Resolution MSC.31(63)

ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974

(adopted on 23 May 1994)

 

 

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 VIII (b) of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, hereinafter referred to as "the Convention", concerning the procedures for amending the Annex to the Convention, other than the provisions of chapter I,

 

HAVING CONSIDERED, at its sixtythird session, amendments to the Convention proposed and circulated in accordance with article VIII (b) (i) thereof,

 

1. ADOPTS, in accordance with article VIII(b) (iv) of the Convention, the amendments to the Convention, the text of which is set out in the Annexes to the present resolution;

 

2. DETERMINES, in accordance with article VIII (b) (vi) (2) (bb) of the Convention, that:

 

(a) the amendments set out in Annex 1 shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 July 1995; and

 

(b) the amendments set out in Annex 2 shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 January 1998;

 

unless, prior to these dates, more than one third of the Contracting Governments to the Convention or Contracting Governments the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than fifty per cent of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant fleet, have notified their objections to the amendments;

 

3. INVITES Contracting Governments to note that, in accordance with article VIII (b) (vii) (2) of the Convention;

 

(a) he amendments set out in Annex 1 shall enter into force on 1 January 1996; and

 

(b) the amendments set out in Annex 2 shall enter into force on 1 July 1998; in accordance with paragraph 2 above;

 

4. REQUESTS the Secretary General, in conformity with article VIII(b) (v) of the Convention, to transmit certified copies of the present resolution and the text of the amendments contained in the Annexes to all Contracting Governments to the Convention;

 

5. FURTHER REQUESTS the Secretary General to transmit copies of the resolution and its Annexes to Members of the Organization which are not Contracting Governments to the Convention.

 

Annex 1.
AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974

 

Regulation V/15-1.
Emergency towing arrangements on tankers

 

1. The following new regulation V/15-1 is added:

 

"Regulation 15-1.
Emergency towing arrangements on tankers

 

(a) For the purpose of this regulation, tankers include oil tankers as defined in regulation III/2.12, chemical tankers as defined in regulation VII/8.2 and gas carriers as defined in regulation VII/11.2.

 

(b) An emergency towing arrangement shall be fitted at both ends on board all tankers of not less than 20,000 tonnes deadweight as defined in regulation II-I/3.21 constructed on or after 1 January 1996. For tankers constructed before 1 January 1996, such an arrangement shall be fitted at the first scheduled drydocking after 1 January 1996, but not later than 1 January 1999. The design and construction of the towing arrangement shall be approved by the Administration, based on guidelines developed by the Organization*."

______________

* Refer to the Guidelines on Emergency Towing Arrangements for Tankers adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.35(63).

 

 

Regulation V/8-1.
Ship reporting System

 

2. The following new regulation V/8-1 is added:

 

"Regulation 8-1.
Ship reporting systems

 

(a) Ship reporting systems contribute to safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation, and protection of the marine environment. A ship reporting system, when adopted and implemented in accordance with the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization** pursuant to this regulation, shall be used by all ships, or certain categories of ships or ships carrying certain cargoes in accordance with the provisions of each system so adopted.

___________________

** Refer to guidelines and criteria to be adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC... (64). Refer also to the General Principles for Ship Reporting Systems and Ship Reporting Requirements including Guidelines for Reporting Incidents involving Dangerous Goods, Harmful Substances and/or Marine Pollutants, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.648(16).

 

(b) The Organization is recognized as the only international body for developing guidelines, criteria, and regulations on an international level for ship reporting systems. Contracting Governments shall refer proposals for the adoption of ship reporting systems to the Organization. The Organization will collate and disseminate to Contracting Governments all relevant information with regard to any adopted ship reporting system.

 

с) This regulation and its associated guidelines and criteria do not apply to any warship, naval auxiliary or other vessel owned or operated by a Contracting Government and used, for the time being, only on government noncommercial service; however such ships are encouraged to participate in ship reporting systems that have been adopted in accordance with this regulation.

 

(d)The initiation of action for establishing a ship reporting system is the responsibility of the Government or Governments concerned. In developing such systems, provisions of the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization* shall be taken into account.

 

(e) Ship reporting systems not submitted to the Organization for adoption do not necessarily need to comply with this regulation. However Governments implementing such systems are encouraged to follow wherever possible the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization*. Contracting Governments may submit such systems to the Organization for recognition.

 

(f) Where two or more Governments have a common interest in a particular area, they should formulate proposals for a coordinated ship reporting system on the basis of agreement between them. Before proceeding with a proposal for adoption of a ship reporting system, the Organization shall disseminate details of the proposal to those Governments which have a common interest in the area covered by the proposed system. Where a coordinated ship reporting system is adopted and established, it shall have uniform procedures and operations.

