Subject: SOLAS 74 - Amendments IMO Code of Safe
Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code)Amendments
1. This Bulletin is issued to draw the attention of shipowners carrying Deck Cargoes coveredby the CSS Code to the recent adoption of attached ResolutionMSC.42 (64), which will
amend the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS 74) and its
1990/1991 amendments.
This amendment will come into force on 1 July 1996 and will affect Regulations VI/2, VI/5,VII/5 and VII/6 of SOLAS and will make mandatory certain parts of the IMO CSS Code which
thus far has been recommendatory. These concern cargo information (Sub-chapter 1.9) andthe requirements for an approved Cargo Securing Manual for the loading, stowage andsecuring of cargo units, including containers. This applies to securing of cargo units on
open or closed decks of ships other than cellular container ships and ships specificallydesigned and fitted for the purpose of carrying containers.
2. It should be further noted that paragraph 1.6.2 of the CSS Code, gives provisions forcalculation methods used for cargo securing arrangements detailed in the cargo Securing
Manual. Recently amended this paragraph, now includes reference to a new Annex 13.
(Methods to asses the efficiency of securing arrangements for non-standardized cargo.)
3. Once the above new amendments to SOLAS are in effect, Canadian vessels on
International voyages may be expected to carry on board where applicable, approved Cargo
Securing Manuals and to make these available for inspection, on request by Port States.
It is recommended that where appropriate for the type of ship, the nature of the voyages, andweather to be encountered, shipowners consider providing their respective vessels with aCargo Securing Manual, in addition to following the recommendations outlined in the Deck
Cargo Safety Code (TP 2072).
The information contained in the Cargo Securing Manual should include the following items
as appropriate:
1. details of fixed securing arrangements and their locations (pad-eye, eyebolts,elephant-feet, etc.) ;2. location and stowage of portable securing gear;
3. details of portable securing gear including an inventory of items provided and theirstrengths;
4. examples of correct application of portable securing gear on various cargo units,
vehicles and other entities carried on the ship;
5. indication of the variation of transverse, longitudinal and vertical accelerations to be
expected in various positions on board the ship.
Comments on the application of the Code may be made to the Marine Regulatory Directorate.
Relevant copies of IMO documents are attached. The IMO CSS Code may be purchased from:
Publication Section - IMO
4 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7SR ENGLAND
Tel.: 011-171-735-7611
FAX.: 011-171-587-3210.
Resolution MSC.42 (64)adopted on 9 December 1994

Adoption of Amendments to the International Convention for The Safety of Life at Sea, 1974
The Maritime Safety Committee.
Recalling Article 28 (b) of the Convention on the Intentional Maritime Organization concerning
the functions of the Committee,
Recalling Further article VIII (b) of the Intentional Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea(SOLAS), 1974, hereinafter referred to as "the Convention", concerning the procedures foramending the Annex to the Convention, other than the provisions of chapter I,
Having Considered, at its sixty-fourth session, amendments to the Convention proposed andcirculated in accordance with article VIII (b) (i) thereof,
1. Adopts, in accordance with article VIII (b) (iv) of the Convention, the amendments tothe Convention. the text of which is set out in the Annex to the present resolution;
2. Determines, in accordance with article VIII (b) (vi) (2) (bb) of the Convention, thatthe amendments set out in the Annex shall be deemed to have been accepted on IJanuary 1996 unless, prior to this date, more than one third of the Contracting
governments to the Convention or Contracting Governments the combined merchant
fleets of which constitute not less than fifty per cent of the gross tonnage of theworld's merchant fleet, have notified their objections to the amendments;
3. Invites Contracting Governments to note that, in accordance with article VIII (b) (vii)(2) of the Convention, the amendment set out in the Annex shall enter into force on I
July 1996 upon their acceptance in accordance with paragraph 2 above;
4. Request the Secretary-General, in conformity with article VIII (b) (v) of theConvention, to transmit certified copies of the present resolution and the text of theamendments contained in the Annex to all Contracting Governments to theConvention;
5. Further Request the Secretary-General to transmit copies of the resolution ant its
Annex to Members of the Organization which are not Contracting Governments to theConvention.
Annex
Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. 1974

