Foreword The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea@ 1974 (SOLAS Convention)@ as amended@ deals with various aspects of maritime safety and contains@ in parts A and B of chapter VI and part A-1 of chapter VII@ the mandatory provisions governing the carriage of solid bulk cargoes and the carriage of dangerous goods in solid form in bulk@ respectively. These provisions are amplified in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code). Detailed fire protection arrangements for ships carrying solid bulk cargoes are incorporated into chapter II-2 of the SOLAS Convention by regulations 10 and 19. Attention is drawn to regulation II-2/19.4 of the SOLAS Convention as amended. This provides for an appropriate document as evidence of compliance of construction and equipment with the requirements of regulation II-2/19 to be issued to ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002 and carrying dangerous goods in solid form in bulk as defined in regulation VII/7 of the Convention@ except class 6.2 and class 7.