Ref. T4/3.01 MSC/Circ.1107
25 May 2004
1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-eighth session (12 to 21 May 2004), acknowledged concerns expressed with regard to problems which might be encountered when implementingtherequirementsofSOLASregulationII-1/3-6onAccesstoandwithinspacesinthe cargoareaofoiltankersandbulkcarriers,adoptedbyresolutionMSC.134(76)whichwillenterinto forceon1July2004,andoftheassociatedTechnicalprovisionsformeansofaccessforinspections, adopted by resolution MSC.133(76) which will become effective from1 January 2005.
2 Accordingly,theCommitteeadoptedamendmentstoSOLASregulationII-1/3-6andthe Technical provisions for means of access for inspections, by resolutions MSC.151(78) and MSC.158(78)respectively. Theseamendmentsareexpectedtoenterintoforceon1January2006.
3 Inadoptingtheamendments,theCommitteerecognizedthatoiltankersof500grosstonnage andoverandbulkcarriersof20,000grosstonnageandover,constructedonorafter1January2005, will still be required to be fitted with permanent means of access complying with SOLAS regulation II-1/3-6andtheTechnicalprovisionsformeansofaccessforinspections,asadoptedby resolutionsMSC.134(76)andMSC.133(76),until1January2006. TheCommittee,therefore,as indicatedinoperativeparagraph6ofresolutionMSC.151(78),resolvedthatSOLASContracting GovernmentsmayapplyinadvancetheamendedregulationII-1/3-6oftheConventionandthe Technicalprovisionsformeansofaccessforinspections, as adopted by resolutions MSC.151(78) andMSC.158(78),toshipsflyingtheirflagconstructedonorafter1January2005inlieuofSOLAS regulationII-1/3-6andtheTechnicalprovisionsformeansofaccessforinspections,asadoptedby resolutions MSC.134(76) and MSC.133(76) respectively.
4 TheCommitteeinvitesSOLASContractingGovernmentstotakeaccountofthisdecision whensurveyingandcertifyingoiltankersandbulkcarriersunderSOLASregulationsI/8andI/12 and when exercising port State control under SOLAS regulation I/19.