RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International
Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,
NOTING the new regulation II-1/3-6 of
the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS),
1974, as amended (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention") adopted
by resolution MSC.134(76), concerning access to and within spaces
in the cargo area of oil tankers and bulk carriers,
NOTING ALSO that the aforementioned regulation provides
that the means of access referred to therein shall comply with the
requirements of Technical provisions for means of access for inspections
(hereinafter referred to as "the Technical provisions") to be made
mandatory under the Convention;
RECOGNIZING that the Technical provisions referred to above
are not intended to inhibit the development of new or novel technologies
which provide for an improved means to carry out ship surveys and
inspections,
HAVING CONSIDERED, at its seventy-sixth session, the text
of the proposed Technical provisions,
1. ADOPTS the Technical provisions for means of
access for inspections, the text of which is set out in the Annex
to the present resolution;
2. INVITES Contracting Governments to the Convention
to note that the Technical provisions will take effect on 1 January
2005 upon entry into force of the new regulation II-1/3-6 of the Convention;
3. REQUESTS the Secretary-General to transmit
certified copies of this resolution and the text of the Technical
provisions contained in the Annex to all Contracting Governments to
the Convention;
4. FURTHER REQUESTS the Secretary-General to transmit
copies of this resolution and the Annex to all Members of the Organization,
which are not Contracting Governments to the Convention;
5. INVITES Governments to encourage the development
of novel technologies aimed at facilitating the survey and inspection
of ships and to keep the Organization advised of any positive results.