The Assembly

 RECALLING Article 15(j) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Assembly in relation to regulations and guidelines concerning maritime safety and the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships,

 DEPLORING the tragic loss in recent years of ro-ro passenger ferries which capsized with heavy loss of life,

 NOTING that the Maritime Safety Committee decided, at its sixty-fourth session, to establish a Panel of Experts to carry out a thorough review of the safety of ro-ro passenger ships on a priority basis,

 RECOGNIZING the important role the human element can play in the prevention of accidents to ro-ro passenger ships, and that the safety of navigation of such ships will be greatly enhanced by supporting navigational guidance and information schemes,

 RECOGNIZING ALSO that a major improvement in the safety of ferry traffic will be achieved when not only masters, officers, ratings and other personnel on board but also those working in shipping companies, shipyards and ports observe the pertinent technical requirements, both constructional and operational,

 RECOGNIZING FURTHER that improvement in the safety of ferry traffic will be achieved when their operators, together with relevant authorities and organizations, support such ships by navigational guidance and information so that their masters are in a position to conduct their passage in a safe manner,

 HAVING CONSIDERED the recommendation made by the Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation at its forty-first session:

  1. ADOPTS the Recommendation for Navigational Guidance and Information Scheme for Ro-Ro Ferry Operations set out in the Annex to the present resolution;

  2. RECOMMENDS that Governments should encourage ferry operators to use such schemes, where appropriate, and that the schemes should include use of existing governmental and other relevant services.