1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-second
session (17 to 26 May 2000), approved, with a view to ensuring uniform
application of the requirements of SOLAS regulations
II-2/34 and 49 containing
vague wording which is open to diverging interpretations, the unified
interpretations prepared by the Sub-Committee on Fire Protection,
at its forty-fourth session, as set out in the annex.
2 Member Governments are invited to use the annexed
interpretations as guidance when applying relevant provisions of SOLAS
chapter II-2 to fire protection construction, installation, arrangements
and equipment to be installed on board ships on or after 26 May 2000,
in order to fulfill the requirements of the 1974 SOLAS Convention,
and to bring the interpretations to the attention of all parties concerned.
3 Member Governments are also advised to take
into account earlier interpretations to SOLAS chapter II-2 approved
by MSC 69, as given in MSC/Circ.847.