imo and the safety of fishing vessels: past, present and future

Part B - Vessel requirements. Including number and type of survival and rescue boats, provision of
lifejackets and so on.
Part C - Life-saving appliances requirements. Includes specifications for these appliances
Chapter VIII - Emergency procedures, musters and drills
Applies to new and existing vessels of 24 metres in length and over. Covers emergency alarm system,
muster list and emergency instructions, and abandon ship training and drills.
Chapter IX - Radio communications
The Chapter includes requirements for vessels to be equipped for the Global Maritime Distress and
Safety System (GMDSS) and the Chapter mirrors regulations contained in the International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, Chapter IV.
Part A - Application and definitions. Applies to new and existing vessels of 45 metres in length and
over.
Part B - Ship requirements. Includes requirements for radio installations on all vessels and on those
sailing in specified sea areas.
Chapter X - Shipborne navigational equipment and arrangements
The Chapter applies to new and existing vessels and includes requirements for carriage of
navigational equipment for vessels 24 metres in length and over, vessels of less than 24 metres in
length and vessels of 45 metres in length and over.
Amendment Procedure
The Protocol (Article 11) allows for amendments to be adopted either by the Maritime Safety
Committee of IMO or by a Conference of Parties to the Protocol.
Amendments enter into force on a specified date unless a required number of objections are received.
About the Regional standards
The Protocol applies to vessels over 24 metres in length, but certain Chapters are applicable to
vessels of 45 metres in length and over. The Protocol, however, allows for Administrations to
determine which particular regulations of these Chapters should apply to vessels of between 24
metres and 45 metres in length (Article 3 (4)).
To ensure uniform standards, the Protocol encourages Administrations to establish uniform regional standards
to apply to fishing vessels operating in the same region, taking into account mode of operation, sheltered
nature and climatic conditions in that region (Article 3 (5)). Regional agreements in operation include:
Guidelines for the safety of fishing vessels of 24 m and over but less than 45 m in length operating in the East
and South-East Asia region, adopted at a Conference in Tokyo in February 1997.
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