Circular Letter
MSC/Circ.1172

IDENTIFICATION OF PASSENGER SHIPS, OTHER THAN RO-RO PASSENGER SHIPS, WHICH SHOULD BENEFIT FROM BEING EQUIPPED WITH THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL KIT/BAG (EMK)

(23 May 2005)

1. The Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR), at its ninth session (7 to 10 February 2005), agreed that following decision of MSC 78 should be brought to the attention of Member Governments:

"Passenger ships, other than ro-ro passenger ships, not carrying a medical doctor on board but carrying more than 100 passengers on a route which would make the response time for a medical intervention from ashore longer than 30 minutes, should benefit from being equipped with the emergency medical kit/bag (EMK)."

2. The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its eightieth session (11 to 20 May 2005), adopted the aforementioned additional guidance and invited Member Governments to bring it to the attention of all concerned.

3. This circular supplements MSC/Circ.1042 on List of contents of the "Emergency medical bit/bag" and medical consideration for its use on ro-ro passenger ships not normally carrying a medical doctor.