VZCZCXYZ0039
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLO #6448/01 2491504
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061504Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8786
INFO RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-CI/G-L/G-P/G-PS/G-PSE//
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS LONDON 006448 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO IO/OIC FOR M. MORRISSEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: IMO AORC ASEC UK
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO): REPORT OF THE 
FORTY-NINTH SESSION OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON STABILITY AND LOAD LINES 
AND ON FISHING VESSELS SAFETY, LONDON, 24-28 JULY, 2006. 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 
Sub-Committee (S/C) on Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing 
Vessels Safety (SLF) held its 49th session at IMO headquarters in 
London from July 24-28, 2006, under the chair of Mr. Rob Gehling 
(Australia). 59 Member Governments, 1 Associate Member, 2 
representatives from United Nations Specialized Agencies, 1 observer 
from an Inter-governmental Organization, and 11 observers from 
Non-governmental Organizations participated. Following is the size 
of several delegations: United Kingdom - 18, Germany - 14, Japan - 
12, Norway - 12, Republic of Korea - 11, China - 8, Italy - 8, 
France - 7, USA - 7, and Bahamas - 6. 
 
The following Working Groups were established with the associated 
attendance of countries and observers: Subdivision and Damage 
Stability (19 countries, 4 observers), Intact Stability (19 
countries, 2 observers), and Safety of Small Fishing Vessels (20 
countries, 4 observers). Accomplishments and outcomes of particular 
interest include the following: 
 
¶A. The Subdivision and Damage Stability (SDS) Working Group 
completed Interim Explanatory Notes for the new harmonized SOLAS 
Chapter II-1 damage stability regulations, which were then agreed to 
by the S/C and forwarded to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 82) 
for approval as a MSC circular. Although the new damage stability 
regulations will not enter into force until 1 January 2009, this 
interim guidance is essential to allow future passenger ship designs 
to proceed. Regarding a proposal from Sweden and the United States 
on the operation of watertight doors, the S/C decided this important 
issue should be considered as a separate agenda item, and requested 
a new work program item on "Guidance on the impact of open 
watertight doors on survivability under SOLAS regulation II-1/22.4" 
be approved by MSC 82 as an urgent matter. The SDS Correspondence 
Group was re-established to continue development of the Explanatory 
Notes and to develop a draft MSC circular on Guidelines for damage 
control plans and information to the master. 
 
¶B. The SDS Working Group also completed work on Passenger Ship 
Safety items. New draft SOLAS regulation II-1/8-1 regarding return 
to port capability for passenger ships in the damaged condition, and 
regulation II-1/22-1 regarding flooding detection systems for 
passenger ships, were finalized and agreed to by the S/C for 
submission to MSC 82 for consideration and adoption. The S/C also 
reviewed and agreed to a draft MSC circular on Performance Standards 
for the Systems and Services to Remain Operational on Passenger 
Ships for Safe Return to Port After a Casualty for submission to MSC 
82 for approval. The SDS Correspondence Group was tasked to prepare 
guidelines for flooding detection systems in draft SOLAS regulation 
II-1/22-1. This concludes the S/C's work on the Passenger Ship 
Safety agenda item. 
 
