Please be informed that amendment of SOLAS was adopted at IMO MSC 84 on May 2008 and "Emergency Towing Booklet"(ETB) should be provided for all ships engaged in international voyage. Please be informed of the contents of the ETB initial examination as follows. (Please refer to Attachment1)

1. Application of ships
All ships engaged in international voyage (for cargo ships of not less than 500 tonnes)

2. Contents of ETB
2.1 Following items required by SOLAS Reg.II-1/3-4.2.3 should be described in ETB.
(1) Drawings of fore and aft deck showing possible emergency towing arrangements
(2) Inventory of equipment on board that can be used for emergency towing
(3) Means and methods of communication; and
(4) Sample procedures to facilitate the preparation for conducting of emergency towing operations
2.2 ETB a sample form which is published by Japan Ship Technology Research Association satisfies above 2.1.
2.3 ETB may be kept as electric file, subject to proper control.
2.4 Approval of ETB by Administration is not required. Therefore, any approval stamp on ETB by ClassNK is not required.

3. Location where ETB to be provided
3.1 As guideline requires that a minimum of three copy of ETB should be kept on board at the following locations.
(1) the bridge
(2) a forecastle space; and
(3) the ship’s office or cargo control room
3.2 In case of ships without forecastle, the above 3.1(2) could be replaced by appropriate space where easy entry is available at fore part.



(To be continued)