1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-fourth
session (30 May to 8 June 2001), noted that SOLAS regulation III/26, as amended
by resolution MSC.47(66), which entered into force on 1 July 1998,
requires all ro-ro passenger ships to be fitted with a fast rescue
boat and a means of rescue not later than the first periodical survey
after 1 July 2000.
2 The Committee was informed of many accidents
and near-accidents as a result of trials and drills involving the
launching and recovery of fast rescue boats and means of rescue that
have been fitted to date onboard ro-ro passenger ships. Concerns were
also expressed that the masters of these ships and the crews involved
in the launching and operation of fast rescue boats and means of rescue
do not, at present, have confidence in this equipment, especially
for their use in emergency conditions when the weather and sea state
may be unfavourable.
3 The Committee was also informed that the national
requirements of some Member Governments require that all shipboard
operations and duties are planned and conducted taking into account
an evaluation of the risks involved to ensure the safety of all persons
involved. Such considerations are not only relevant to the conduct
of drills involving fast rescue boats and means of rescue but the
launching and operation of all survival craft.
4 The Committee agreed that the Sub-Committees
on Ship Design and Equipment (DE) and on Standards of Training and
Watchkeeping (STW) should be instructed to undertake a review of the
arrangement, specification, testing and operation of fast rescue boats
and means of rescue, and the training of the relevant crew members,
respectively, as a matter of urgency.
5 The Committee noted that this study would of
necessity take at least two years to complete, and that the final
form of the revised requirements and recommendations could not be
anticipated at the present time.
6 Until the study is completed and any revised
measures are agreed by the Organization, it is recommended that due
caution is exercised when installing, testing, launching and operating
fast rescue boats and means of rescue.
7 Member Governments and other parties involved
in the design, installation, testing, approval, survey and operation
of this equipment are urged to take note of the foregoing information
and the recommendation in paragraph 6 above. It is especially considered
necessary that Member Governments bring to the attention of their
port State control officers that they should not require the carrying
out of drills on this equipment if the master of the ship, considering
the safety of the crew, does not agree.