(MSC 75) held from 15 May to 24 May 2002 is given hereunder for your information.

1.Adoption of mandatory instruments
The following amendments to conventions and mandatory instruments with references made to the conventions were adopted. They will enter into force on 1 January 2004.

(a) Amendments to SOLAS Chapter IV and the 1988 SOLAS Protocol
Full implementation of the GMDSS was achieved on 1 February 1999. Following this, regulations governing the transitional period will be deleted.
With regard to watch requirements for VHF Ch 16, the Committee confirmed that for the time being it will be continued as a continuos listening watch until 1 February 2005.

(b) Amendments to SOLAS regulation V/21
All ships will be required to carry an up-to-date copy of Volume III of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual.

(c) Amendments to SOLAS Chapter VI & VII
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) which is addressed in Chapter VI and VII of SOLAS convention will become a mandatory resolution. In cases of carrying a dangerous good listed in the IMDG Code, the vessel is required to comply with the requirements of the IMDG Code.

(d) Amendments to resolution A.744(18)
In response to the ERIKA incident, amendments to resolution A.744(18) which improve the safety of older ships and further protect the marine environment were adopted.
This resolution has incorporated the IACS Unified Requirement and ClassNK has already been implementing this amendment since 1 July 2001. (see Technical information 402)





(To be continued)

2. Mandatory instruments will be adopted by the MSC76 (Dec/2002)

(a) Means of access (draft amendment SOLAS regulation II-1/12-2)
The amendments to SOLAS which will require permanent means of access for tankers and for bulk carriers was approved at MSC74. This session, MSC75 intended to finalise the technical requirement which resulted from the SOLAS requirement.
(see Technical information 419)
However, the technical requirements were not finalised, because there are still a number of problems to solve, such as the number of means of access for hold frames of bulk carriers or the use of rafts or not, in tank of tanker. So, they will be discussed again at MSC76.
Regarding the date of application, the IMO having noted that some building contracts have already been made for such ships, agreed to postpone the application date from "constructed on or after 1 January 2003" to "constructed on or after 1 January 2004".
The draft regulation will apply to oil tankers of 500 GT and more as well as bulk carriers of 20,000 GT and more.

(b) Water ingress alarms and pumping systems (draft amendment SOLAS regulation XII/12& 13)
As one of the countermeasures which were recommended in the investigation report on the loss of the MV DERBYSHIRE, this subject has been discussed at SLF & DE sub-committees. Subsequently, the text of the amendment to SOLAS which requires the installation of the following equipment, was approved. (see attachment)
1)Water ingress alarms in each cargo hold
2)Water ingress alarms in any ballast tank forward of the collision bulkhead
3)Water ingress alarms in any dry or void space which extends forward of the fore most cargo hold
4) Pumping system in dry spaces which are located forward of the collision bulkhead
This amendment will be adopted at the next MSC76 and enter into force from 1 July 2004.
Regarding the date of