International Ocean Institute Training Programme

III requires all ro-ro passenger ships to be provided with a helicopter pick-up area and
existing ro-ro passenger ships were required to comply with this regulation not later than the
first periodical survey after 1 July 1997.
The requirement for a helicopter landing area for all passenger ships of 130 metres in length
and upwards was deferred to 1 July 1999 but it was decided to amend the regulation to make
this requirement applicable to ro-ro passenger ships only.
The December 2000 amendments
Adoption: 6 December 2000
Entry into force: 1 July 2002 (Under tacit acceptance)
A number of amendments were adopted.
A revised SOLAS chapter V (Safety of Navigation) brings in a new mandatory requirement
for voyage data recorders voyage data recorders (VDRs) to assist in accident investigations.
Regulation 20 requires the following ships to fit VDRs:
- passenger ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002;
- ro-ro passenger ships constructed before 1 July 2002 not later than the first survey on or
after 1 July 2002
- passenger ships other than ro-ro passenger ships constructed before 1 July 2002 not later
than 1 January 2004; and·
- ships, other than passenger ships, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or
after 1 July 2002.
The new chapter also requires automatic identification systems (AIS), capable of providing
information about the ship to other ships and to coastal authorities automatically, to be fitted
aboard all ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards engaged on international voyages, cargo
ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards not engaged on international voyages and passenger
ships irrespective of size built on or after 1 July 2002.
It also applies to ships engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002,
according to the following timetable:
- passenger ships, not later than 1 July 2003;
- tankers, not later than the first survey for safety equipment on or after 1 July 2003;
- ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage and upwards, not
later than 1 July 2004;
- ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less
than 50,000 gross tonnage, not later than 1 July 2005;
- ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less