The following is a summary of the decisions made by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) held from 27 November 2000 to 6 December 2000. These requirements are expected to enter into force on 1 July 2002, together with the requirements introduced by classNK Technical Information No. 283.

Further details regarding the implementation of these requirements by the Society will be provided in due course.

(Note: "New ships" given hereunder means ships commence their construction on or after the date of entry into force (1 July 2002) and "Existing ships" means ships would have completed keel lay prior to this date or would have completed construction and would have delivered by the date.)

1 Amendments to the SOLAS Convention (Resolution MSC.99(73))
Applies to Ships as described by each respective regulation. There are regulations which apply to existing ships

Date of entry into force 1 July 2002

Summary Chapter II-1

- Reg. 3-4 (Emergency towing arrangements on tankers)
For new tankers, the "rapid deployment" requirement will be imposed for either bow or aft arrangement. (Previously it is imposed to the aft arrangement only. By this amendment, it will be possible to make the bow arrangement as "paid deployment" instead of the aft)

- Reg. 3-5 (New installation of materials containing asbestos)
New installation of materials which contain asbestos will be prohibited except for essential use, such as watertight joints and linings used for the circulation of fluids at high temperature or pressure.

- Reg. 43.2.2 (Emergency source of electrical power in cargo ships)
Cargo pump rooms of new tankers are added to the list of places where emergency lighting is required to be provided for a period of 18 hours.

Chapter II-2
The whole chapter has been revised in order to meet the following objectives:

(1) To code with the new technologies and ideas.
Part F of the chapter "Alternative design and arrangements" has been inserted to cope with new technologies and new designs.
(2) To reorganise existing requirements by functions
The existing chapter had been divided by types of ships. However, the revised chapter is divided by function, I.e., PREVENTION, SUPPRESSION, ESCAPE, OPERATIONAL REQUIREMNETS and SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS.
(3) To separate specific requirements for systems and requirement and re-organize as a mandatory code called the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code)
Same as the LSA code, the code is made mandatory by the reference to the convention.
(4) To incorporate IMO interpretation of vague expressions
As a result of the incorporation, interpretations previously given in the "non-mandatory" guidelines are now made mandatory as they are now situated in the convention.
(5) To reflect new requirements
New requirements have been set force regarding installations/arrangements such as "Fixed Local Application Fire-fighting Systems for Machinery Spaces of Category A", "Emergency Escape Breathing Devices", "Fire Safety of Deep-fat Cooking Equipment", "Fire Protection of Cargo Pump rooms", "Isolation of Oil Fuel Piping for Multi-engine Installations " and "Training Manual/Fire Safety Operational Booklet".