Amendments to MARPOL 73/78 Annex I, notably the addition of a new Regulation 37.4, will enter into force on 1 January 2007, as noted in ClassNK Information No. TEC-0608 issued on 22 November 2004. From 1 January 2007 onwards, all oil tankers of 5,000 tons deadweight or more will be required to have prompt access to shore-based computer programs for damage stability and residual structural strength calculations. This new requirement will apply to both new oil tankers as well as to existing oil tankers.
ClassNK will adopt the procedures described below with respect to the handling of this new requirement. Accordingly, shipowners are kindly requested to take the steps necessary to have the applicable ships in their respective fleets comply with this new requirement by no later than 1 January 2007. These procedures are based on the criteria with which the fifty-fifth session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 55) in October 2006 concurred.

1. Steps to be taken to comply with the new requirement
(1) Establishment of access
All applicable tankers will be required to have a suitable means for promptly accessing a shored-based firm* having computer programs capable of conducting damage stability and residual structural strength calculations for the ship, and further to document this means of access and to retain a copy of such documentation onboard. In the event that the shored-based firm is an entity entrusted with the task of conducting the calculations, the means of accessing the firm from the ship is to be clearly described in the document.
In addition, a copy of the contract for such calculation services (see item (3) below) is to be attached to this document. For example, if the means of access is via the ship management company, then the specific manner of contact (ship ? ship management company ? firm providing calculation service) is to be clearly indicated. Further, a direct means of accessing the calculation service provider from the ship directly when necessary is also to be clearly described.

* "Shore-based firm" means the shore facility that maintains the damage stability and residual structural strength calculation program and that provides the calculation service.
The shore-based firm is to be one of the following:
(i) an entity entrusted with providing the calculation service, such as a classification society, consulting or other specialized company, or shipyard
(ii) the ship management company.
(To be continued)