1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-eighth
session (12 to 21 May 2004), noting the urgent need to give effect
to measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats and, in particular,
to reduce personal injuries resulting from such accidents, adopted
an amendment to SOLAS regulation III/19.3.3.3 in relation to the operating crew being aboard lifeboats at
the time of launching during abandon ship drills. The amendment is
not scheduled to enter into force until 1 July 2006.
2 Recognizing the effect of this amendment in
improving the occupational health and safety of seafarers and, thus,
the importance of avoiding delays in relation to this matter, the
Committee, at its seventy-ninth session (1 to 10 December 2004), urged
Contracting Governments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention to implement
the amendment prior to its scheduled date of entry into force. The
Committee further urged Contracting Governments to provide appropriate
documentation for ships flying their flag to which such early implementation
has been granted and port States to accept such early implementation.
3 The Committee also urged Contracting Governments,
ship masters and shipowners to take care that ship’s crew are
not exposed to new or additional risks in accessing or exiting lifeboats
once they are deployed/recovered unmanned, and that a safe means of
access is provided.