JWG/PMAJWG/PMAUnified Interpretations Final Draft, v2.221 Nov 20031(Final DRAFT, version 2.21) Interpretations of SOLAS Reg.II-1/3-6 and Resolution MSC.133(76)Outcome of Consideration by JWG/PMAOn 18 and 19 November 2003Hisayasu JinChairman of JWG/PMA1. IACS established a Joint Working Group on Permanent Means of Access (JWG/PMA) with participation of IACS Member Societies, IACS Permanent Secretariat, Shipowners Associations and Shipbuilders Associations of Japan, Korea and China.2. The task of the group was to establish draft Interpretations of SOLAS Regulation II- 1/3-6 and Resolution MSC.133(76) with regard to means of access to and within spaces in the cargo area of oil tankers and bulk carriers for consideration by IACS with a view to an adoption as IACS Unified Interpretations and for possible submission to IMO MSC 78 in May 2004.3. The work was carried out by three meetings in March, May and November 2003 and by correspondence between the meetings. 4. The interpretations contained herein have been reviewed and agreed by the members of JWG/PMA for finalization by IACS before submission to IMO.5. The final draft UIs version 2.2 circulated by the Chairman on 21 November 2003 is attached herewith. Changes introduced to the final draft UIs are marked up with underlines or cross out in the attached final draft UIs, against the former version 2.1. There remains no items that are left unresolved after review by the JWG/PMA.6. Further the JWG noted the increasing concerns being raised by the industry organisations to the present PMA Resolutions and moves to IMO Assembly 23 urging to start consideration of their amendments at MSC 78. The JWG also considered that amendments of the PMA Resolutions is appropriate for improvement. They are incorporated in the draft UIs as alternatives subject to amendment of the Technical Provisions. * * *JWG/PMAJWG/PMAUnified Interpretations Final Draft, v2.221 Nov 20032SOLAS Reg.II-1/3-6Technical Provision 1Application1.1 Except as provided for in paragraph 1.2, this regulation applies to oil tankers of 500 gross tonnage and over and bulk carriers, as defined in regulation IX/1, of 20,000 gross tonnage and over, constructed on or after 1 January 2005.1.2 Oil tankers of 500 gross tonnage and over constructed on or after 1 October 1994 but before 1 January 2005 shall comply with the provisions of regulation II-1/12-2 adopted by resolution MSC.27(61).InterpretationOil tankers:Notwithstanding the definition of “oil tanker” in Reg.II-1/2.12, this regulation is only applicable to oil tankers having integral tanks for carriage of oil, which is contained in the definition of oil in Annex 1 of MARPOL 73/78. Independent oil tanks can be excluded. Reg. II-1/3-6 is not normally applied to FPSO or FSO unless the Administration decides otherwise.Technical BackgroundPermanent Means of Access (PMA) specified in the Technical Provision contained in Resolution MSC.133(76) is not specific whether it assumes application to integral cargo oil tanks or also to independent cargo oil tanks. ESP requirements of oil tankers have been established assuming the target cargo oil tanks are integral tanks. The PMA regulated under SOLAS Reg.II-1/3-6 is for overall and close-up inspections as defined in regulation IX/1. Therefore it is assumed that the target cargo oil tanks are those of ESP, i.e. integral cargo tanks.Reg. II-1/3-6 is applicable to FPSO or FSO if they are subject to the scope of ESP regulated by A744(18) as amended. Ref.SOLAS Reg. IX/1 and A.744 (18) as amended.JWG/PMAJWG/PMAUnified Interpretations Final Draft, v2.221 Nov 20032SOLAS Reg.II-1/3-6 2Means of access to cargo and other spaces2.1 Each space within the cargo area shall be provided with a permanent means of access to enable, throughout the life of a ship, overall and close-up inspections and thickness measurements of the ships structures to be carried out by the Administration, the company, as defined in regulation IX/1, and the ships personnel and others as necessary. Such means of access shall comply with the requirements of paragraph 5 and with the Technical provisions for means of access for inspections, adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.133(76), as may be amended by the Organization, provided that such amendments are adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures applicable to the Annex other than chapter I.InterpretationForepeak tanks on oil tankers and bulk carriers are excluded pending IMO decisionare to be addresssed in the Technical Provisions as follows:.For fore peak tank with a depth of 6 m or more at the center line of the collision bulkhead a suitable means of access is to be provided for access to critical areas such as the underdeck structure, stringers, collision bulkhead and side shell structure.Stringers of less than 6 m in vertica