05-4970. Shipping Coordinating Committee; Notice of Meeting

The Shipping Coordinating Committee will conduct an open meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 22, 2005, in Room 2415, at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 2nd Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001. The purpose of this meeting will be to finalize preparations for the 80th Session of the Maritime Safety Committee, and associated bodies of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is scheduled for May 11-20, 2005, at IMO Headquarters in London. At this meeting, papers received and the draft U.S. positions for the Maritime Safety Committee will be discussed. Among other things, the items of particular interest are:

—Adoption of amendments to SOLAS for bulk carrier safety, long range identification and tracking of ships, company and owner identification numbers, and subdivision and stability of ships;

—Passenger ship safety.

—Measures to enhance maritime security.

—Goal-based new ship construction standards.

—Formal safety assessment.

—Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme.

—Reports of seven subcommittees—Stability, load lines and fishing vessel safety, Dangerous goods, solid cargoes and containers, Training and watchkeeping, Fire protection, Radiocommunications and search and rescue, Ship design and equipment, and Flag State implementation.

Members of the public may attend this meeting up to the seating capacity of the room. Interested persons may seek information by writing to Mr. Howard Hime, Commandant (G-MS), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 2nd Street, SW., Room 1218, Washington, DC 20593-0001 or by calling [phone].

Dated: March 4, 2005.

Clay Diamond,

Executive Secretary, Shipping Coordinating Committee, Department of State.