THE CONFERENCE,

HAVING ADOPTED the amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS Convention) concerning radiocommunications for the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS),

NOTING that the amendments will enter into force on 1 February 1992 and that these amendments include new equipment requirements for radio life-saving appliances,

NOTING FURTHER that the radio life-saving appliances fitted before 1 February 1992 in accordance with the 1983 Amendments to the SOLAS Convention will have to be replaced by 1 February 1995 with regard to survival craft EPIRBs and portable two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus,

RECOGNIZING the need for ships' equipment to have as long an amortization period as possible,

RECOGNIZING FURTHER that the early carriage of GMDSS radio life-saving appliances will improve safety at sea,

BEARING IN MIND that the carriage of new equipment required for survival craft in the GMDSS does not include any capability of alerting prior to the introduction of satellite EPIRBs,

1. RECOMMENDS Administrations to encourage:
(a) the early implementation of the GMDSS provisions with respect to radio life-saving appliances instead of the provisions in the 1983 Amendments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention;
(b) ships to carry a satellite EPIRB or ensure that they comply with the requirements of, as appropriate, regulations III/6.2.1 or 6.2.2 or both of the 1983 SOLAS Amendments;

2. FURTHER RECOMMENDS that, where a means of transmitting signals for locating is provided on board a ship, Administrations accept a satellite EPIRB as equivalent to the survival craft EPIRBs required by regulation III/6.2.3 of the 1983 Amendments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention.