RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International
Maritime Organisation concerning the functions of the Committee,
NOTING that it adopted the International Code of Safety
for High Speed Craft (HSC Code) on 20 May 1994 by resolution
MSC.36(63),
NOTING FURTHER that the Conference of Contracting Governments
to the 1974 SOLAS Convention adopted on 24 May 1994 amendments to
the Convention which, inter alia, include chapter X on Safety measures for high speed
craft, to make the provisions of the HSC Code mandatory under that
Convention for such craft constructed on or after 1 January 1996,
RECOGNISING that a high speed craft is designed for light
displacement using lighter weight non-conventional shipbuilding materials
to provide faster sea transportation and also incorporates fire safety
design philosophies that differ from those for conventional ships,
RECOGNISING FURTHER that the HSC Code requires the public
spaces and service spaces, storage rooms other that those containing
flammable liquids, and similar spaces on a passenger craft to be protected
by a fixed sprinkler system meeting a standard developed by the Organisation,
DESIROUS of keeping abreast of the advancement of sprinkler
technology and further improving fire protection on board high speed
craft,
HAVING CONSIDERED the recommendations made by the Sub-Committee
on Fire Protection at its thirty-ninth session and the Sub-Committee
on Ship Design and Equipment at its thirty-eighth session,
1. ADOPTS the Standards for Fixed Sprinkler Systems
for High Speed Craft set out in the Annex to the present resolution;
2. INVITES Governments to apply the Standards
when approving fixed sprinkler systems for use in accommodations areas
of passenger high speed craft;
3. AGREES to keep the Standards under review and
to amend them as necessary.