Last revised: July 24, 1998
The following is a summary of the resolutions adopted at the 1997 SOLAS Conference. The annex cover and annex text are also available in their entirety in PDF format.
Resolution 1
Adoption of Amendments to the Annex of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974
This Resolution adds Chapter XII, "Additional Safety Measures for Bulk Carriers," to SOLAS to become effective on 1 July 1999. The 1996 SOLAS amendments regarding bulk carrier safety are also included. These amendments were adopted in resolution MSC.47(66) and went into effect on 1 July 1998.
Resolution 2
Adoption of Amendments to the Guidelines on the Enhanced Program of Inspections During Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers (Resolution A.744 (18))
These amendments enter into force on 1 July 1999.
Resolution 3
Recommendation on Compliance with SOLAS Regulation XII/5
The following Unified Requirements issued by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) will satisfy the requirements of regulation XII/5:
Resolution 4
Standards for the Evaluation of Scantlings of the Transverse watertight Vertically Corrugated Bulkhead Between the Two Foremost Cargo Holds and for the Evaluation of Allowable Hold Loading of the Foremost Cargo Hold
These standards were adopted from Unified Requirements S19 and S21 of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) for the purpose of application of SOLAS regulation XII/6.
Resolution 5
Recommendation on Loading Instruments
The new SOLAS regulation XII/11 requires all bulk carriers of 150 m in length and upwards, as defined in regulation IX/1.6 of the Convention, to be fitted with a loading instrument capable of providing information on hull girder shear forces and bending moments. IACS Recommendation No. 48 on loading instruments may be applied for ships not yet fitted with an approved loading instrument. For ships already fitted with loading instruments, ensure that the loading instruments have been approved as per the standards of the recognized organizations.
Interpretation of the Definition of "Bulk Carrier", as Given in Chapter IX of SOLAS 1974, as Amended in 1994
The definition of the term "bulk carrier" will be interpreted to mean; ships constructed with single deck, top-side tanks and hopper side tanks in cargo spaces and intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk, or ore carriers, or combination carriers. "Ore carrier" means a sea-going single deck ship having two longitudinal bulkheads and a double bottom throughout the cargo region and intended for the carriage of ore cargoes in the center holds only. "Combination carrier" has the same meaning as in SOLAS regulation II-2/3.27.
Enhanced Surveys Carried Out Prior to Entry into Force of the Amendments
SOLAS Contracting Governments may permit existing bulk carriers to which regulation XII/7 applies to carry solid bulk cargoes having a density of 1780 kg/m3 and above, if such bulk carriers have been subject to a periodical survey equivalent to a periodical survey as per the enhanced program of inspections required by regulation XI/2, before 1 January 1996.
Further Work on the Safety of Bulk Carriers
The new SOLAS chapter XII does not cover all types and sizes of bulk carriers. The Maritime Safety Committee will consider the safety of bulk carriers to which the whole or part of SOLAS chapter XII does not apply. These ships include; bulk carriers less than 150 m in length, new bulk carriers of double side skin construction, single side skin bulk carriers carrying solid bulk cargoes having a density less than 1780 kg/m3, bulk carriers with insufficient number of cargo holds to satisfy regulation XII/4.2, and ships other than bulk carriers with single side skin construction intended to carry bulk cargoes. MSC will also develop a definition of single side skin construction.
Implementation of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code
The ISM Code has been adopted and became mandatory on 1 July 1998.
http://www.sname.org/committees/tech_ops/O44/bulkconf.html