Circular

  1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-first session (10 to 19 May 2006), approved, in principle, the following proposed amendment to SOLAS regulation II-2/4.5.2.3, to remove the inconsistency when applying SOLAS regulation II-2/4.5.2.3 in conjunction with regulations II-2/4.5.2.1 and II-2/9.2.4.2.5, with a view to its adoption at MSC 82:

 “The following text is added at the end of regulation II-2/4.5.2.3:

 “except that “A-0” class standard is acceptable for windows and sidescuttles outside the area specified in regulation II-2/9.2.4.2.5.” “

  2 Considering that early implementation of the above proposed amendment would be of benefit to the industry and other interested parties, the Committee invited Contracting Governments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention to:

• .1 apply the above proposed amendment to SOLAS chapter II-2, referred to in paragraph 1 above, to ships flying their flags, pending its formal entry into force; and

• .2 accept ships flying the flags of other States, constructed and equipped in accordance with the 1974 SOLAS Convention and the above proposed amendment.

  3 Member Governments are invited to bring the above information to the attention of all parties concerned.