1 The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its
seventy-ninth session (1 to 10 December 2004), recalled that, at its
seventy-sixth session, it had adopted, by resolution
MSC.134(76), amendments to SOLAS regulation
II-1/31, prescribing functional requirements for automated
propulsion control systems. The amendments entered into force on 1
July 2004.
2
Regulation II-1/31,
because of its location in SOLAS chapter
II-1, applies to all ships the keels of which are laid after
1 July 1986. However, the Committee agreed that it was not the intention
to apply this regulation to ships already in service (constructed
before 1 July 2004). The Committee, therefore, clarified that regulation 31.2.10 of part C of chapter
II-1 of SOLAS should only apply to ships constructed on or after 1
July 2004.
3 The Committee noted that draft SOLAS amendments
to that effect had been circulated by circular letter No.2592 of 28
October 2004, following a request by the United Kingdom, for consideration
with a view to adoption at MSC 80 in May 2005.
4 Member Governments are invited to bring the
above information to the attention of all parties concerned.