1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-first
session (19 to 28 May 1999), approved, with a view to ensuring uniform
application of the requirements of SOLAS regulations
II-2/23, 30 and 42 containing vague wording which is open to
diverging interpretations, the unified interpretations prepared by
the Sub-Committee on Fire Protection, at its forty-third session,
as set out in the annex.
2 Member Governments are invited to use the annexed
interpretations as guidance when applying relevant provisions of SOLAS
chapter II-2 to fire protection construction, installation, arrangements
and equipment to be installed on board ships on or after 21 May 1999,
in order to fulfill the requirements of the 1974 SOLAS Convention,
and to bring these interpretations to the attention of all parties
concerned.
3 Member Governments are also advised to take
into account earlier interpretations to SOLAS chapter
II-2 approved by MSC 69, as given in MSC/Circ.847.