[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33313]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice No. 2493]


Shipping Coordinating Committee Subcommittee on Safety of Life at 
Sea Working Group on Fire Protection; Meeting

    The U.S. Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Working Group on Fire 
Protection will conduct an open meeting on January 22, 1997, at 9:30 
a.m., in Room 4315 at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 2nd Street, 
SW, Washington, DC 20593. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss 
the outcome of the Forty-first Session of the International Maritime 
Organization's Subcommittee on Fire Protection, held on September 30, 
1996. In addition, preparations for the next session will also be 
discussed at the meeting.
    The meeting will focus on proposed amendments to the 1974 SOLAS 
Convention for the fire safety of commercial vessels. Specific 
discussion areas include: the new mandatory Fire Test Procedures Code, 
proposed restructuring of Chapter II-2, halon fire extinguishing 
systems, emergency escape breathing devices, fire retardant materials 
for fishing vessel lifeboats, criteria for maximum fire loads, fire 
safety measures for deep fat cooking equipment, interpretations to 
SOLAS 74, role of the human element in maritime casualties, safety of 
passenger submersible craft, recognition of test laboratories, fixed 
fire detection and alarm systems for new and existing cargo ships, and 
shipboard safety emergency plans.
    Although the meeting will focus primarily on the outcome of the 
previous session, preparations and plans for the next will also be 
discussed. This offers the opportunity for members of the public to be 
involved early in the standards development process. Members of the 
public wishing to make a statement on new issues or proposals at the 
meeting are requested to submit a brief summary to the U.S. Coast Guard 
five days prior to the meeting.
    Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend. For 
further information regarding the meeting of the SOLAS Working Group on 
Fire Protection contact Mr. Jack Booth at (202) 267-2997.

    Dated: December 18, 1996.
Russell A. La Mantia,
Chairman, Shipping Coordinating Committee.
[FR Doc. 96-33313 Filed 12-31-96; 8:45 am]
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