Multilateral




Amendment (Adoption of Mandatory Ship Reporting Systems) to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1 November 1974, London, 1994
Done at London 23 May 1994
Entered into force 1 January 1996
Depositary: International Maritime Organization of the United Nations, England
Primary source citation: Copy of text provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation
ANNEX 2

RESOLUTION MSC. 31(63).
adopted on 23 May 1994
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974
THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,
RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,
RECALLING FURTHER article VIII(b) of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”, concerning the procedures for amending the Annex to the Convention, other than the provisions of chapter I,
HAVING CONSIDERED, at its sixty-third session, amendments to the Convention proposed and circulated in accordance with article VIII(b)(i) thereof,
1. ADOPTS, in accordance with article VIII(b)(iv) of the Convention, the amendments to the Convention, the text of which is set out in the Annexes to the present resolution;
2. DETERMINES, in accordance with article VIII(b)(vi)(2)(bb) of the Convention, that:
(a) the amendments set out in Annex 1 shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 July 1995; and
(b) the amendments set out in Annex 2 shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 January 1998;
unless, prior to these dates, more than one third of the Contracting Governments to the Convention or Contracting Governments the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than fifty per cent of the gross tonnage of the world’s merchant fleet, have notified their objections to the amendments;
3. INVITES Contracting Governments to note that, in accordance with article VIII(b)(vii)(2) of the Convention:
(a) the amendments set out in Annex 1 shall enter into force on 1 January 1996; and
(b) the amendments set out in Annex 2 shall enter into force on 1 July 1998;
upon their acceptance in accordance with paragraph 2 above;
4. REQUESTS the Secretary-General, in conformity with article VIII(b)(v) of the Convention, to transmit certified copies of the present resolution and the text of the amendments contained in the Annexes to all Contracting Governments to the Convention;
5. FURTHER REQUESTS the Secretary-General to transmit copies of the resolution and its Annexes to Members of the Organization which are not Contracting Governments to the Convention.
434 The Marine Mammal Commission Compendium
 ANNEX 1

AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974

Regulation V/8-1 - Ship reporting systems

1 The following new regulation V/8-1 is added:

"Regulation 8-1

Ship reporting systems

(a) Ship reporting systems contribute to safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation, and protection of the marine environment. A ship reporting system, when adopted and implemented in accordance with the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization pursuant to this regulation, shall be used by all ships, or certain categories of ships or ships carrying certain cargoes in accordance with the provisions of each system so adopted.

(b) The Organization is recognized as the only international body for developing guidelines, criteria and regulations and on an international level for ship reporting systems. Contracting Governments shall refer proposals for the adoption of ship reporting systems to the Organization. The Organization will collate and disseminate to Contracting Governments all relevant information with regard to any adopted ship reporting system.

(c) This regulation and its associated guidelines and criteria do not apply to any warship, naval auxiliary  or other vessel owned or operated by a Contracting Government and used, for the time being, only on government non-commercial service; however, such ships are encouraged to participate in ship reporting systems that have been adopted in accordance with this regulation.

(d) The initiation of action for establishing a ship reporting system is the responsibility of the Government or Governments concerned. In developing such systems, provisions of the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization shall be taken into account.

(e) Ship reporting systems not submitted to the Organization for adoption do not necessarily need to comply with this regulation. However, Governments implementing such systems are encouraged to follow, whereever possible, the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization. Contracting Governments may submit such systems to the Organization for recognition.

 


* Refer to guidelines and criteria to be adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization by resolution MSC.[ ](64). Refer also to
the General principles for ship reporting systems and ship reporting requirements, including guidelines for reporting incidents involving dan-
gerous goods, harmful substances and/or marine pollutants, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.648(16).
Multilateral / Marine Mammals 
 (f) Where two or more Governments have a common interest in a particular area, they should formulate proposals for a co-ordinated ship reporting system an the basis of agreement between them. Before proceeding with a proposal for adoption of a ship reporting system, the Organization shall disseminate details of the proposal to those Governments which have a common interest in the area covered by the proposed system. Where a co-ordinated ship reporting system is adopted and established, it shall have uniform procedures and operations.

(g) After adoption of a ship reporting system in accordance with this regulation, the Government or Governments concerned shall take all measures necessary for the promulgation of any information need for the efficient and effective use of the system. Any adopted ship reporting system shall have the capability of interaction and the ability to assist ships with information when necessary. Such systems shall be operated in accordance with the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization pursuant to this regulation.

(h) The master of a ship shall comply with the requirements of adopted ship reporting systems and report to the appropriate authority all information required in accordance with the provisions of each such system.

(i) All adopted ship reporting systems and actions taken to enforce compliance with those systems shall be consistent with international law, including the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

(j) Nothing in this regulation or its associated guidlines and criteria shall prejudice the rights and duties of Governments under international law or the legal regime of international straits.

(k) The participation of ships in accordance with the provisions of adopted ship reporting systems shall be free of charge to the ships concerned.

(1) The Organization shall ensure that adopted ship reporting systems are reviewed under the guidelines and criteria developed by the Organization.

436 The Marine Mammal Commission Compendium

* Refer to guidelines and criteria to be adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization by resolution MSC.[ ](64). Refer also to
the General principles for ship reporting systems and ship reporting requirements, including guidelines for reporting incidents involving
dangerous goods, harmful substances and/or marine pollutants, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.648(16).