RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International
Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,
EXPRESSING the desire to further enhance the safety of passengers
and crews on board passenger ships in light of the loss of the Costa
Concordia,
NOTING WITH APPRECIATION the initiative taken by the Secretary-General,
calling on the Committee, as a matter of high priority, to review
the current international measures and its work programme for matters
dealing with passenger ship safety to evaluate whether new measures
should be developed and implemented, aimed at enhancing safety of
passenger ships, taking into account safety initiatives being undertaken
by the cruise industry and the analysis of the relevant marine casualty
investigation reports.
RECOGNIZING the urgency for the Organization to consider
whether international measures, additional to those already agreed,
are necessary to improve the safety of passenger ships,
RECOGNIZING FURTHER that urgent action should be taken on
reviewing existing IMO instruments in order to evaluate, develop and
implement measures aimed at enhancing the safety of passenger ships,
taking into account, inter alia, recommendations stemming from the
analysis of the marine casualty investigation report into the loss
of the Costa Concordia,
HAVING CONSIDERED the information provided by the Government
of Italy on the course of the investigation into the Costa Concordia incident, as well as preliminary proposals on enhancing the
safety of passenger ships brought to the Committee's attention by
the Government of Italy, other Member Governments and the Cruise Industry
Operational Safety Review,
1 REAFFIRMS the importance of the safety of passenger
ships, their passengers and crew on board;
2 INVITES Member Governments to recommend that
passenger ship companies conduct a review of operational safety measures
with the aim to enhance the safety of passenger ships, taking into
consideration the recommended interim measures of an operational character
listed in the Recommended interim measures for passenger ship companies
to enhance the safety of passenger ships (MSC.1/Circ.1446), on ships flying their flag, on a voluntary basis and with
all possible urgency and efficiency;
3 ENCOURAGES Member Governments and the passenger
ship industry to take the necessary actions to ensure that their current
safety standards, procedures and best management practices are fully
and effectively implemented;
4 REQUESTS Member Governments to bring this resolution
to the attention of all stakeholders.