1 At its sixty-sixth session (28 May to 6 June
1996), the Maritime Safety Committee, considering the safety of ships
carrying solid bulk cargoes, recalled its decision, at its sixty-fifth
session, that communications between maritime administrations and
port authorities should be improved.
2 The Committee recalled that, when adopting resolution
A.713(17), the Assembly recognized that the nature of cargo and ballast
operations can subject the ships which carry solid bulk cargoes to
more severe bending and shear forces; that the speed and methods of
loading and the equipment employed in unloading operations at solid
bulk cargoes terminals may contribute towards local structural overstressing
and damage; that some solid bulk cargoes can, through their high density
and propensity to shift, pose dangers; and that there was a need for
continued and effective maintenance of the ships concerned.
3 The Committee further recalled that resolution A.797(19) requires the development of
requirements and recommendations covering the ship/port interface
aspects of the loading or unloading of solid bulk cargoes and management
and training.
4 In view of the above resolutions, the Committee
agreed that a further resolution should be prepared, for adoption
by the twentieth Assembly, to address the improvement of safety of
ships carrying solid bulk cargoes at the ship/port interface; however,
considering its urgency, the Committee agreed that the matter should
be brought to the attention of Governments by means of a circular.
5 Accordingly, the Maritime Safety Committee
invites Governments, in whose territories solid bulk cargo loading
and unloading terminals are situated, to require, in addition to the
measures stipulated in points 1.1 to
1.8 of the Annex to resolution A.797(19), the introduction
of port by-laws to the effect that:
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.1 terminal operators are required to comply with
the relevant IMO codes and recommendations on ship/port co-operation;
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.2 terminal operators are required to appoint
a "terminal representative" as stipulated in section 1.6 of the Annex to resolution A.797 (19);
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.3 the master is responsible at all times for
the safe loading and unloading of the ship, the details of which should
be confirmed with the terminal operator in the form of an agreed loading
or unloading plan;
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.4 in case of non-compliance with the agreed loading
or unloading plan or any other situation which endangers the safety
of the ship, the master has the right to stop the loading or unloading;
and
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.5 port authorities have the right to stop the
loading or unloading of solid bulk cargoes when the safety of the
ship carrying such cargoes in endangered.