RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International
Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,
RECALLING ALSO circular TM.5/Circ.4 on
Provisional formula to calculate a reduced gross tonnage of open-top
containerships, whereby the Committee, being concerned with the economic
disadvantages caused by the use of greater gross tonnage in comparison
with gross tonnage of conventional containerships for the assessment
of fees, agreed to recommend a reduced gross tonnage for open-top
containerships based on a provisional formula,
RECALLING ALSO circular TM.5/Circ.5 on
Interpretations of the provisions of the International Convention
on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, in particular section 3 entitled
“Open-top containerships”,
NOTING that, by the aforementioned circular
TM.5/Circ.4, Governments were invited to submit to the Organization
information on open-top containerships in operation and under consideration
which would enable the assessment of the final coefficients in the
formula, including principal dimensions, gross tonnage underdeck and
ondeck carrying capacities of containers, deadweight etc.,
HAVING RECOGNIZED that based on the provisions included
in circular MSC/Circ.608/Rev.1,
open-top containerships are designed and constructed to a high safety
level in particular. This applies to improved protection and securing
of containers,
NOTING that, in view of the explicit amendment procedure
of the 1969 Tonnage Measurement Convention,
it may require a significant period of time for any amendment to become
effective,
REALIZING the need for the establishment of the principles
for the treatment and unified application of tonnage measurement of
open-top containerships,
HAVING CONSIDERED, at its eighty-second session, the recommendation
made by the Sub-Committee on Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing
Vessels Safety, at its forty-ninth session,
1 ADOPTS the Recommendations concerning tonnage
measurement of open-top containerships, the text of which is set out
in the Annex to the present resolution;
2 AGREES that Governments which are Contracting
Governments to the 1969 Tonnage Measurement Convention should
use these Recommendations when applying the provisions of the Convention;
3 INVITES Governments to advise the ports and
harbours authorities to apply the Recommendations when assessing fees
based on reduced gross tonnage for open-top containerships;