Resolution MSC.57(67)
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974

(adopted on 5 December 1996)

 

 

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 thereof,

 

HAVING CONSIDERED, at its sixty-seventh 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, amendments to the Convention the text of which is set out in the Annex to the present resolution;

 

2. DETERMINES, in accordance with article VIII(b)(vi)(2)(bb) of the Convention, that the amendments shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 January 1998, unless, prior to that date, more than one third of the Contracting Governments to the Convention or Contracting Governments 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 Contracting Governments to note that, in accordance with article VIII(b)(vii)(2) of the Convention, the amendments shall enter into force on 1 July 1998 upon their acceptance 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 Annex to all Contracting Governments to the Convention;

 

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

 

Annex.

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

 

Chapter II-1.

Construction - subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations

 

Part A-1.

Structure of ships.

 

1. The following new regulations 3-3 and 3-4 are added to Part A-1 of chapter II-1:

 

"Regulation 3-3 - Safe access to tanker bows.

 

1. For the purpose of this regulation and regulation 3-4, tankers include oil tankers as defined in regulation 2.12, chemical tankers as defined in regulation VII/8.2 and gas carriers as defined in regulation VII/11.2.

 

2. Every tanker constructed on or after 1 July 1998 shall be provided with the means to enable the crew to gain safe access to the bow even in severe weather conditions. For tankers constructed before 1 July 1998, such means of access shall be provided at the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 July 1998, but not later than 1 July 2001. Such means of access shall be approved by the Administration based on the guidelines developed by the Organization.*

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* Refer to the Guidelines for Safe Access to Tanker Bows, adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization by resolution MSC.62(67).

 

Regulation 3-4 - Emergency towing arrangements on tankers.

 

Emergency towing arrangements shall be fitted at both ends on board every tanker of not less than 20,000 tonnes deadweight, constructed on or after 1 January 1996. For tankers constructed before 1 January 1996, such an arrangement shall be fitted at the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 January 1996 but not later than 1 January 1999. The design and construction of the towing arrangements shall be approved by the Administration, based on the guidelines developed by the Organization.**"

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

 

 

PART B.

Subdivision and stability.

 

2. The following new regulation 17-1 is added after existing regulation 17:

 

"Regulation 17-1 - Openings in the shell plating below the bulkhead deck of passenger ships and the freeboard deck of cargo ships

 

Notwithstanding the requirements of regulation 17, ships constructed on or after 1 July 1998 shall comply with the requirements of regulation 17 where a reference to "margin line" shall be deemed to mean a reference to the bulkhead deck of passenger ships and the freeboard deck of cargo ships."

 

Part C.

Machinery installations.

 

Regulation 26 - General

 

3. The following new paragraphs 9, 10 and 11 are added after existing paragraph 8:

 

"9. Non-metallic expansion joints in piping systems, if located in a system which penetrates the ship's side and both the penetration and the non-metallic expansion joint are located below the deepest load waterline, shall be inspected as part of the surveys prescribed in regulation I/10(a) and replaced as necessary, or at an interval recommended by the manufacturer.

 

10. Operating and maintenance instructions and engineering drawings for ship machinery and equipment essential to the safe operation of the ship shall be written in a language understandable by those officers and crew members who are required to understand such information in the performance of their duties.

 

11. Location and arrangement of vent pipes for fuel oil service, settling and lubrication oil tanks shall be such that in the event of a broken vent pipe this shall not directly lead to the risk of ingress of seawater splashes or rainwater. Two fuel oil service tanks for each type of fuel used on board necessary for propulsion and vital systems or equivalent arrangements shall be provided on each new ship, with a capacity of at least 8 h at maximum continuous rating of the propulsion plant and normal operating load at sea of the generator plant.* This paragraph applies only to ships constructed on or after 1 July 1998."

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* Refer to regulation II-2/15 on Arrangements for oil fuel, lubricating oil and other flammable oils.

 

Regulation 31 - Machinery controls.

