1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-first
(10 to 19 May 2006) and eighty-second (29 November to 8 December 2006)
sessions, adopted amendments to SOLAS chapter
III and the LSA Code (resolutions MSC.201(81), MSC.207(81), MSC.216(82) and MSC.218(82)). These amendments
improve the repeatability of test procedures and reduce the effects
of variability of human test subjects on test results for personal
life-saving appliances, thus promoting consistent application of the
desired level of performance to this equipment; resolve a number of
long-standing inconsistencies in IMO instruments relating to life-saving
appliances; and introduce other important safety improvements (particularly
with regard to measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats).
2 Recognizing that considerable time will pass
before the amendments referred to above will enter into force, to
encourage early implementation of the important safety improvements
addressed therein, and to ensure that equipment tested and approved
according to the new requirements is readily available when the amendments
enter into force, the Committee, at its eighty-second session, urged
Contracting Governments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention to
implement the aforementioned amendments prior to their scheduled dates
of entry into force.
3 The Committee further urged Contracting Governments
to provide appropriate documentation for ships flying their flag to
which such early implementation has been granted and port States to
accept such early implementation.