August 26, 1969

AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER V OF THE REGULATIONS ANNEXED TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA. ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE IMCO

Note: The amendment entered into force with respect to the Philippines, August 26, 1969.

Reference: This amendment is also published in VIII DFA TS No. 2, p. 7.

TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENT SHALL COME, GREETINGS:

WHEREAS, the Assembly of the Inter-Government Maritime Consulta­tive Organization had recognized the need of adopting further measures to improve safety of life at sea;

WHEREAS, the Assembly has adopted an amendment to Chapter V of the Regulations annexed to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1960;

WHEREAS, the amendment, the text of which appears in the annex to this instrument, consists in replacing Regulation 12 by a new Regulation and adding new Regulations 19 and 20;

WHEREAS, the Philippine Government finds the amendment desirable;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it known that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines hereby accepts the amendment to Chapter V of the Regula­tions annexed to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1960.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, CARLOS P. ROMULO, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Department of Foreign Affairs to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 26th day of August, in the Year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and sixty-nine.

(Sgd.) CARLOS P. ROMULO
Secretary of Foreign Affairs

ANNEX

REGULATION 12

SHIPBORNE NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT

a. All ships of 1,600 tons gross tonnage and upwards shall be fitted with a radar of a type approved by the Administration. Facilities for plotting radar readings shall be provided on the bridge in those ships.

b. All ships of 1,600 tons gross tonnage and upwards, when engaged on international voyages, shall be fitted with radio direction-finding apparatus complying with the provisions of Regulation 11 of Chapter IV. The Administration may, in areas where it considers it unreasonable or unnecessary for such apparatus to be carried, exempt any ship under 5,000 tons gross tonnage from this requirement, due regard being had to the fact that radio direction-finding apparatus is of value both as a navigational instrument and as an aid to, locating ships, aircraft or survival craft

c. All ships of 1,600 tons gross tonnage and upwards, when engaged on international voyages, shall be fitted with a gyro-compass in addition to the magnetic compass. The Administration, if it considers it unreasonable or unnecessary to require a gyro-compass, may exempt any ship under 5,000 tons gross tonnage from this requirement.

d. All new ships of 500 tons gross tonnage and upwards, when engaged on international voyages, shall be fitted with an echo-sounding device.

e. Whilst all reasonable steps shall be taken to maintain the apparatus in an efficient condition, malfunction of the radar equipment, the gyro-compass or the echo-sounding device shall not be considered as making the ship unseaworthy or as a reason for delaying the ship in ports where repair facilities are not readily available.

REGULATION 19

USE OF THE AUTOMOBILE PILOT

a. In areas of high traffic density, in conditions of restricted visibility and in all other hazardous navigational situations where the automatic pilot is used, it shall be possible to establish human control of the ship's steering immediately.

b. In circumstances as above, it shall be possible for the officer of the watch to have available without delay the services of a qualified helmsman who shall be ready at all times to take over steering control.

c. The changeover from automatic to manual steering and vice versa shall be made by or under the supervision of a responsible officer.

REGULATION 20

NAUTICAL PUBLICATIONS

All ships shall carry adequate and up-to-date charts, sailing directions, lists of lights, notices to mariners, tide tables and other nautical publications necessary for the intended voyage.

Source: Supreme Court e-Library