 

4. The following new paragraph 5 is added after existing paragraph 4:

 

"5. Ships constructed on or after 1 July 1998 shall comply with the requirements of paragraphs 1 to 4, as amended, as follows:

 

.1 paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

 

".1 Main and auxiliary machinery essential for the propulsion, control and safety of the ship shall be provided with effective means for its operation and control. All control systems essential for the propulsion, control and safety of the ship shall be independent or designed such that failure of one system does not degrade the performance of another system.";

 

.2 in the second and third lines of paragraph 2, the words "and the machinery spaces are intended to be manned" are deleted;

 

.3 the first sentence of paragraph 2.2 is replaced by the following:

 

".2 the control shall be performed by a single control device for each independent propeller, with automatic performance of all associated services, including, where necessary, means of preventing overload of the propulsion machinery.";

 

.4 paragraph 2.4 is replaced by the following:

 

".4 propulsion machinery orders from the navigation bridge shall be indicated in the main machinery control room and at the manoeuvring platform;";

 

.5 a new sentence is added at the end of paragraph 2.6 to read as follows:

 

"It shall also be possible to control the auxiliary machinery, essential for the propulsion and safety of the ship, at or near the machinery concerned"; and

 

.6 paragraphs 2.8, 2.8.1 and 2.8.2 are replaced by the following:

 

".8 indicators shall be fitted on the navigation bridge, the main machinery control room and at the manoeuvring platform, for:

 

.8.1 propeller speed and direction of rotation in the case of fixed pitch propellers; and

 

.8.2 propeller speed and pitch position in the case of controllable pitch propellers;".

 

PART D.

Electrical installations.

 

Regulation 41 - Main source of electrical power and lighting systems.

 

5. The following new paragraph 5 is added after existing paragraph 4:

 

"5. Ships constructed on or after 1 July 1998:

 

.1 in addition to paragraphs 1 to 3, shall comply with the following:

 

.1.1 where the main source of electrical power is necessary for propulsion and steering of the ship, the system shall be so arranged that the electrical supply to equipment necessary for propulsion and steering and to ensure safety of the ship will be maintained or immediately restored in the case of loss of any one of the generators in service;

 

.1.2 load shedding or other equivalent arrangements shall be provided to protect the generators required by this regulation against sustained overload;

 

.1.3 where the main source of electrical power is necessary for propulsion of the ship, the main busbar shall be subdivided into at least two parts which shall normally be connected by circuit breakers or other approved means; so far as is practicable, the connection of generating sets and other duplicated equipment shall be equally divided between the parts; and

 

.2 need not comply with paragraph 4."

 

Regulation 42 - Emergency source of electrical power in passenger ships.

 

6. The following new paragraph 3.4 is added after existing paragraph 3.3:

 

"3.4 For ships constructed on or after 1 July 1998, where electrical power is necessary to restore propulsion, the capacity shall be sufficient to restore propulsion to the ship in conjunction with other machinery, as appropriate, from a dead ship condition within 30 min after blackout."

 

Regulation 43 - Emergency source of electrical power in cargo ships.

 

7. The following new paragraph 3.4 is added after existing paragraph 3.3:

 

"3.4 For ships constructed on or after 1 July 1998, where electrical power is necessary to restore propulsion, the capacity shall be sufficient to restore propulsion to the ship in conjunction with other machinery, as appropriate, from a dead ship condition within 30 min after blackout."

 

Chapter II-2.

Construction - fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction.

 

Part A.

General.

 

Regulation 1 - Application.

 

8. Existing paragraph 1.1 is replaced by the following:

 

"1.1 Unless expressly provided otherwise, this chapter shall apply to ships the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 July 1998."

 

9. Existing paragraph 1.3.2 is replaced by the following:

 

".2 the expression all ships means ships constructed before, on or after 1 July 1998".

 

10. Existing paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

 

"2. Unless expressly provided otherwise, for ships constructed before 1 July 1998 the Administration shall ensure that the requirements which are applicable under chapter II-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended by resolutions MSC.1(XLV), MSC.6(48), MSC.13(57), MSC.22(59), MSC.24(60), MSC.27(61) and MSC.31(63), are complied with."

 

11. In paragraph 3.1, the expression "1 July 1986" is replaced by "1 July 1998".

 

Regulation 3 - Definitions.

 

12. Existing paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

 

"1 Non-combustible material is a material which neither burns nor gives off flammable vapours in sufficient quantity for self-ignition when heated to approximately 750C, this being determined in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code. Any other material is a combustible material."

 

13. Existing paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

 

"2 A standard fire test is one in which the specimens of the relevant bulkheads and decks are exposed in a test furnace to temperatures corresponding approximately to the standard time-temperature curve. The test methods shall be in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code."

 

14. In paragraph 3.4, "139C" is replaced by "140C".

 

15. Existing paragraph 3.5 is replaced by the following:

 

".5 the Administration shall require a test of a prototype bulkhead or deck in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code to ensure that it meets the above requirements for integrity and temperature rise."

