated Edition 2024 · in force 25 May 1980
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978
Open official source ↗
IMO · 2026 Edition · in force 28 Apr 1984
© IMO — referenced and paraphrased only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force

IMO amendments, resolutions and circulars

IMO Resolution A.1050(27) - Revised recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships
Open official source ↗
IMO · Adopted 2011 (27th Assembly)
© IMO — link only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force
Newer edition or change found — being re-checked
IMO Resolution A.1116(30) - Escape route signs and equipment location markings
Open official source ↗
IMO · Adopted 2017 (30th Assembly)
© IMO — link only · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 1 rule in force

Flag state

Red Ensign Group (REG) Yacht Code, Part A
Open official source ↗
Red Ensign Group · July 2024 Edition · in force 1 Jul 2024
Red Ensign registries: United Kingdom, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands
© Red Ensign Group — link only · checked by hand
In preparation — not yet applied

Industry guidance

Good practice, not law: findings citing these say so, and are never counted as deficiencies.

Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COSWP)
Open official source ↗
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (UK) · 2026 edition · in force 16 Mar 2026
Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0 · last checked 23 Oct 2026 · 7 rules in force
Newer edition or change found — being re-checked
Industry good practice (no single publication)
ShipCheckAI rulebook
© ShipCheckAI rulebook — link only · checked by hand · 2 rules in force
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/2307)
Open official source ↗
legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Latest available (revised) · in force 5 Dec 1998
Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0 · last checked 23 Oct 2026
Mooring Equipment Guidelines (MEG4)
Open official source ↗
OCIMF · 4th Edition, 2018
© OCIMF — referenced and paraphrased only · checked by hand · 1 rule in force