Book excerpt: The International Code on Intact Stability 2008 (2008 IS Code), presents mandatory and recommendatory stability criteria and other measures for ensuring the safe operation of ships, to minimize the risk to such ships, to the personnel on board and to the environment. The 2008 IS Code took effect on 1 July 2010. The 2008 IS Code features:a full update of the previous IS Code; criteria based on the best state-of-the-art concepts available at the time they were developed, taking into account sound design and engineering principles and experience gained from operating ships; influences on intact stability such as the dead ship condition, wind on ships with large windage area, rolling characteristics and severe seas. This publication also presents Explanatory Notes to the 2008 IS Code, intended to provide administrations and the shipping industry with specific guidance to assist in the uniform interpretation and application of the intact stability requirements of the 2008 IS Code.