Shipping Circulars
No. 4 of 2002

25 Feb 2002

Applicable to: This circular should be brought to the attenntion to all ship owners and managers, shipmasters, ship's officers and crew and all parties concerned.

1. At the 73rd session of the Maritime Safety Committee in December 2000, amendments to SOLAS 74 were adopted. The amendments included a revised SOLAS Chapter II-2(Construction - Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction). The amendments will enter into force on 1 July 2002.
   
   
2. A new requirement is the carriage of Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBDs)on board all ships. The regulations for EEBDs apply to ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002. Ships constructed before 1 July 2002 are to comply with the regulations not later than the date of the first survey after 1 July 2002.
   
   
3. The new regulations do not specify the number of EEBDs to be carried in machinery spaces of ships nor their location. Hence theAnnexto this circular serves to clarify the requirements and recommendations for Singapore-flag ships.
   
   
4. MSC/Circ.849"Guidelines for the performance, location, use and care of EEBDs", dated 8 June 1998, is attached for further information.