The Conference,
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Conferences - SOLAS/CONF.4 - Resolutions of the Conference of Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 – (November 1997) - Resolution 6 - Interpretation of the definition of “bulk carrier”, as given in chapter IX of SOLAS 1974, as amended in 1994 – (Adopted on 27 November 1997) - The Conference,

The Conference,

 HAVING ADOPTED amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended, concerning the safety of bulk carriers.

 NOTING that SOLAS chapter IX will enter into force on 1 July 1998,

 NOTING ALSO that bulk carriers will have to comply with the requirements of SOLAS chapter IX by 1 July 1998,

 NOTING FURTHER that the expected entry into force of the new SOLAS chapter XII on 1 July 1999 will make new requirements mandatory for bulk carriers,

 RECOGNIZING that a number of SOLAS Contracting Governments have identified certain ambiguities in the definition of the term "bulk carrier", as given in SOLAS regulation IX/1.6, causing diverging interpretations of this term,

 RECOGNIZING FURTHER the need to establish, for the purpose of the application of the new SOLAS chapter XII, guidance to Contracting Governments and to the industry as to which ships are subject to the new requirements,

 BEING AWARE of the urgent need to establish, for the purpose of the application of SOLAS chapter IX on 1 July 1998, a clear guidance to Contracting Governments and to the industry as to which specific ships are subject to the requirements of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code,

 DESIRING to ensure that all Contracting Governments should implement the ISM Code and the new SOLAS chapter XII in their capacity as flag State or as port State exercising control under the provisions of the Convention, in a consistent, systematic and harmonized manner, with a view of facilitating international seaborne trade,

 CONSCIOUS of the fact that SOLAS chapter IX should be applied taking into account Conference resolution 9, as soon as possible,

  1. URGES SOLAS Contracting Governments to interpret the definition of the term "bulk carrier", given in regulation IX/1.6, for the purpose of the application of SOLAS regulation IX/2.1.2 and chapter XII to mean:

  • ships constructed with single deck, top-side tanks and hopper side tanks in cargo spaces and intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk; or
  • ore carriers;footnote or
  • combination carriers;footnote

  2. INVITES the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization to consider, as soon as possible:

  • (a) actions necessary to remove the ambiguity which exists in the definition of the term "bulk carrier" as given in SOLAS regulation IX/1.6; and

  • (b) any other appropriate action which will facilitate the easy identification of the type of ship by SOLAS Contracting Governments when exercising their rights of control under the provisions of that Convention.

Parent topic: Resolution 6 - Interpretation of the definition of “bulk carrier”, as given in chapter IX of SOLAS 1974, as amended in 1994 – (Adopted on 27 November 1997)
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