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Week 41 2026: SAF-004 Drill Changes, MGN 719 on GNSS Failure, and the 2025 MLC Amendments Date

🕑 5 min read words Regulatory • Safety • Mlc

Week: 41, 2026 (w/c 5 October)
Source: Flag state, class society, P&I club and IMO updates for the week

Flag State Regulations and Guidance

UK — MGN 719 (M+F) on operating in GNSS denied and degraded environments, issued 1 October. Full breakdown in our MGN 719 guide.
Liberia — Marine Security Bulletin 38/2026 on drone strikes at Chornomorsk (see our Black Sea briefing), and a revision of Marine Notice SAF-004, Lifeboat and Emergency Drills (Rev. 10/26) — see below.
Hong Kong — three Merchant Shipping Information Notes. MSIN 13/2026 on a fatal accident at anchor in heavy weather (see our case study); MSIN 14/2026 on the 2025 MLC amendments; MSIN 15/2026 on revised stowaway guidelines.
Bermuda — Guidance Notice 2026-10 on the validity of radiocommunications equipment used on ships, and Guidance Notice 2026-09 on amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-1 relating to lifting appliances.
Cyprus — Circular 21/2026 on the protection of Cyprus ships against piracy, temporarily altering the northern limit in the Red Sea of the East Africa and Northwest Indian Ocean High-risk area. Check the circular for the revised limit before planning Red Sea transits.

SAF-004 Revised: What Changed and What Still Applies

Liberia's revised notice (Rev. 10/26) renames Section 7 ‘Lowering and Manoeuvring and Exceptional Circumstances’ and adds a new paragraph 7.2. It covers the case where a lifeboat or rescue boat cannot be lowered, launched or manoeuvred within the required interval because of adverse weather, port or terminal restrictions or other safety-related limits. The operator must make a logbook entry (SOLAS III/19.5) stating the circumstances, the extent of the muster, drill or training held and why the lowering, launching or manoeuvring could not be done, and must make sure the overdue exercise is carried out at the next available safe opportunity.

The notice also restates the baseline for drills:

Every crew member takes part in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire and emergency drill each month; passenger ships run both weekly.
Each lifeboat is lowered to and manoeuvred in the water at least every three months; free-fall boats are launched or simulated-launched at least every six months.
Nobody should be in a davit-launched lifeboat when it is first lowered from the stowed position. It is lowered to about 2 metres above the water without people, hoisted so the operating crew (three to four) can board, then lowered with the operating crew holding the man ropes.
For free-fall launches, the area astern must be clear for at least one and a half times the distance the boat is expected to travel before stopping, and the rescue boat should be ready as standby.

For the reasoning behind these steps, see our guide to MSC.1/Circ.1578.

Hong Kong Notices Worth Knowing

MSIN 14/2026 — MLC amendments. The 2025 amendments, approved by the International Labour Conference on 6 June 2025, are expected to enter into force globally on 23 December 2027. They cover violence and harassment on board (including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault), strengthened shore leave, repatriation costs including up to 30 kg of personal luggage, and designation of seafarers as key workers. See our guide: the biggest changes to the MLC since 2006.
MSIN 15/2026 — stowaways. The IMO Maritime Safety Committee adopted revised guidelines on preventing access by stowaways and allocating responsibilities for resolving cases at its 111th session on 21 May 2026 (resolution MSC.448(99)/Rev.1, which replaces MSC.448(99)). They are directly relevant to ship security plans and to obligations under SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code.

Class Society Guidance

ABS published six items: lithium-ion batteries in the marine and offshore industries, dynamic positioning systems, data centres for marine and offshore applications, data-enabled verification, offshore spaceports and container securing systems.
Bureau Veritas published NR613 (bonded assemblies), NR596 (EU RO mutual recognition) and a European Affairs Report for September 2026.
Indian Register of Shipping issued Technical Circular 017/2026 (revised procedure for responding to DSC distress alerts by ships) and 018/2026 (IMO guidelines on carriage and use of electronic nautical publications). The DSC circular is one to read if you stand a GMDSS watch.
Korean Register issued two notices amending its technical rules, including guidance for autonomous ships.

P&I Club Guidance

Gard covered new regulated sea areas in Malaysia and cyber security controls for existing ships.
Japan P&I covered access to shore leave for seafarers in Australia, and gangway inspection, maintenance and operational safety in the USA — the same subject as this week's KWK Legacy report.
London P&I covered salvage and marine pollution response requirements in India.
North Standard issued an alert on container fires involving UN 3378 (see our oxidiser stowage briefing), a note on Togo's new environmental compensation fee, and an update on the Amazon drought.
UK P&I covered S-100 and the next evolution of ECDIS, the risk of cargo declarations that do not tell the whole story, and the 2010 HNS Convention.

Accident Reports Published This Week

Singapore TSIB — KWK Legacy. A bosun was lost when a gangway wire rope parted over a seized sheave. Full case study.
UK MAIB — Arvia. Final report 20/2026 on the fatal lift accident. We have updated our Arvia case study with the final findings.

Developing Story We're Watching

Norwegian authorities are investigating a collision involving three ships. No cause has been confirmed and we are not drawing conclusions. Per our standing practice on developing incidents, we will hold off on a full write-up until an investigation body publishes findings.

Also In The News

The Panama Canal has extended its long-term slot system to the Panamax locks.
The World Shipping Council launched a digital global Whale Chart with HUB Ocean.
The International Institute of Marine Surveying published guidance on chemical interaction risks and anaerobic conditions in bilge systems, and on yacht load line compliance.

IMO Calendar

2–6 November — IMO Council
23–27 November — Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships
30 November–3 December — Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)
14–18 December — Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)

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