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,
HAVING CONSIDERED, at its seventy-seventh session, amendments
to the Convention, proposed and circulated in accordance with article
VIII(b)(i) thereof,
1. ADOPTS, in accordance with article VIII(b)(iv)
of the Convention, amendments to the Convention, the text of which
is set out in the Annex to the present resolution;
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 January 2006, 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 July 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.