J. Selected Items under An Other Business:
1. Improvement of thermal protection:
A paper from Norway contained proposals to develop a performance standard for thermal protection of passengers and guidelines for thermal protection according to environmental factors. Norway and other interested delegations were invited to submit recommendations to the MSC.
2. Code on Polar Navigation:
Canada gave a progress report of the correspondence group on this subject, and Russia proposed icebreaking capability requirements. It was agreed that the Code should apply to SOLAS ships. If it is to apply to other ships, a decision will be needed to identify particular types and sizes of ships. The Code should identify the sea and seasonal ice areas to which it should apply.
3. Passenger submersible craft:
A joint report was given on progress being made on draft guidelines for safety of passenger submersible craft. It was noted that inputs are needed from COMSAR 4 and NAV 45 in order to finalize this item at DE 43
4. Guidelines on the enhanced program of inspections during surveys of bulk carriers and tankers:
Amendments to these guidelines are to be considered in DE 43 in respect to the longitudinal strength of hull structures of oil tankers. Members were invited to submit relevant comments and proposals to DE 43. Member Governments were also invited to submit comments in cases where Members have delegated statuary functions to classification societies that are not members of IACS.
5. Items of mutual interest to IMO/DE and ISO:
The ISO representative presented a document (excerpts from ISO/TC 8 N 1000 R3) containing updates on the development of ISO standards of mutual interest to IMO/DE and ISO. The Chairman expressed appreciation for this information.
6. Performance standards for shipboard pollution prevention equipment:
MEPC 42 agreed that there was a need to amend existing performance standards for shipboard pollution equipment and referred this subject to DE for action. MSC 70 assigned a target completion date of 2002. The Sub-Committee noted that this task was very complex and necessitated specialist expertise. Members were invited to bring their experts to DE 43.
K. Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman for 2000:
The Chairman since 1994, Mr.I.M.Williams of Australia, did not offer himself for reelection. Likewise, the Vice-Chairman, Mr.Qui Xiaoxing of China was not available to continue in his post. The Sub-Committee elected Mr.A.Chrysostomou of Cyprus as Chairman for 2000. Turkey strongly objected to the nomination of Mr.Chrysostomou, but was not supported by other delegations. The Sub-Committee elected CAPT J.E.C.Rocha of Brazil as its Vice-Chairman for 2000 by acclamation.
L. Work Programme and Agenda for DE 43:
The draft proposed Work Programme and draft provisional agenda for DE 43 are shown in Annex 1 and Annex 2 to this report.
