HAVING ADOPTED amendments to the International Convention
for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974,
concerning the safety of ro-ro passenger ships,
NOTING that operational requirements and performance standards
are under consideration by the International Maritime Organization
(IMO) but have yet to be prepared,
BEING OF THE OPINION that it would be desirable that ships,
in particular passenger ships, are fitted with a voyage data recorder
to assist in investigations into casualties,
1. REQUESTS the Maritime Safety Committee of IMO
to:
-
(a) develop, as a matter of urgency, operational
requirements and performance standards for voyage data recorders,
taking into account any potential human element implications; and
-
(b) consider developing carriage requirements
for voyage data recorders for inclusion in SOLAS,
at the earliest opportunity;
2. URGES Contracting Governments to encourage
the use of voyage data recorders on ships under their flags on an
experimental basis in order to gain experience in their use.