RECALLING Article 15(j) of the Convention on the International
Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Assembly in
relation to regulations and guidelines concerning maritime safety,
RECALLING FURTHER that, by Resolution A.713(17), it adopted
interim measures to be taken to improve the safety of ships carrying
solid bulk cargoes,
RECALLING ALSO that, when adopting Resolution A.713(17),
it recognized the concern that the nature of cargo and ballast operations
can subject the ships which carry solid bulk cargoes to more severe
patterns of bending and shear forces; that the speed and methods of
loading and the equipment employed in unloading operations at solid
bulk cargo terminals may contribute towards local overstressing and
damage; that some solid bulk cargoes can, through their high density
and propensity to shift, pose dangers' and that there was a need for
continued and effective maintenance of the ships concerned,
BEING CONCERNED at the continued loss of ships carrying
solid bulk cargoes, sometimes without a trace, and the heavy loss
of life incurred,
BEING AWARE of the work undertaken by Governments, classification
societies and other segments of the private sector in this regard,
BEING INFORMED that the Maritime Safety Committee has initiated
further measures to enhance the safety of ships carrying solid bulk
cargoes and is in the process of defining the problems and suggesting
solutions, both in the short term and in the long term; is considering
all relevant aspects of risks to ships carrying solid bulk cargoes
as a ship type, so that all elements of safety are assessed in their
totality; and has carried out a review of recent losses involving
ships carrying solid bulk cargoes with special reference as to whether
they had been subjected to enhanced surveys,
NOTING the work done by the International Association of
Classification Societies (IACS) in developing survey and maintenance
requirements for ships carrying solid bulk cargoes,
1. URGES Governments, classification societies,
shipowners, ship operators, shipmasters and terminal operators, pending
the development of the above-mentioned requirements, to take immediate
measures along the lines specified in the Annex to the present resolution;
2. REQUESTS the Maritime Safety Committee to carry
out, with high priority, its work on the safety of ships carrying
solid bulk cargoes and to develop, as soon as possible, requirements
and recommendations covering survivability standards, design and construction
standards, operational standards, survey requirements, ship/shore
interface aspects and management training;
3. INVITES Governments to thoroughly investigate
accidents occurring to ships carrying solid bulk cargoes entitled
to fly their flag and submit to the Organization the conclusions arrived
at and recommendations made so as to assist in the adoption of appropriate
remedial measures;
4. INVITES FURTHER Governments, in whose territories
solid bulk cargo loading and unloading terminals are situated, to
advise the Organization of any studies on cargo handling practices
at such terminals for information purposes;
5. INVITES ALSO Governments to take appropriate
measures for educating all concerned on the avoidance of inadvertent
overloading;
6. AUTHORIZES the Maritime Safety Committee to
circulate the requirements and recommendations developed in accordance
with paragraph 1 above to Governments, classification societies and
others concerned, recommending their implementation;
7. REQUESTS the Maritime Safety Committee to keep
this subject under continuous review and amend or extend the measures
set out in the Annex, as necessary.