Summary of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee’s 66th Session

Bulk Carrier Safety
Status of Proposed Regulation
Performance Standards
Operational Matters

Ship Operations
ISM Code Implementation
Shipboard Emergency Plans
Loading and Unloading of Solid Bulk Cargo
Entry Into Enclosed Spaces
One Man Bridge Watch

Cargo Ships
Cargo Securing Manuals
New Damage Stability Requirements
Bulk Cargo Code Amendments
Vehicle Deck Ventilation

All Ship Types
Ship Design, Construction and Maintenance
Precautions Against Electrical Shock
Composite Materials
Life Saving Appliances and Arrangements
Thermal Protection Test
Approval of Inflatable Liferafts
Water-Based Fire Extinguishing Systems

Formal Safety Assessment
Application to the Regulatory Process
Retroactive Application of Regulation

Tankers and Bulk Carriers
Venting and Inerting Double Hull Spaces
Ships Carrying Benzene Mixtures
Double Hull Tanker Stability
Revisions to the Enhanced Survey Program
Ballast Tank Coatings

Passenger Ships
Damage Stability
Passenger Ship Arrangements

The 66th Session of the Maritime Safety Committee met from 28 May to 6 June 1996 in London. More than one third (79 Member States) of the total Contracting Governments to the SOLAS Convention were present during MSC-66. As such, the MSC was considered to be an “expanded” Committee thus enabling the approval of a number of amendments to the SOLAS Convention. Additionally, the MSC accepted numerous draft Assembly Resolutions which will be forwarded to the 20th Assembly for final adoption in November 1997.