Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 81 / Thursday, April 27, 1995 / Notices 20791

with the following terms of reference:

‘‘To develop guidelines on the

application of the precautionary

approach as set out in Principle 15 of

the Rio Declaration, as well as

paragraphs 17.21 and 17.22 of the

United Nations Conference on

Environment and Development, Agenda

21, in the context of specific IMO

activities, and to report to the MEPC at

its thirty-seventh session’’.

Work was carried out intersessionally

to identify a working method to

internalize the application of the

precautionary approach. This work was

carried into the 36th Session of the

MEPC in November, 1994 where a

drafting group developed draft

‘‘Guidelines on the Application of the

Precautionary Approach in the Context

of Specific IMO Activities’’. In this

draft, the precautionary approach is

further elaborated for the purpose of

IMO. Additionally, the drafting group

developed a draft ‘‘Framework for

Implementation of the Precautionary

Approach within the Programs and

Activities of IMO’’ which provides a

working method to be used by IMO

Committees, Sub-Committees, Working

Groups and other IMO bodies to

internalize the precautionary approach

into the process of policymaking and

management.

The draft Guidelines and Framework

are the subject of further consideration

by the intersessional correspondence

group, working toward tabling these

documents at the 37th Session of the

MEPC.

Input or comments from the public

meeting will be considered by members

of the U.S. correspondence group in

finalizing the U.S. position on these

documents. For further information or

copies of the drafts, contact the project

officer, Commander Mike Farley, U.S.

Coast Guard Headquarters (G–MEP–3),

2100 Second Street SW., Washington,

DC 20593–0001, Telephone: (202) 267–

2850.

Dated: April 18, 1995.

Charles A. Mast,

Chairman, Shipping Coordinating Committee.

[FR Doc. 95–10338 Filed 4–26–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–07–M

[Public Notice 2194]

Shipping Coordinating Committee;

Conference of Parties to the

International Convention on Standards

of Training, Certification and

Watchkeeping (STCW); Meeting

The Shipping Coordinating

Committee (SHC) will conduct an open

meeting at 10 am on Tuesday, June 13,

1995, in Room 2415 of the United States

Coast Guard Headquarters Building,

2100 2nd Street SW., Washington, DC

20593–0001. The primary purpose of

the meeting is to prepare for the

Conference of Parties to the

International Convention on Standards

of Training, Certification and

Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978

(STCW Conference). Preparations for the

International Conference on Standards

of Training, Certification and

Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel

Personnel (STCW–F Conference) will

also be discussed. These Conferences

are being convened by the International

Maritime Organization (IMO), in

London, from June 26 to July 7, 1995.

The STCW Conference is being held

to consider adoption of amendments to

the International Convention on

Standards of Training, Certification and

Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978

(STCW Convention). The United States

became a party to this convention in

1991; and 107 countries are now parties.

The proposed amendments to the

STCW Convention were prepared by the

IMO Sub-Committee on Standards of

Training and Watchkeeping and were

approved for circulation by the sixtyfourth session of the IMO Maritime

Safety Committee.

Items of particular interest include—

—The role of IMO in overseeing

compliance with convention

requirements;

—Basic safety and familiarization

training for all shipboard personnel;

—Standards of competence based on

demonstration of skills;

—Use of simulation in training and

assessment;

—Quality assurance in training,

assessment and certification;

—Alternative, function-based

certification systems;

—Principles to be observing in keeping

a watch;

—Prevention of fatigue; and

—Port State control.

The STCW–F Conference is being

held to consider adoption of a new

convention which would apply to

fishing vessel personnel. Fishing vessels

are excluded from the scope of

application of the STCW Convention.

Items of particular interest include—

—Certification requirements for

skippers, deck watch officers and

engineers on seagoing fishing vessels

of 24 meters or more in length; and

—Prospects of U.S. ratification of this

new instrument.

Members of the public may attend the

meeting up to the seating capacity of the

room. Interested persons may seek

information by writing: Mr. Christopher

Young, U.S. Coast Guard (G–MVP–4),

Room 1210, 2100 Second Street SW.,

Washington, DC 20593–0001 or by

calling: (202) 267–0229.

Dated: April 19, 1995.

Charles A. Mast,

Chairman, Shipping Coordinating Committee.

[FR Doc. 95–10339 Filed 4–26–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–07–M

[Public Notice 2192]

Shipping Coordinating Committee;

International Maritime Organization

(IMO) Legal Committee; Meeting

The U.S. Shipping Coordinating

Committee (SHC) will conduct an open

meeting at 10 a.m., on Thursday, May

18, 1995, in Room 2415 of U.S. Coast

Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street

SW., Washington, DC. The purpose of

this meeting is to report on the 72nd

Session of the International Maritime

Organization (IMO) Legal Committee

held April 3–7, 1995, and to begin

preparations for the 73rd Session to be

held October 9–13, 1995.

To facilitate the attendance of those

participants who may be interested in

only certain aspects of the public

meeting, the first subject addressed will

be the draft International Convention on

Liability and Compensation for Damage

in Connection with the Carriage of

Hazardous and Noxious Substances by

Sea (HNS Convention). The second

major subject, which will be considered

at approximately 11:30 a.m., will be

possible revisions to the 1976

Convention on Limitation of Liability

for Maritime Claims (’76 LLMC).

The current draft of the HNS

Convention imposes strict liability upon

the shipowner with an additional

international fund (second-tier fund)

modeled after the International Oil

Pollution Compensation Fund. The draft

HNS Convention provides

compensation for environmental

damage as well as personal injury,

death, and property damage from a

broad range of substances. At the 72nd

Session, the Legal Committee finalized

decisions on several major issues

regarding the draft HNS Convention.

Other issues will remain open for the

diplomatic conference, which is

tentatively scheduled for Spring 1996.

The 72nd Session was the last session

of the Legal Committee to discuss the

HNS Convention before the diplomatic

conference. The views of the public are

requested.

The Legal Committee resumed

deliberations on the ’76 LLMC at the

72nd Session. Discussion centered on a

draft protocol which provides for raising