The Maritime Safety Committee,
RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International
Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,
RECALLING ALSO article XII of the International Convention
on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
(STCW), 1978 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"), concerning
the procedures for amending the Convention,
RECALLING FURTHER that the Assembly, by resolution A.1070(28), adopted the IMO Instruments
Implementation Code (III Code),
NOTING proposed amendments to the Convention to make the
use of the III Code mandatory,
HAVING CONSIDERED, at its ninety-third session, amendments
to the Convention proposed and circulated in accordance with article XII(1)(a)(i) of the Convention,
1 ADOPTS, in accordance with article XII(1)(a)(iv) of the Convention,
amendments to the Convention, the text of which is set out in the
annex to the present resolution;
2 DETERMINES that, pursuant to new regulation I/16, whenever the word "should" is
used in the III Code (Annex to resolution A.1070(28)), it is to be read as being "shall", except for paragraphs
29, 30, 31 and 32;
3 DETERMINES ALSO, in accordance with article XII(1)(a)(vii)(2) of the Convention,
that the amendments to the Convention shall be deemed to have been
accepted on 1 July 2015, unless, prior to that date more than one
third of Parties or Parties the combined merchant fleets of which
constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant
shipping of ships of 100 gross register tonnes or more, have notified
their objections to the amendments;
4 INVITES Parties to note that, in accordance
with article XII(1)(a)(viii) of
the Convention, that the amendments to the Convention, shall enter
into force on 1 January 2016 upon their acceptance in accordance with
paragraph 2 above;
5 REQUESTS the Secretary-General, in conformity
with article XII(1)(a)(v) to
transmit certified copies of the present resolution and the text of
the amendments contained in the annex to all Parties to the Convention;
6 ALSO REQUESTS the Secretary-General to transmit
copies of this resolution and its annex to Members of the Organization,
which are not Parties to the Convention.