The Merchant Shipping Directorate has issued a merchant shipping technical notice in order to draw the attention of all concerned to Regulation 19.2.1.4 and Regulation 27 of Chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, that require all ships to carry adequate and up-to-date charts, sailing directions, list of lights, notices to mariners, tide tables and all other nautical publications necessary for the intended voyage.

The list does not include log books or manuals. All publications on board, regardless of format, should be the latest editions or duly corrected up to date. It is recommended that publications of IMO instruments be in the working language of the ship. When the working language is not English, French or Spanish, the publications be backed, in addition, by the full English, French or Spanish text. The use on board of nautical charts in electronic format is accepted on condition that the relevant technical notice SLS.9 issued by this Administration is abided by. IMO Publications are listed in the latest IMO Catalogue (http://www.imo.org/en/Publications/Pages/Home.aspx).

Click here to read the Technical Notice SLS.33, as issued by Transport Malta, or contact us on [email protected] for further guidance and information.