1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its ninety-third
session (14 to 23 May 2014), when approving the draft new SOLAS regulation XI-1/7 "Atmosphere testing instrument
for enclosed spaces", recalled that MSC 92 had adopted, by resolution MSC.350(92), SOLAS regulation III/19 "Emergency training and drills"
with an entry-into-force date of 1 January 2015, requiring that each
enclosed space entry and rescue drill shall include checking and use
of instruments for measuring the atmosphere in enclosed spaces.
2 MSC 93, having confirmed that paragraph 3.6.2.3
of SOLAS regulation III/19 does
not introduce carriage requirements for atmosphere testing instruments
for enclosed spaces, recognized the need to implement the draft new SOLAS regulation XI-1/7 early, in order to expedite
the carriage of portable atmosphere testing instruments for enclosed
spaces.
3 Consequently, the Maritime Safety Committee,
at its ninety-fourth session (17 to 21 November 2014), in adopting
resolution MSC.380(94) on Amendments to the International Convention
for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, invited SOLAS
Contracting Governments to voluntarily implement SOLAS regulation
XI-1/7, as set out below, to ships entitled to fly their flags, as
soon as practicable, taking into account that the entry-into-force
date of the corresponding amendments to SOLAS is
1 July 2016:
-
"Regulation 7 - Atmosphere testing instrument for
enclosed spaces
-
Every ship to which chapter I applies shall carry an appropriate
portable atmosphere testing instrument or instrumentsfootnote. As a minimum, these shall be capable of
measuring concentrations of oxygen, flammable gases or vapours, hydrogen
sulphide and carbon monoxide prior to entry into enclosed spacesfootnote. Instruments carried under other requirements
may satisfy this regulation. Suitable means shall be provided for
the calibration of all such instruments.
4 Member Governments are invited to bring this
circular to the attention of all parties concerned.