NVIC 06-02: 2000 amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2

NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 6 0 2 Subj: 2000 AMENDMENTS TO SOLAS CHAPTER II-2 Ref: (a) Interpretations of SOLAS Chapter II-2, COMDTPUB P16700.4 NVIC 10-99

2000 Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2. — PURPOSE. On 1 July 2002, MSC Resolution MSC.99(73), which amends Chapter II-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) will come into force for new ships. Several of the amendments are retro-active and will apply to existing ships. This document provides information for application to SOLAS vessels. Unless the guidance in this document indicates that it is only for U.S. flag ships, it applies to all SOLAS ships.

PURPOSE. On 1 July 2002, MSC Resolution MSC.99(73), which amends Chapter II-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) will come into force for new ships. Several of the amendments are retro-active and will apply to existing ships. This document provides information for application to SOLAS vessels. Unless the guidance in this document indicates that it is only for U.S. flag ships, it applies to all SOLAS ships.

2000 Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2. — ACTION. Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) should use this Guidance when inspecting vessels for compliance with the retro-active provisions of the SOLAS 2000 Amendments, particularly enclosure (2) which provides clarification of the requirements for the carriage and tracking of Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBDs). Internet release authorized.

ACTION. Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) should use this Guidance when inspecting vessels for compliance with the retro-active provisions of the SOLAS 2000 Amendments, particularly enclosure (2) which provides clarification of the requirements for the carriage and tracking of Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBDs). Internet release authorized.

2000 Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2. — DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.

DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.

2000 Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2. — BACKGROUND.

a. The 2000 Amendments to Chapter II-2 update the SOLAS 1997 regulations by adding and harmonizing numerous amendments that have been issued by the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Sub-Committee on Fire Protection since 1996. A majority of the amendments previously existed as interpretations in MSC/Circ. 847, which is provided in reference (a). This change will result in making the selected interpretations mandatory for vessels whose keel laying date is on or after July 1, 2002. For vessels constructed before this, the interpretations in reference (a) will remain as guidance. b. Not all of the interpretations in MSC/Circ. 847 have been added to the revised Chapter II-2. IMO is expected to issue a new circular with interpretations to SOLAS 2000, which will include the information in MSC/Circ. 847 that was not included as amendments. Until the new circular is available, it will be necessary to compare the interpretations in reference (a) with the revised SOLAS chapter to determine if a particular interpretation is advisory or mandatory. c. The revised Chapter II-2 has been re-organized and re-numbered. This was necessary to adapt its use as a performance-based standard, and to allow the details for the various fire protection systems required by Chapter II-2 to be removed from the standard and placed into a new Fire Safety Systems Code (FSS Code). The FSS Code is now a mandatory instrument that is incorporated by reference in Chapter II-2.

2000 Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2. — DISCUSSION. In addition to the amendments taken from MSC/Circ. 847, the revised Chapter contains significant new requirements:

a. A new Part E has been added that includes regulations for the operational readiness of fire protection systems. b. New requirements have been added to regulation 13 for emergency escape breathing devices (EEBDs) on most new and existing ships. c. Regulation 10 will require fixed local-application extinguishing systems to protect high hazard areas in the engine rooms of most ships in addition to the required area-wide fire extinguishing systems. d. SOLAS 2000 now includes a performance-based option that permits the use of engineering evaluations to justify ship specific alternative design and arrangements in lieu of complying with the prescriptive regulations.

2000 Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2. — IMPLEMENTATION. Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection, are encouraged to bring this Circular to the attention of appropriate individuals in the marine industry within their zones. Guidance is provided in the enclosures as follows:

a. Enclosure (1) discusses the regulations in the 2000 SOLAS Amendments that apply to existing vessels, and includes discussion of the new fixed local-application extinguishing systems required for machinery spaces of Category A. b. Enclosure (2) discusses EEBDs and includes guidance on Coast Guard policy for the implementation of the new requirements on U.S. flag vessels. c. Enclosure (3) reproduces new SOLAS regulation 17 for alternative design and arrangements. d. Enclosure (4) is IMO's MSC/Circ.1002 containing guidance on the use and application of regulation 17. e. Enclosure (5) is a cross reference list that shows where the SOLAS 1997 regulations appear in SOLAS 2000 and the Fire Safety Systems (FSS) Code. PAUL A. PLUTA Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection Encl: (1) SOLAS Chapter II-2 2000 Amendments Applying to Existing Ships. (2) Guidance on the Carriage of Emergency Escape Breathing Devices Aboard U.S. Flag SOLAS Vessels. (3) Alternative Design and Arrangements. (4) MSC/Circ.1002, Guidelines on Alternative Design and Arrangements for Fire Safety. (5) Cross Reference List Non-Standard Distribution: D:d Except Baltimore, Moriches, and Grand Haven. D:l CG Liaison Officer MILSEALIFTCOMD (Code N-7CG), CG Liaison Officer RSPA (DHM-22), CG Liaison Officer MARAD (MAR-742), CG Liaison Officer JUSMAGPHIL, CG Liaison Officer ABS, Maritime Liaison Office Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (1). ABS Americas (1). NOAA Fleet Inspection Office (1). U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (1). ---