Council Decision
of 8 May 2014
on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union at the International Maritime Organization during the 93rd session of the Maritime Safety Committee on the adoption of amendments to SOLAS Regulations II-1/29, II-2/3, 2/9.7, 2/13.4, 2/18, III/20, the Life Saving Appliances Code and the 2011 Enhanced Survey Programme Code
(2014/280/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 100(2) and 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
Action by the European Union in the sector of maritime transport should aim to improve maritime safety. The main reference framework for the safety standards should be the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (the 1974 SOLAS Convention), as amended, which encompasses internationally agreed standards for passenger ships and high-speed passenger craft engaged on international voyages.
The IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meeting at its 92nd session approved, among others, amendments to SOLAS Regulations II-1/29, II-2/3, 2/9.7, 2/13.4, 2/18, III/20, the Life Saving Appliances Code and the 2011 Enhanced Survey Programme Code. Those amendments are expected to be adopted in the 93rd session of the MSC, to be held in May 2014.
The amendments to SOLAS Regulation II-2/13.4 will introduce additional means of escape from machinery spaces for new passenger and cargo ships. The provisions of Regulation 6, Part B, Chapter II-2 of Annex 1 to Directive 2009/45/EC (Means of escape) covers these issues and are derived from the SOLAS provisions which are now expected to be amended.
The amendments to SOLAS Regulation II-2/18 concerning helicopter landing areas on ro-ro passenger ships for new ships will include a requirement for fire-fighting foam application systems to be in accordance with IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1431 of 31 May 2012 on Guidelines for the approval of helicopter facility foam fire-fighting appliances. Regulation 18, Part B, Chapter II-2 of Annex 1 to Directive 2009/45/EC provides that ships equipped with helidecks shall comply with the requirements of the SOLAS regulation as revised per 1 January 2003 which are now expected to be amended.
The amendments to SOLAS Chapter III, Regulation 20 and associated requirements for periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats and rescue boats for all ships aim to make these detailed requirements mandatory. Chapter III of Annex 1 to Directive 2009/45/EC provides that maintenance and inspections of life-saving appliances shall be carried out in accordance with the same requirements of SOLAS Regulation III/20, which are now expected to be amended.
The amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/29 concerning requirements for steering gear trials will introduce further requirements to demonstrate compliance during sea trials. Regulations 6 and 7, Part C, Chapter II-1 of Annex 1 to Directive 2009/45/EC are derived from and replicate the same provisions of SOLAS in Chapter II-1, Part C Regulation 29 on requirements for the main and auxiliary steering gear which are now expected to be amended.
The above amendments to SOLAS Regulations II-1/29, II-2/3, 2/9.7, 2/13.4, 2/18, III/20 and the Life Saving Appliances Code, will apply to passenger ships and high-speed passenger craft which are engaged on domestic voyages, pursuant to Articles 1 and 3 of Directive 2009/45/EC. Therefore, to the extent that they affect passenger ships and high-speed passenger craft which are engaged on domestic voyages, these amendments fall under the exclusive competence of the Union.
The Union is neither a member of the IMO nor a contracting party to the conventions and codes concerned. It is therefore necessary for the Council to authorise the Member States to express the position of the Union and express their consent to be bound by these amendments, to the extent that they fall under the exclusive competence of the Union,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: