The process leading to the formulation and enforcement of that part of the International Ship Safety Regulations known under the names of Intact Ship Stability and Subdivision and Damage Stability is presented and discussed. The present state of the art is reviewed from a critical point of view and the future trends presented in detail. It appears that important new issues have been raised including the possibility of alternative ways of showing compliance with the criteria and the development, in the long term, of performance-based criteria. These will constitute the challenge for the next 5 years.
