The Council discussed the results
of the conference of the contracting governments to the 1974 International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) held in London from 20 to
29 November. One of the aims of the Conference was to amend the
Convention in order to increase the safety of roll-on roll-off passenger
ferries following the Estonia
disaster on 28 September 1994. In its Resolution of
22 December 1994 on the safety of roll-on roll-off passenger
ferries the Council gave its full support to the work being done under the
aegis of the IMO with a view to the amendment of the SOLAS Convention. The
Council expressed its general satisfaction on the outcome of the Conference,
in particular on the adoption of a resolution defining a framework for the
conclusion of regional agreements applying specific requirements to all
roll-on roll-off passenger ferries operating regular services between
specified ports where shipping and local conditions so require. The Council
noted the Swedish Government’s intention of calling a regional conference in
January 1996 to establish a regional agreement applicable to roll-on
roll-off passenger ferry services in the North Sea and the Baltic
Sea. - The Council adopted a Regulation on the safety management
of roll-on roll-off passenger ferries, the purpose of which is to render
compulsory the advance application, between now and 1 July 1996 for
all vessels and companies operating within the Community, of the ISM code
established by IMO Assembly resolution A.741(18) on the establishment of
an organisation to ensure the safe management of ships.