自 1948 年成立以来，国际海事组织 (IMO) 在构建全球海运业的政策和程序方面发挥了关键作用。除了其姊妹机构国际劳工组织 (ILO) 之外，还执行了一些重要的、国际公认的协议。以提高船舶、船舶运营和航行生命的安全为主要目标，除了提高对海洋环境的保护，使其免受日常运营和意外损坏造成的污染外，还制定了四项关键公约来强制要求和有关安全程序、污染预防实践、海员培训和资格以及海运业劳动法的标准。下面详细介绍海商法的四大支柱中的每一个以及每个支柱所起的重要作用。

SOLAS – 海上人命安全 由于业界主要关注的问题之一是船员和船上人员的安全，SOLAS – 海上人命安全 – 通常被认为是所有国际公约中最重要的。国际 SOLAS 公约对商船的建造、设备和运营规定了最低安全要求。目前包含在 SOLAS 公约中的 14 章包括一系列规范和法规，规定了上述领域的最低安全标准。SOLAS 公约不适用于所有船舶。仅在国际水域航行的船舶（不包括军舰、小于 500 总吨的货船、非推进船舶、木船、非商业游艇和渔船）将按照 SOLAS 执行的标准负责。所有签署船旗国必须确保在其旗帜下注册的所有船舶均符合 SOLAS 规定的标准。向船舶颁发证书以确认已达到这些标准。

MARPOL – 国际防止船舶污染公约 MARPOL – 国际防止船舶污染公约 – 是涵盖防止船舶造成环境污染的主要国际海事公约。MARPOL 从常规操作和事故的角度涵盖了污染预防。除了为运营航运废物的排放和清洁过程设定标准外，MARPOL 公约还为装载、处理、和危险货物的转运。与 SOLAS 不同，MARPOL 公约适用于悬挂公约成员国国旗或在其管辖范围内运营的所有类型的船舶，无论它们在哪里航行。签署国船旗国有义务将 MARPOL 要求纳入国内法。

STCW – 培训、发证和值班标准 STCW – 海员培训、发证和值班标准 – 为船上各级人员和船员（包括船长、高级船员和值班人员）设定最低资格标准。与其他支柱类似，国际公约的主要目的是在保护海洋环境的同时促进海上安全。STCW 正在通过一项共同协议帮助进一步实现这些目标，该协议确保全球所有具有相同角色和级别的海员执行具有相同标准的类似培训计划。STCW 公约要求导致认证问题的培训由经批准的来源提供。STCW 标准适用于所有长度大于 24 米的船舶，并适用于所有船员。某些职位需要证书、最短海上时间和进修课程。与其他公约不同，STCW 适用于非缔约国船舶在访问公约缔约国港口时。

MLC – 海事劳工公约概述 MLC – 海事劳工公约 – 规定了在船上工作的海员的最低标准。全面的公约提供了一个国际公认的、单一的监管和指导来源。根据 MLC，海员将拥有最低工作和生活权利，

包括： 就业合同、薪酬、配员水平、休息时间、权利、遣返、船舶损失或创业补偿、职业和技能发展除了规定最低年龄和医疗证明的标准，根据 MLC ，海员将需要接受培训并具备履行船上职责的资格（培训必须符合 IMO 标准）并接受人身安全培训。MLC 还确保海员在船上生活时能够获得令人满意的住宿、娱乐和医疗设施。雇佣合同 工资 配员水平 休息时间 休假权利 遣返 船舶损失或创业补偿 职业和技能发展 除了规定最低年龄和医疗证明的标准外，根据 MLC，海员还需要接受培训并具备履行船上职责的资格（培训必须符合 IMO 标准）并接受人身安全培训。MLC 还确保海员在船上生活时能够获得令人满意的住宿、娱乐和医疗设施。

Since its founding in 1948, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has played a key part in the structuring of policy and procedure across the global maritime industry. Alongside its sister-agency, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a number of crucial, internationally recognised agreements have been enforced.With the key goals of improving safety to ships, their operation and lives that sail upon them, in addition to improving the protection of the marine environment from pollution caused by routine operations and accidental damage, four key Conventions have been put in place to mandate requirements and standards surrounding safety procedures, pollution prevention practices, seafarer training and qualification, and labour laws of the maritime industry. 

Below details each of the four pillars of maritime law and the important role each one plays.

SOLAS – Safety of Life at Sea

With one of the industry’s main concerns being the safety of crew and personnel on board vessels, SOLAS – Safety of Life at Sea – is generally regarded as the most important of all international Conventions.The international SOLAS Convention sets minimum safety requirements for the construction, equipment, and operation of merchant ships. The 14 chapters currently included in the SOLAS Convention consist of a range of codes and regulations which specify the minimum safety standards for the area mentioned above.The SOLAS Convention does not apply to all ships. Only vessels travelling international waters (excluding warships, cargo ships of less than 500 GT, non-propelled ships, wooden ships, non-commercial pleasure yachts and fishing vessels) will be held accountable to the standards enforced by SOLAS.All signatory flag states must ensure all ships registered under their flag comply with the standards set out under SOLAS. Certificates are issued to a ship to confirm that these standards have been met.

MARPOL – The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships

MARPOL – The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships – is the main international maritime Convention covering the prevention of environmental pollution by ships. MARPOL covers pollution prevention from a routine operational and accidental perspective.In addition to setting standards for the discharge and cleaning processes of operational shipping waste, the MARPOL Convention also sets standards for the stowing, handling, and transfer of hazardous cargoes.Unlike SOLAS, the MARPOL Convention applies to vessels of all types flagged under a State member of the Convention, or that operate within its jurisdiction, regardless of where they sail. Signatory flag states are obliged to incorporate MARPOL requirements into domestic law.

STCW – Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping

The STCW – Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers – sets minimum qualification standards for personnel and crew of all levels on board a ship, including masters, officers and watch personnel.Similar to the other pillars, the main purpose of the international Convention is to promote safety at sea, alongside the protection of the marine environment. STCW is helping to further achieve these goals through a common agreement which ensures similar programmes of training with equal standards are carried out by all seafarers of equal role and rank globally. The STCW Convention requires that training leading to the issue of certification is provided by an approved source.The STCW standards apply to all ships greater than 24 meters in length and apply to all crew members. Certificates, minimum sea-time, and refresher courses are required for some roles. Unlike other Conventions, the STCW applies to ships of non-Party States when visiting ports of States which are parties to the Convention.

MLC – Maritime Labour Convention Overview

The MLC – Maritime Labour Convention – sets out minimum standards for seafarers working on a ship. The comprehensive Convention provides an internationally recognised, single source of regulation and guidance.Under the MLC, seafarers will have minimum working and living rights covering:

Contracts of Employment 

Pay

Manning Levels

Hours of Rest

Leave Entitlement

Repatriation

Compensation for Ship Loss or Foundering

Career and Skills Development

In addition to standards stipulating minimum age and medical certification, under the MLC, seafarers will need to be trained and qualified to perform onboard duties (training must conform to IMO standards) and receive personal safety training. The MLC also ensures seafarers have access to satisfactory accommodation, recreational and medical facilities, when living on onboard.