1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its sixty-second
session (24 to 28 May 1993), noted that the existing text of regulation II-1/1.3 of the 1974 SOLAS
Convention, as amended, which refers to the application date of 1
July 1986, was valid only with respect to the 1983 SOLAS amendments
entered into force on 1 July 1986, but does not cover satisfactorily
subsequent amendments adopted by the Committee.
2 Having considered the recommendations made by
the Sub-Committee on Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing Vessels
Safety, the Committee agreed to the following interpretation of SOLAS regulation II-1/1.3 to cover
the application of the SOLAS amendments to existing ships in general:
“Unless expressly provided otherwise, an amendment
to this chapter should apply to ships constructed on or after the
date on which the amendment enters into force. All ships which undergo
repairs, alterations, modifications and outfitting related thereto
should continue to comply with at least the requirements previously
applicable to such ships. Such ships, if constructed before the date
on which the amendment enters into force, should, as a rule, comply
with the requirements for ships constructed on or after that date
to at least the same extent as they did before undergoing such repairs,
alterations, modifications or outfitting. Repairs, alterations and
modifications of a major character and outfitting related thereto
should meet the requirements for ships constructed on or after the
date on which the amendment enters into force, in so far as the Administration
deems reasonable and practicable.”
3 Member Governments are invited to take account
of the above interpretation when applying relevant SOLAS amendments
to ships constructed before the application date of those amendments,
pending further action by the Committee, regarding adoption of the
interpretation as an amendment to the SOLAS Convention, in the light
of an input in other relevant areas to be made by the pertinent sub-committees.