1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-first
session (10 to 19 May 2006), acknowledged concerns expressed with
regard to problems which might be encountered when implementing the
requirements of SOLAS regulation XII/6.3 regarding
corrosion prevention of double-side skin spaces and dedicated seawater
ballast tanks of bulk carriers, adopted by resolution
MSC.170(79), which will enter into force on 1 July 2006, and
of the associated Performance standard for protective coatings for
dedicated seawater ballast tanks in all types of ships and double-side
skin spaces of bulk carriers.
2 The Committee, in order to make the aforementioned
Performance standard for protective coatings mandatory under the revised
SOLAS regulation II-1/3-2,
approved the draft amendments to SOLAS regulations II-1/3-2 and XII/6,
set out in annex 1, and the Performance standard for protective coatings
for dedicated seawater ballast tanks in all types of ships and double-side
skin spaces of bulk carriers, set out in annex 2, with a view to subsequent
adoption at MSC 82. These amendments are expected to enter into force
on 1 July 2008.
3 In approving the draft amendments, the Committee
recognized that bulk carriers of 150 m in length and upwards constructed
on or after 1 July 2006 will still be required by SOLAS regulation XII/6.3 to be coated in accordance
with the requirements of regulation
II-1/3-2, as adopted by resolution MSC.47(66), until the entry
into force of the aforementioned amendments.
4 The Committee, therefore, resolved that SOLAS
Contracting Governments may apply in advance the annexed draft SOLAS regulation II-1/3-2 together with
the Performance standard for protective coatings for dedicated seawater
ballast tanks in all types of ships and double-side skin spaces of
bulk carriers to bulk carriers of 150 m and above flying their flag
constructed on or after 1 July 2006 in lieu of SOLAS regulation II-1/3-2 as adopted
by resolution MSC.47(66).
5 SOLAS Contracting Governments are invited to
take account of this decision when surveying and certifying bulk carriers
under SOLAS regulations I/8 and I/12 and when exercising port State control
under SOLAS regulation I/19.