1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-sixth
session (2 to 13 December 2002), having considered the recommendation
of the forty-fifth session of the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and
Equipment (DE), approved draft amendments to resolution A.744(18), as amended, introducing a sampling
method of thickness measurements for longitudinal strength evaluation
and repair methods, with a view to adoption at a future session.
2 The Committee, convinced that the provisions
contained in the aforementioned draft amendments will contribute to
enhancing further the safety of oil tankers, in particular those already
in service, agreed to make the said provisions immediately available
to Administrations so that they may apply them in advance of the date
of entry into force of the amendments, and approved the Guidelines
on the sampling method of thickness measurements for longitudinal
strength evaluation and repair methods in accordance with annex 12 to Annex B to resolution
A.744(18), as amended, as set out in the annex.
3 Member Governments are invited to bring the
annexed Guidelines to the attention of all those involved in surveying
oil tankers, recommending the use of the Guidelines in the implementation
of the provisions of resolution A.744(18),
as amended.