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The Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Amendment) Regulations, 2006 
Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 01:00 PM

This circular is to inform shipowners, shipmanagers, shipping-agents, masters and officers of Singapore ships of the coming into force of the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention)(Amendment) Regulations, 2006 on 1 July 2006.

The Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention)(Amendment) Regulations, 2006 will come into operation on 1 July 2006. These Regulations put into effect the amendments to the regulations annexed to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS 74) adopted by Resolutions MSC.142(77), MSC.152(78), MSC.153(78) and MSC.170(79) in 2003 and 2004.

2 The amendments affect Chapter II-1 (Construction – Structure, subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installation), Chapter III (Live-saving appliances and arrangements), Chapter IV (Radiocommunications), Chapter V (Safety of navigation), Chapter VII (Carriage of dangerous goods) and Chapter XII (Additional safety measures for bulk carriers).

3 Amendments to the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate and the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate are also made in the form of the statement “Completion date of the survey on which this certificate is based: ………….” being inserted in the respective Certificates.

4 Sections 2 and 3 of the Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate (Form E) are also amended.

5 Some of the significant changes brought about by the amendments are:

(a) Carriage of immersion suits on cargo ships for the total number of persons shown on Form E (Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate). It follows that thermal protective aids are no longer required to be carried on cargo ships except those required to be carried in lifeboats and liferafts as part of the equipment in them. (Reg III/32.3.2)

(b) Additional immersion suits are required to be carried for persons working in remote watch or work stations. (Reg III/32.3.3)

(c) Time frame for annual testing of satellite EPIRBs are prescribed with respect to the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate and the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate respectively. The provision for extending the annual testing period of 12 months interval has been removed. Shore-based maintenance of satellite EPIRBs at intervals not exceeding 5 years is now mandatory. (Reg IV/15.9.1)

(d) Cargo ships of 3,000 grt constructed before 1 July 2002 are required to be fitted with a voyage data recorder (VDR) which may be a simplified voyage data recorder (S-VDR). (Reg V/20.2)

(e) Ships of 500 grt and above engaged on voyages exceeding 48 hours duration are required to submit a daily report to their companies of the ship’s position, course and speed and details of any external or internal conditions affecting the ship’s voyage or normal safety operation of the ship. (Reg V/28.2)

(f) Bulk carriers constructed on or after 1 July 2006 of 150m in length and above of double-side skin construction are required to comply with Chapter XII (Additional safety measures for bulk carriers).

(g) All bulk carriers are required to comply with the Standards for owners’ inspection and maintenance of bulk carrier hatch covers set out in Resolution MSC.169(79), a copy of which can be found in our website at (Reg XII/7.2):
http://www.mpa.gov.sg/circulars_and_notices/shipping_notices/msc169(79).htm

(h) Bulk carriers constructed on or after 1 July 2006 of less than 150m in length are required to be fitted with loading instruments capable of providing intact stability information. (Reg XII/11.3)

(i) Bulk carriers, regardless of date of construction, of 150 m in length and above of single-side skin construction carrying cargo of density of 1,780 kg/m3 and above are conditionally restricted to sail with any cargo hold empty or nearly empty after reaching 10 years of age. (Reg XII/14)

(j) Bulk carriers constructed on or after 1 July 2006 are required to carry free-fall lifeboats. (Reg III/31.1.8)

6 A table of significant changes brought about by the amendments and a table of the amendments in brief are attached.

7 Copies of the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention)(Amendment) Regulations, 2006 (Government Gazette No. S282/2006) may be purchased at:
SNP Corporation Ltd
Legal Publication
Great World City
East Tower, #18-01
1, Kim Seng Promenade
Singapore 237994
Tel: 6826 9691
Fax: 6820 3341
e-mail: legalpub@snpcorp.com
website: www.snpcorp.com
Mon – Fri: 9.30 am – 6 pm
Sat, Sun and Public Holidays: Closed.

8 Any queries relating to this circular should be directed to Mr. Tan Leong Beng at Tel No. 6375 6207.

KHONG SHEN PING
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
6 JUNE 2006