SWEDEN: TANKERS The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif. 96.69. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: SWEDEN. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2): 2. Agency responsible: National Maritime Administration. Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification can be indicated if different from above: 3. Notified under Article 2.9.2. 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Tankers including oil-tankers, chemical tankers and gas carriers. 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: The National Maritime Administration Decree with Regulations Concerning the Adoption of the Amendments of 1994 to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SJOFS 1996: 4). 6. Description of content: The Rule adopts Regulation V/15-1 of the amendments of 1994 to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS 1974). The Regulation implies that the tankers mentioned in Annex 2(a) to the announcement shall be fitted with emergency towing arrangements. The Regulation shall be introduced in the way which is described in Annex 2(b). The National Maritime Administration shall approve the design and construction of the towing arrangement, based on the guidelines developed by the International Maritime Organization. 7. Objective and rationale: The purpose of the Regulation is to make the transportation of petrol and chemical products less dangerous and to reduce the pollution of the marine environment. The background to the rule is that many serious oil-spills have occurred as a result of engine- and steering breakdown. These oil-spills have occurred in spite of the presence of tugboats. The establishment of a tow-line between the tanker and the tugboat has often failed, especially when the weather has been bad, due to the design and construction of the towing arrangements. The implementation of the new rules shall ensure towing even when the weather is bad. 8. Relevant documents: Amendments of 1994 to SOLAS 1974, Resolution MSC, 31 (63). Guidelines on emergency towing arrangements for tankers, Resolution MSC, 35 (63). 9. Proposed date of adoption: As soon as possible. Proposed date of entry into force: N/A. 10. Final date for comments: 3 June 1996. (102)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0694 19960412\FO-0003)