The July 2002 edition of the Rules for Classification of High Speed, Light Craft and Naval Surface Craft contains revised versions the following, rule chapters:

Pt.0 Ch.1 User Information, Amendments and Indexes
Pt.7 Ch.1 General Requirements

In addition, some of the rule chapters have been subject to amendments, which have been inserted in Sec.3 of Pt.0 Ch.1. The changes come into force 1 January 2003.

Important rule changes
The rule changes covered by the revised chapters or Sec.3 of Pt.0 Ch.1 are as follows:

Pt.7 Ch.1 Sec.3 General Requirements - Retroactive Rule Requirements
The IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) adopted Resolution MSC.119(74) -Adoption of Amendments to the 1994 International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (resolution MSC.36(63)) - at their 74th session on 6 June 2001.

These amendments were not included in the 2000 HSC Code taking effect from 1 July 2002 but have been included in the Rules for Classification of HS, LS and NSC to incorporate the new requirements for existing craft. The most important changes are:

• Carriage requirement for:

• voyage data recorders (VDR)

• nautical charts and nautical publications

• automatic identification system (AIS)

The carriage requirements cover equipment that relates to the navigation of the craft as distinct from the safe functioning of the craft.