"Arrangements to supply heading information at emergency steering positron" on board Bahamas flag ships has been informed by ClassNK Technical Information Nos. TEC-0144 (dated 15 August 1994) and TEC-0156 (dated 10 January 1995).

Bahamas Maritime Authority has reviewed the arrangements and notified ClassNK of the result which is reproduced as follows:

"For ships of 500gt and upwards, with an emergency steering position, constructed on and after 1 September 1984 but before 1 July 2002, it is not necessary to keep a gyro-repeater always at the emergency steering position subject to wiring to and a stand at the position are provided for any one of gyro-repeaters removed from other positions to be capable of being mounted on the stand for immediate use in case of emergency."

Consequently, the above arrangements, which have been informed by previous ClassNK Technical Information Nos. TEC-0144 and TEC-0156, will be no longer applicable to Bahamas flag ships.

For Bahamas flag ships to which chapter V of 2000 SOLAS is applied, a gyro-repeater should be always provided at the emergency steering position according to the regulation V/19.2.5.2.

For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Material and Equipment Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address: 4-7 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2020
Fax: +81-3-5226-2057
E-mail: eqd@classnk.or.jp