¶C. The Intact Stability (IS) Working Group completed its work on the 
revised Code on Intact Stability (IS Code) except for matters 
related to: 1) an equivalency section and 2) determining the most 
appropriate way to amend the SOLAS and Load Lines regulations so 
that the entry-into-force date is the same under both conventions. 
Discussions on a framework for development of new performance-based 
stability criteria indicate that a U.S. preferred approach is 
likely. The IS Working Group also completed work on:   1) a draft 
MSC circular on revised guidance to the master in dangerous 
conditions, 2) two sets of explanatory notes related to the IS Code, 
and 3) guidelines for the approval of stability instruments.  All 
were forwarded to the MSC for approval as MSC circulars.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. DEVELOPMENT OF EXPLANATORY NOTES FOR HARMONIZED SOLAS CHAPTER 
II-1. The SDS Working Group met the entire week, and completed 
Interim Explanatory Notes for the new harmonized damage stability 
regulations in SOLAS Chapter II-1. The Interim Explanatory Notes 
were agreed to by the S/C and forwarded to MSC 82 for approval as an 
MSC Circular. Although the new regulations will not enter into force 
until 1 January 2009, this interim guidance is considered essential 
to allow future passenger ship designs to proceed. Proposed 
guidelines on damage consequence diagrams were not included in the 
Interim Explanatory Notes; however, it was agreed that this guidance 
should be further developed as a new MSC circular. It was also 
agreed not to include guidance proposed by Sweden and the United 
States for determining the impact of open watertight doors on 
survivability in the Interim Explanatory Notes, as it was decided 
this important issue should be considered as a new agenda item. 
Accordingly, the S/C submitted justification for a new work program 
item "Guidance on the impact of open watertight doors on 
survivability under SOLAS regulation II-1/22.4" to MSC 82 for 
approval as an urgent matter. Regarding the Fire Protection S/C's 
proposed definition of "unfavourable conditions of trim and list" 
for inclusion in SOLAS regulation III/3, the S/C agreed that the new 
definition was not appropriate in the context of performance 
standards related to probabilistic damage stability and should be 
 
 
reconsidered at MSC 82. The SDS Correspondence Group was 
re-established to: (a) develop additions and improvements to the 
Interim Explanatory Notes, and identify any of the new harmonized 
damage stability regulations that might need improvement or 
clarification; (b) develop a draft MSC circular on Guidelines for 
damage control plans and information to the master; and (c) finalize 
draft revisions to resolution A.266(VIII) regarding cross-flooding 
arrangements. Sweden and the United States, as they have for over a 
decade, will co-coordinate the Correspondence Group. 
 
¶3. PASSENGER SHIP SAFETY. The SDS Working Group completed its work 
on Passenger Ship Safety. Finalized draft SOLAS regulations and an 
associated MSC circular were then agreed to by the S/C for 
submission to MSC 82 for final consideration and adoption. The new 
draft SOLAS regulation II-1/8-1, regarding return to port capability 
for passenger ships in the damaged condition, includes a propulsion 
redundancy requirement for return to port when subject to flooding 
of any single watertight compartment. It also has an enhanced 
survivability criterion for damage cases where propulsion is lost. 
The S/C was divided on a suitable passenger ship size applicability 
threshold for this new regulation, and agreed to include two 
options--a 400 or more persons option and a 1,500 or more persons 
option-- for decision at MSC 82. An associated draft MSC circular on 
Performance Standards for the Systems and Services to Remain 
Operational on Passenger Ships for Safe Return to Port After a 
Casualty was also finalized for approval at MSC 82. The new draft 
SOLAS regulation II-1/22-1 regarding flooding detection systems for 
passenger ships applies to passenger ships carrying 36 or more 
persons. The specific flooding detection system details for this new 
regulation will be provided in guidelines which the SDS 
Correspondence Group has been tasked to prepare for consideration at 
SLF 50. This concludes the S/C's work under the Passenger Ship 
Safety agenda item, and it was agreed to delete it. 
 
¶4. REVISION OF THE INTACT STABILITY CODE. The IS Working Group met 
the entire week, completed final technical editing of the draft 
revised IS Code, completed four MSC circulars, and worked on 
elements of the IS plan of action. The IS Working Group was not able 
to determine the proper way to implement the mandatory provisions of 
the draft revised IS Code (i.e., Part A). The S/C agreed that 
amendment of both SOLAS and the 1988 Load Lines Protocol was 
appropriate and that such amendments should be coordinated to enter 
into force at the same time. Accordingly, the S/C tasked the Intact 
Stability Correspondence Group to recommend a plan to achieve this 
goal and to suggest amendment text. The Working Group also discussed 
whether or not Part A should include an "equivalency provision" 
(similar to those found in other Conventions and Codes), and the 
Correspondence Group was also tasked to consider and propose a 
solution. In other action, the S/C also agreed to several draft MSC 
circulars completed by the IS Working Group for submission to MSC 82 
for approval: (a) Explanatory Notes to the Interim Guidelines for 
Alternative Assessment of the Weather Criterion (MSC.1/Circ.1200); 
(b) Explanatory Notes to the Intact Stability Code; (c) Guidelines 
for the Approval of Stability Instruments; and (d) Revised Guidance 
to the Master for Avoiding Dangerous Situations in Adverse Weather 
and Sea Conditions (MSC/Circ.707). In addition to the matters 
mentioned above, the Correspondence Group was further tasked to 
continue work on the items in the updated plan of action for intact 
stability work (such as consideration of regulations for certain 
types of ships and development of performance-based criteria) and to 
prepare recommendations for any necessary amendments to the work 
program. 
 
