Resolution MSC.172(79)

ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE PROTOCOL OF 1988 RELATING TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON LOAD LINES, 1966

(adopted on 9 December 2004)

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,

RECALLING FURTHER article VI of the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (hereinafter referred to as the "1988 Load Lines Protocol") concerning amendment procedures,

HAVING CONSIDERED, at its seventy-ninth session, amendments to the 1988 Load Lines Protocol proposed and circulated in accordance with paragraph 2(a) of article VI thereof,

1. ADOPTS, in accordance with paragraph 2(d) of article VI of the 1988 Load Lines Protocol, amendments to Annex B to the 1988 Load Lines Protocol, the text of which is set out in the Annex to the present resolution;

2. DETERMINES, in accordance with paragraph 2(f)(ii)(bb) of article VI of the 1988 Load Lines Protocol, that the said amendments shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 January 2006, unless, prior to that date, more than one third of the Parties to the 1988 Load Lines Protocol or Parties the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world s merchant fleet, have notified their objections to the amendments;

3. INVITES the Parties concerned to note that, in accordance with paragraph 2(g)(ii) of article VI of the 1988 Load Lines Protocol, the amendments shall enter into force on 1 July 2006 upon their acceptance in accordance with paragraph 2 above;

4. REQUESTS the Secretary-General, in conformity with paragraph 2(e) of article VI of the 1988 Load Lines Protocol, to transmit certified copies of the present resolution and the text of the amendments contained in the Annex to all Parties to the 1988 Load Lines Protocol;

5. FURTHER REQUESTS the Secretary-General to transmit copies of