1 The Maritime Safety Committee (the Committee),
at its eightieth session (11 to 20 May 2005), noted that in a number
of cases, cargo ships engaged on international voyages of 500 gross
tonnage and upwards were not required to comply with the provisions
of SOLAS chapter XI-2 and part A of the ISPS Code on the grounds that
the provisions of resolution A.494(XII) on the Revised Interim Scheme
for Tonnage Measurement for Certain Ships were applicable to them
and thus they were allowed to use the gross tonnage, as determined
under national tonnage rules which were in effect prior to the coming
into force of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement
of Ships, 1969 (TONNAGE 69), for establishing
the applicability of SOLAS chapter XI-2 and
of part A of the ISPS Code.
2 The Committee agreed that the gross tonnage
to be used for determining whether a cargo ship engaged on international
voyages is required to comply with the provisions of SOLAS chapter XI-2 and part
A of the ISPS Code shall be that determined in accordance with
the provisions of TONNAGE 69.
3 The Committee recognized that immediate compliance
of the cargo ships which have not been required to comply with the
provisions of SOLAS chapter XI-2 and part A of the ISPS Code presented practical
difficulties and would affect the owners and the Companies operating
such ships and the port facilities serving them. As a result the Committee
adopted the Interim Scheme for the compliance of certain cargo ships
with the Special measures to enhance maritime security (the Interim
Scheme) as set out at annex.
4 SOLAS Contracting Governments are invited to
bring the Interim Scheme to the attention of owners and of Companies
operating cargo ships entitled to fly their flag as well as to the
attention of Designated Authorities, port facility owners and operators
and port facility security officers and to request the latter to respond
positively when ships request the conclusion of Declaration of Security.
5 SOLAS Contracting Governments, international
organizations and non-governmental organizations with consultative
status which encounter difficulties with the implementation of the
Interim Scheme should bring, at the earliest opportunity, the matter
to the attention of the Committee for consideration of the issues
involved and decision on the actions to be taken.