 

(g) After adoption of a ship reporting system in accordance with this regulation, the Government or Governments concerned shall take all measures necessary for the promulgation of any information needed for the efficient and effective use of the system. Any adopted ship reporting system shall have the capability of interaction and the ability to assist ships with information when necessary. Such systems shall be operated in accordance with the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization* pursuant to this regulation.

______________

* Refer to the guidelines and criteria to be adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC... (64). Refer also to the General Principles for Ship Reporting Systems and Ship Reporting Requirements including Guidelines for Reporting Incidents involving Dangerous Goods, Harmful Substances and/or Marine Pollutants, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.648(16).

 

(h) The master of a ship shall comply with the requirements of adopted ship reporting systems and report to the appropriate authority all information required in accordance with the provisions of each such system,

 

(i) All adopted ship reporting systems and actions taken to enforce compliance with those systems shall be consistent with international law, including the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

 

(j) Nothing in this regulation or its associated guidelines and criteria shall prejudice the rights and duties of Governments under international law or the legal regime of international straits.

 

(к) The participation of ships in accordance with the provisions of adopted ship reporting systems shall be free of charge to the ships concerned. (l) The Organization shall ensure that adopted ship reporting systems are reviewed under the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization*.

______________

* Refer to the guidelines and criteria to be adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC... (64). Refer also to the General Principles for Ship Reporting Systems and Ship Reporting Requirements including Guidelines for Reporting Incidents involving Dangerous Goods, Harmful Substances and/or Marine Pollutants, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.648(16).

 

Annex 2.
AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974

 

Regulation II-2/15.
Arrangements for fuel oil, lubrication oil and other flammable oils

 

1. The following text is added after the title:

 

"(Paragraphs 2.9 to 2.12 of this regulation apply to all ships)".

 

2. The following new paragraphs 2.9 to 2.12 are added after existing paragraph 2.8:

 

"2.9 All external high pressure fuel delivery lines between the high pressure fuel pumps and fuel injectors shall be protected with a jacketed piping system capable of containing fuel from a high pressure line failure. A jacketed pipe incorporates an outer pipe into which the high pressure fuel pipe is placed forming a permanent assembly. The jacketed piping system shall include a means for collection of leakages and arrangements shall be provided for an alarm to be given of a fuel line failure.

 

2.10 All surfaces with temperatures above 220°C which may be impinged as a result of a fuel system failure shall be properly insulated.

 

2.11 Oil fuel lines shall be screened or otherwise suitably protected to avoid as far as practicable oil spray or oil leakages onto hot surfaces, into machinery air intakes, or other sources of ignition. The number of joints in such piping systems shall be kept to a minimum.

 

2.12 Ships constructed before 1 July 1998 shall comply with the requirements of paragraphs 2.9 to 2.11 not later than 1 July 2003, except that a suitable enclosure on engines having an output of 375 kW or less having fuel injection pumps serving more than one injector may be used as an alternative to the jacketed piping system in paragraph 2.9."

 

3. The words "2.7 and 2.8" in existing paragraph 3 are replaced by "2.7, 2.8, 2.10 and 2.11".

 

4. The words "2.4 and 2.6" in existing paragraph 4 are replaced by "2.4, 2.6, 2.10 and 2.11".

 

5. Existing paragraph 5.1 is deleted, and paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 are renumbered as paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2.

 

Regulation V/3.
Information required in danger messages

 

6. Russian text only.

 

7. In paragraph (b) put two asterisks after the words "Tropical storms" and the rest of paragraph put as the following at the bottom of this page:

 

"** Tropical cyclone is the most common generic term used by national Meteorological Services. The terms hurricane, typhoon, severe cyclonic storm, etc. are also used, depending on the geographical location with particular reference to the most severe storms."

 

Regulation V/22.
Navigation bridge visibility

 

8. The following new regulation V/22 is added:

 

"Regulation 22.
Navigation bridge visibility

 

1. Ships of not less than 45 metres in length as denned in regulation III/3.10, constructed on or after 1 July 1998, shall meet the following requirements:

 

.1 the view of the sea surface from the conning position shall not be obscured by more than two ship lengths, or 500 m, whichever is less, forward of the bow to 10 on either side under all conditions of draught, trim and deck cargo;

 

.2 no blind sector caused by cargo, cargo gear or other obstructions outside of the wheelhouse forward of the beam which obstructs the view of the sea surface as seen from the conning position, shall exceed 10°. The total arc of blind sectors shall not exceed 20°. The clear sectors between blind sectors shall be at least 5°. Howeveren, in the view described in paragraph 1.1, each individual blind sector shall not exceed 5°;

 

.3 the horizontal field of vision from the conning position shall extend over an arc of not less than 225°, that is from