 

16. In paragraph 4.2, "139C" is replaced by "140C".

 

17. Existing paragraph 4.4 is replaced by the following:

 

".4 the Administration shall require a test of a prototype division, in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code, to ensure that it meets the above requirements for integrity and temperature rise."

 

18. Existing paragraph 8 is replaced by the following:

 

"8. Low flame spread means that the surface thus described will adequately restrict the spread of flame, this being determined in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code."

 

19. Existing paragraph 22-1 is replaced by the following:

 

"22-1. Central control station is a control station in which the following control and indicator functions are centralized:

 

.1 fixed fire detection and alarm systems;

 

.2 automatic sprinklers, fire detection and alarm systems;

 

.3 fire door indicator panels;

 

.4 fire door closures;

 

.5 watertight door indicator panels;

 

.6 watertight door closures;

 

.7 ventilation fans;

 

.8 general/fire alarms;

 

.9 communication systems including telephones; and

 

.10 microphones to public address systems."

 

20. Existing paragraph 23.3 is replaced by the following:

 

".3 all draperies, curtains and other suspended textile materials have qualities of resistance to the propagation of flame not inferior to those of wool of mass 0.8 kg/m2, this being determined in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code."

 

21. Existing paragraph 23.4 is replaced by the following:

 

".4 all floor coverings have low flame spread characteristics."

 

22. Existing paragraph 23.6 is replaced by the following:

 

".6 all upholstered furniture has qualities of resistance to the ignition and propagation of flame, this being determined in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code."

 

23. The following new paragraph 23.7 is added:

 

".7 all bedding components have qualities of resistance to the ignition and propagation of flame, this being determined in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code."

 

24. The following new paragraph 34 is added:

 

"34 Fire Test Procedures Code means the International Code for Application of Fire Test Procedures, as adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization by resolution MSC.61(67), as may be amended by the Organization, provided that such amendments are adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures applicable to the Annex other than chapter I."

 

Regulation 12 - Automatic sprinkler, fire detection and fire alarm systems.

 

25. Existing paragraph 1.2 is replaced by the following:

 

"1.2 Each section of sprinklers shall include means for giving a visual and audible alarm signal automatically at one or more indicating units whenever any sprinkler comes into operation. Such alarm systems shall be such as to indicate if any fault occurs in the system. Such units shall indicate in which section served by the system fire has occurred and shall be centralized on the navigation bridge and in addition, visible and audible alarms from the unit shall be located in a position other than on the navigation bridge, so as to ensure that the indication of fire is immediately received by the crew."

 

26. Existing paragraphs 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 are deleted.

 

Regulation 16 - Ventilation systems in ships other than passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers.

 

27. Existing text of paragraph 1.1 is replaced by the following:

 

".1 these ducts shall be of a material which has low flame spread characteristics."

 

28. The following new paragraph 11 is added:

 

"11 The following arrangements shall be tested in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code:

 

.1 fire dampers, including relevant means of operation; and

 

.2 duct penetrations through "A" class divisions. Where steel sleeves are directly joined to ventilation ducts by means of rivetted or screwed flanges or by welding, the test is not required."

 

Regulation 17 - Fireman's outfit.

 

29. At the end of paragraph 3.1.1 the following sentence is added:

 

"however, for stairway enclosures which constitute individual main vertical zones and for the main vertical zones in the fore or aft end of a ship which do not contain spaces of categories 26.2.2(6), (7), (8) or (12), no additional fireman's outfits are required."

 

Regulation 18 - Miscellaneous items.

 

30. In the parenthesis below the title of the regulation, the words "and 8" in the first sentence are deleted and the following sentence is added:

 

"Paragraph 8 of this regulation applies to ships constructed on or after 1 July 1998."

 

31. Existing paragraph 8 is replaced by the following:

 

"8. Provisions for helicopter facilities shall be in accordance with the standards developed by the Organization*."

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* Refer to the standards to be developed by the Organization.

 

Part B.

Fire safety measures for passenger ships.

 

Regulation 24 - Main vertical zones and horizontal zones.

 

32. The third sentence of existing paragraph 1.1 is replaced by the following:

 

"Where a category 26.2.2(5), (9) or (10) space is on one side or where fuel oil tanks are on both sides of the division, the standard may be reduced to A-0."

 

Regulation 26 - Fire integrity of bulkheads and decks in ships carrying more than 36 passengers.

 

33. The words "26.1 to 26.4" in paragraph 1 are replaced by "26.1 and 26.2" and the superscript "d" is added in the fourth row under columns 6, 7, 8 and 9 of table 26.1 and the following note is added