THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the
International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,
RECALLING ALSO SOLAS chapter XII on Additional safety
measures for bulk carriers, which the 1997 SOLAS Conference adopted with the aim of
enhancing the safety of ships carrying solid bulk cargoes,
RECALLING FURTHER that, having recognized the need to further improve
the safety of bulk carriers in all aspects of their design, construction, equipment and
operation, it examined the results of various formal safety assessment (FSA) studies on
bulk carrier safety,
NOTING that the outcome of the
aforementioned FSA studies indicated, inter alia, that the application of appropriate
strength standards to small hatches, fittings and equipment on the fore deck of new and
existing bulk carriers, as well as adequate provisions for cargo hatch cover securing
arrangements and criteria for the renewal of side shell frames in existing bulk
carriers, would contribute to further improving the overall safety of these ships,
ACKNOWLEDGING that the International Association of
Classification Societies (IACS) has issued the following relevant Unified Requirements:
S26 - Strength and securing of small hatches on the
exposed fore deck
S27 - Strength requirements
for fore deck fittings and equipment
S30 -
Cargo hatch cover securing arrangements for bulk carriers not built in accordance with
UR S21 (Rev.3)
S31 - Renewal criteria for
side shell frames in single side skin bulk carriers not built in accordance with UR S12
Rev.1 or subsequent revisions,
BEING OF THE OPINION
that by applying the above-mentioned Unified Requirements the cause of bulk carrier
safety would be better served,
URGES Governments to
ensure that IACS Unified Requirements S26, S27, S30 and S31 are applied to bulk carriers
flying their flags, as appropriate, whether or not they are classed with a
classification society being a member of IACS.