¶5. SAFETY OF SMALL FISHING VESSELS. The Working Group on Safety of 
Small Fishing Vessels continued development of draft Safety 
Standards for Small Fishing Vessels, on the basis of the 
consolidated draft text provided in the Correspondence Group report. 
Noting the Working Group's recommendation, the S/C agreed to use 
"Safety recommendations for decked fishing vessels of less than 12 
metres in length and undecked fishing vessels" as the guidance 
document title. The amended draft safety recommendations will be 
provided in part 2 of the Working Group's report, which will be 
issued shortly after the session. The S/C re-established the 
Correspondence Group, under the coordination of South Africa, to 
finalize the draft Safety recommendations for consideration at SLF 
¶50. 
 
¶6. HARMONIZATION OF DAMAGE STABILITY PROVISIONS IN OTHER IMO 
INSTRUMENTS. The S/C considered the possible harmonization of the 
1988 Load Lines Protocol by deletion of the footnote in new SOLAS 
regulation II-1/4.1, which refers to the 1988 Load Lines Protocol. 
After an extensive debate, the S/C agreed to a compromise solution 
that footnotes .6 and .7 would be retained but with a new limitation 
to only apply to bulk carriers that do not carry deck cargo. 
Regarding harmonization of the INF Code, the S/C agreed to maintain 
the existing standard with minor editorial amendments to align with 
the new harmonized damage stability regulations in SOLAS Chapter 
 
 
II-1. The draft amendments to the INF Code, which is a mandatory 
Code under SOLAS Chapter VII, were forwarded to MSC 82 for approval 
and subsequent adoption. This concludes the S/C's work under this 
agenda item, and it was agreed to delete it. 
 
¶7. TONNAGE MEASUREMENT OF OPEN-TOP CONTAINERSHIPS. Having agreed at 
SLF 48 to amend the provisional formula for reduced gross tonnage of 
open-top containerships prescribed in TM.5/Circ.4 (the reduced gross 
tonnage is only for the calculation of tonnage-based fees), the S/C 
considered the draft amendments provided in the Correspondence Group 
report. The S/C agreed to the proposed amendment text in general, 
but decided a MSC resolution concerning the tonnage measurement of 
open-top containerships was preferred to an amendment to 
TM.5/Circ.4. A Drafting Group developed a draft MSC resolution 
concerning the tonnage measurement of open-top containerships, which 
was then agreed to by the S/C for submission to MSC 82 with a view 
to adoption. This concludes the S/C's work under this agenda item, 
and it was agreed to delete it. 
 
¶8. REVIEW OF THE SPECIAL PURPOSE SHIPS (SPS) CODE. This item was 
established to update the SPS Code to reflect changes since it was 
adopted in 1983, and is being coordinated by the Ship Design and 
Equipment S/C. The primary task for SLF is to address the damage 
stability aspects and update them to reflect the new harmonized 
damage stability regulations in SOLAS Chapter II-1. In this context 
the S/C considered several options for damage stability criteria 
provided in the SDS Correspondence Group report, as well as 
additional proposed amendments from Norway. The S/C made several 
preliminary decisions, then agreed to establish a Correspondence 
Group under Australia's coordination, to develop draft amendments to 
the SPS Code for consideration at SLF 50. The target completion date 
was extended to 2007. 
 
¶9. NEXT SESSION. The S/C unanimously re-elected Mr. Rob Gehling 
(Australia) as Chairman for 2007. Professor Zbigniew Szozda (Poland) 
was also re-elected as Vice-Chairman. The Fiftieth Session of the 
S/C is tentatively scheduled for April 30 to May 4, 2007. 
 
TUTTLE