SOLAS
Chapter III
Format of the musterlist (10-40)
ROs have
indicated that several flag states have specific instructions for approval of the
format of musterlist, as required by SOLAS Chapter
III Regulation 37.8. It was questioned whether NSI has similar instructions,
or whether NSI intended to provide such instructions.
The position of NSI on this subject is as follows:
First of all SOLAS III/37.8 is only applicable to passenger ships. This
means that only the format of the musterlist on this specific category of ships must
be approved. And the RO is authorised, through the Class Agreement, to perform this
approval on behalf of NSI as part of the statutory surveys.
Subsequently it must be established against which provisions the format of the
musterlist has to be approved. As IMO does not specify those provisions, the only
relevant provisions are those mentioned in Regulation 37 itself. In other words:
does the musterlist specify which crewmember is responsible for what, and are all
aspects of Regulation 37 addressed in this respect?
NSI is of the view that no separate flag state instruction is needed for this
purpose. The RO may use its own checklist or one of another flag state, as long as
all aspects of Regulation 37 are addressed.
NSI has observed that the examples of checklists from other flag states contain
items that go beyond the provisions for the format of the musterlist, e.g. the
execution of drills, etc. These subjects however are captured elsewhere in SOLAS
Chapter III, and should be assessed during the regular (annual) surveys.