RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International
Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,
NOTING that the 1997 SOLAS Conference adopted new chapter XII of the International Convention
for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 concerning additional
safety measures for bulk carriers,
NOTING FURTHER that SOLAS chapter
XII is expected to enter into force on 1 July 1999,
DESIRING to ensure that all Contracting Governments to the
1974 SOLAS Convention implement SOLAS chapter
XII in a consistent and uniform manner,
RECOGNIZING, therefore, the need to establish, for that
purpose, guidance on applications of, and the interpretation to, the
relevant provisions of that chapter,
RESPONDING to the requests of the 1997 SOLAS Conference,
as recorded in Conference resolutions 6 and 8 thereof,
1. URGES Governments concerned to:
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.1 ensure that bulk carriers to which SOLAS chapter XII applies are clearly identified
as such, either on the Safety Management Certificate issued under
the provisions of SOLAS chapter IX,
or in the booklet required under the provisions of SOLAS regulation XII/8;
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.2 further ensure that where the identification
of "bulk carrier" on the Safety Management Certificate issued under
the provisions of SOLAS chapter IX is
in question, the interpretation of "bulk carrier" contained in resolution
6 of the 1997 SOLAS Conference be accepted for the issuance and verification
of compliance with chapter IX;
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.3 ensure that ships to which SOLAS regulation XII/4.2 applies are not permitted
to be subject to the provisions of SOLAS regulation
XII/9 by means of modifications that would render non watertight
one or more watertight transverse bulkheads; and
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.4 interpret the provisions of SOLAS regulation XII/10.2 as follows:
“For bulk carriers of 150 m in length and upwards of single
side skin construction constructed before 1 July 1999, any cargo carried
on or after the implementation date specified in regulation 3 and declared to have a density
within the range of 1250 to 1780 kg/m3 shall have its density
verified by an accredited testing organization, unless such bulk carriers
comply with all the relevant requirements of this chapter applicable
to be carriage of solid bulk cargoes having a density of 1780 kg/m3 and
above."; and
2. INVITES Governments concerned to bring the
contents of this resolution to the attention of all parties concerned.