1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-seventh
session (12 to 21 May 2010), approved Guidelines for the assessment
of technical provisions for the performance of an in-water survey
in lieu of bottom inspection in dry-dock to permit one dry-dock examination
in any five-year period for passenger ships other than ro-ro passenger
ships, as set out in the annex, prepared by the Sub-Committee on Ship
Design and Equipment at its fifty-third session.
2 The Guidelines are intended to provide guidance
on technical aspects to be considered when implementing a one in five-year
dry-docking regime with an in-water survey in lieu of bottom inspection
in dry-dock for passenger ships of 15 years of age or less, other
than ro-ro passenger ships, and to ensure that sound technical judgment
is exercised by Administrations in a uniform manner, when implementing
such a regime.
3 Member Governments are invited to apply the
attached Guidelines when accepting an in-water survey in lieu of a
bottom inspection in dry-dock, and to bring them to the attention
of all parties concerned.