Emergency Towing Arrangements: SOLAS Rules for Tanker Pennants, and What’s Changing by 2028 Towing / Commercial marine / Technical guide An Emergency Towing Arrangement isn’t optional equipment on a tanker — it’s a SOLAS requirement, and the rules on the pennant itself are precise. Here’s what’s actually mandated, and the 2028 change that extends it well beyond tankers. Facts and figures checked against IMO resolutions and industry regulatory reporting — see references below.