1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its sixtieth
session (6 to 10 April 1992), adopted, by resolution MSC.26(60), an
amendment to chapter II-1 of the
1974 SOLAS Convention introducing retroactive regulations in respect
of residual stability standards for existing ro-ro passenger ships.
2 In this context, SOLAS regulation II-1/8.7.2, as amended, requires
existing ro-ro passenger ships to have on board curves indicating
the maximum permissible height of the ship's centre of gravity above
the keel (KG), or alternatively the minimum permissible metacentric
height (GM), for a range of draughts or displacements sufficient to
cover all service conditions including the influence of various trims
taking into account the operational limits. However, in resolution
MSC.26(60), there is no reference to this requirement, a fact that
may give rise to different interpretations.
3 Recognising the need for consistent guidance,
the Maritime Safety Committee, at its sixty-fifth session (9 to 17
May 1995), approved interpretations of the provisions of SOLAS regulation II-1/8.7.2 to provide a unified guidance
to the implementation of resolution MSC.26(60), developed by the Sub-Committee
on Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing Vessels Safety (SLF) as
set out in the annex.
4 Member Governments are invited to use these
interpretations when applying amendments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention
concerning existing ro-ro passenger ships, adopted by resolution MSC.26(60).