1 The Conference of Contracting Governments to
the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS),
1974, convened on 24, 27 and 28 November 1997 to consider and adopt
amendments to the Convention aimed at enhancing the safety of bulk
carriers, adopted new SOLAS chapter XII - Additional safety measures
for bulk carriers, in particular regulation
XII/11 on Loading instruments.
2 In that connection, the Conference also adopted
resolution 5 on Recommendation on loading instruments, the text of
which is attached at annex 1,
where reference is made to IACS's Recommendation No.48 on loading
instruments.
3 In adopting the above resolution, the Conference
urged SOLAS Contracting Governments to:
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.1 apply the above-mentioned IACS recommendation
when approving loading instruments, as required by SOLAS regulation XII/11 for ships not yet fitted
with an approved loading instrument; and
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.2 ensure that loading instruments already fitted
on ships to which SOLAS regulation XII/11 applies
have been approved in accordance with the standards of the recognized
organizations.
4 At the request of the Conference, the text of
the aforementioned IACS's recommendation is reproduced in annex 2 to the present circular.