RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International
Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,
RECALLING FURTHER article
VIII(b) of the International Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"),
concerning the amendment procedure applicable to the Annex to the
Convention, other than to the provisions of chapter I thereof,
NOTING SOLAS regulation
II-1/3-6 concerning access to and within spaces in the cargo
area of oil tankers of 500 gross tonnage and over and bulk carriers
of 20,000 gross tonnage and over, adopted by resolution
MSC.134(76), which is applicable to oil tankers and bulk carriers
constructed on or after 1 January 2005,
ACKNOWLEDGING concerns expressed with regard to problems
which might be encountered when implementing the requirements of the
aforementioned SOLAS regulation
II-1/3-6,
2. DETERMINES, in accordance with article VIII(b)(vi)(2)(bb) of the
Convention, that the said amendments shall be deemed to have been
accepted on 1 July 2005, unless, prior to that date, more than one
third of the Contracting Governments to the Convention or Contracting
Governments the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less
than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world’s merchant fleet,
have notified their objections to the amendments;
3. INVITES SOLAS Contracting Governments to note
that, in accordance with article
VIII(b)(vii)(2) of the Convention, the amendments shall enter
into force on 1 January 2006 upon their acceptance in accordance with
paragraph 2 above;
4. REQUESTS the Secretary-General, in conformity
with article VIII(b)(v) of
the Convention, to transmit certified copies of the present resolution
and the text of the amendments contained in the Annex to all Contracting
Governments to the Convention;
5. FURTHER REQUESTS the Secretary-General to transmit
copies of this resolution and its Annex to
Members of the Organization, which are not Contracting Governments
to the Convention;