Get out clause

摘要

DEAR EDITOR Your publication of IMarEST's involvement in proposing amendments to the SOLAS regulations pertaining to machinery space escape routes is appreciated. You are no doubt referring to the submission made at FP56, held in January this year, which aimed to bring to a close a lengthy process, initiated by Denmark, Norway and Sweden, which principally sought to provide the same level of sheltered escape routes from machinery control rooms located within the boundaries of Category A machinery spaces on cargo ships to that already provided for in passenger ships. In addition the original proposals sought to provide protected escape routes from other rooms - such as workshops - located within category A machinery spaces. It was this aspect which caused some delays to finalising the amendment since problems were encountered in trying to write unambiguous prescriptive legislation which would also reflect the level of risk involved. We concluded that it was better to concentrate on the areas presenting the greatest risk - the control room and the main workshop - and, following some further tweaking of the text during FP 56, the proposal has now been passed on to MSC for approval. Further details can be found in the FP 56 meeting report posted on the Member's area of the IMarEST website.