1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-eighth
session (12 to 21 May 2004), following its decision that port States
and the various port State control regimes worldwide should be strongly
recommended to develop specialized training, pinpointing the vulnerable
areas within the structure, in particular of older ships, and having
considered the recommendation made by the Sub-Committee on Flag State
Implementation at its twelfth session, approved the Guidance for checking
the structure of bulk carriers, as set out in the annex.
2 Member Governments are invited to bring the
annexed Guidance to the attention of all parties concerned.