Regulation VI/2 - Cargo information
1 Add the following sentence after the last sentence of regulation VI/2. 1:"For the purpose of this regulation the cargo information required in subchapter 1.9 of theCode of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing, adopted by the Organization byresolution A.714 (17), as may be amended, shall be provided. Any such amendment tosubchapter 1.9 shall be adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with theprovisions of article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures
applicable to the Annex other than chapter 1."

Regulation VI/5 - Stowage and securing
2 Add the following new paragraph 6 to regulation VI/5:"6 Cargo units, including containers, shall be loaded, stowed and secured throughout thevoyage in accordance with the Cargo Securing Manual approved by the Administration. The
Cargo Securing Manual shall be drawn up to a standard at least equivalent to the guidelinesdeveloped by the Organization."

Regulation VII/5 - Documents

3 Add the following new paragraph 6 to regulation V1115:"6 Cargo transport units, including freight containers, shall be loaded, stowed and secured
throughout the voyage in accordance with the Cargo Securing Manual approved by theAdministration. The Cargo Securing Manual shall be drawn up to a standard at least
equivalent to the guidelines developed by the Organization."

Regulation VII/6 - Stowage requirements
4 Amend regulation VII/6. 1 to read:"Dangerous goods shall be loaded, stowed and secured safely and appropriately in accordancewith the nature of the goods. Incompatible goods shall be segregated from one another."
MSC 65/12
Draft MSC Circular
Draft Amendments to the CSS Code
1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its sixty-fifth session (9 to 17 May 1995), adopted, inaccordance with operative paragraph 3 of Assembly resolution A.714 (17), the annexedamendments to the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code).
2 Member Governments are invited to bring the amendments to the attention of shipowners,
shipmasters and crews and all others concerned
MSC 65/12
Draft Amendments to the Code of Safe Practice
For Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS CODE)

Chapter 1
Replace the existing paragraph 1.6.2 by the following paragraph:" 1.6.2 The cargo securing arrangements detailed in the ship's Cargo Securing Manual, ifprovided, should be based on the forces expected to affect the cargo carried by the ship,calculated in accordance with the method described in Annex 13 or with a method
accepted by the Administration or approved by a classification society acceptable to theAdministration. "Annex 5
Add the following new paragraph 4 and renumber the existing paragraphs 4 to 9 accordingly:"4 Cargo Stowed In Open Containers, On Platforms Or Platform Based Containers
4.1 While the stowage and securing of open containers, ISO platform or platform basedcontainers (flatracks) on a container ship or a ship fitted or adapted for the carriage ofcontainers, should follow the information for that system, the stowage and securing of thecargo in such containers, should be carried out in accordance with the IMO/ILO Guidelines for
Packing Cargo in Freight Containers or Vehicles.
4.2 When heavy cargo items are carried on ISO platform or platform based containers(flatracks) the provisions of this Annex should be followed. Additionally, the following items
should be taken into account:

.1 The ISO standard platform, etc., used should be of a suitable type with regard tostrength and MSL of the securing points.
.2 The weight of the heavy cargo item should be properly distributed.3 Where deemed necessary the heavy cargo item (s) carried on ISO standard
platform or platform based containers, etc., should not only be secured to theplatform (s) or platform based containers, etc., but also to neighboring platform (s),etc., or to securing points located at fixed structure of the ship. The elasticity of thelast mentioned lashings should be sufficiently in line with the overall elasticity ofthe stowage block underneath the heavy cargo item (s) in order to avoid
overloading those lashings. "Replace the existing paragraph 10 by the following new paragraph 11:"11 Securing Calculation
11.1 Where necessary, the securing arrangements for heavy cargo items should be verified by
an appropriate calculation in accordance with Annex 13 to the Code. "