1 MEPC 49 adopted, on 18 July 2003, resolution MEPC.107(49) on Revised Guidelines
and Specifications for Pollution Prevention Equipment for Machinery
Space Bilges of Ships. These Revised Guidelines apply to equipment
installed on board on or after 1 January 2005.
2 Experience gained in the implementation of the
Revised Guidelines during the type approval process according to the
standards described in the Revised Guidelines has shown that, on some
issues, the described procedure is vague and different interpretations
of the Guidelines are possible.
3 This observation was made particularly with
regard to the interpretations of paragraphs 4.1.5, 1.2.9.6 (Part 1),
3.2.2.3 (Part 3) and test result diagrams (Appendix) of the Revised
Guidelines.
4 In order to ensure that approval of the equipment
in the context of these requirements will be based on a uniform high
level application, there is a need for clarification of particular
issues.
5 The Marine Environment Protection Committee,
at its fifty-eighth session (6 to 10 October 2008), recognizing the
necessity to provide appropriate guidance for the harmonized implementation
of the Revised Guidelines and specifications for pollution prevention
equipment for machinery space bilges of ships adopted by resolution MEPC.107(49), approved the
Guidance notes (MEPC 58/23, paragraph 10.46), set out in the annex,
which are intended to be used during the type approval process.
6 Member Governments are invited to use the annexed
Guidance notes when implementing the requirements of resolution MEPC.107(49) and testing pollution
prevention equipment for type-approval, and to bring the Guidance
to the attention of all parties concerned.