Ref. T4/3.01 MSC/Circ.1016
26 June 2001
1 TheMaritimeSafetyCommittee,atitsseventy-fourthsession(30Mayto8June2001),notedthat SOLASregulationIII/26,asamendedbyresolutionMSC.47(66),whichenteredintoforceon1July1998, requiresallro-ropassengershipstobefittedwithafastrescueboatandameansofrescuenotlaterthanthe first periodical survey after1 July 2000.
2 The Committee was informed of many accidents and near-accidents asa result of trials and drills involvingthelaunchingandrecoveryoffastrescueboatsandmeansofrescuethathavebeenfittedtodate onboardro-ropassengerships. Concernswerealsoexpressedthatthemastersoftheseshipsandthe crews involved in the launching and operationoffastrescueboatsandmeansofrescuedonot,atpresent, haveconfidenceinthisequipment,especiallyfortheiruseinemergencyconditionswhentheweatherandsea state may be unfavourable.
3 TheCommitteewasalsoinformedthatthenationalrequirements of some Member Governments requirethatallshipboardoperationsanddutiesareplannedandconductedtakingintoaccountanevaluation oftherisksinvolvedtoensurethesafetyofallpersonsinvolved. Suchconsiderationsarenotonlyrelevant totheconductofdrillsinvolvingfastrescueboatsandmeansofrescuebutthelaunchingandoperationofall survival craft.
4 TheCommitteeagreedthattheSub-CommitteesonShipDesignandEquipment(DE)andon Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (STW)shouldbeinstructedtoundertakeareviewofthe arrangement,specification,testingandoperationoffastrescueboatsandmeansofrescue,andthetraining of the relevant crew members, respectively, asa matter of urgency.
5 TheCommitteenotedthatthisstudywouldofnecessitytakeatleasttwoyearstocomplete,andthat thefinalformoftherevisedrequirementsandrecommendationscouldnotbeanticipatedatthepresenttime.
6 Until the study is completed and any revised measures are agreed by theOrganization,itis recommendedthatduecautionisexercisedwheninstalling,testing,launchingandoperatingfastrescueboats and means of rescue.
7 MemberGovernmentsandotherpartiesinvolvedinthedesign,installation,testing,approval,survey andoperationofthisequipmentareurgedtotakenoteoftheforegoinginformationandtherecommendation inparagraph6above.ItisespeciallyconsiderednecessarythatMemberGovernmentsbringtotheattention
of their port State control officers thattheyshouldnotrequirethecarryingoutofdrillsonthisequipmentif the master of the ship, considering the safety of the crew, does not agree.