./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.98.557
16 November 1998
(98-4555)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  NORWAY
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible: Norwegian Maritime Directorate
P.O. Box 8114 Dep.
0032 Oslo
Norway
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [   ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Ballast systems on mobileoffshore units
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Draft Regulations
Concerning Amendment to Regulations of 20 December 1991 No. 879 Concerning Ballast
Systems on Mobile Offshore Units
6. Description of content:
- § 1, § 2:  The amended Regulations are given effect for all mobile offshore units,
who as a consequence will have to make necessary upgrades as a result of this and
later amendments to the Regulations.  Under the existing Regulations mobileoffshore units only need to show compliance with the Regulations effective at the
time of entry into a Norwegian register of ships.
- § 5:  Amendments to administrative provisions regarding obligations to submit
documentation to the Norwegian Maritime Directorate.  According to the amended
Regulation, documentation is only to be submitted on the request of the NorwegianMaritime Directorate, as opposed to the existing Regulations where documentation
always must be submitted.
- § 6:  Editorial amendments and amendments to administrative provisions regarding
approvals from the Norwegian Maritime Directorate.  The only approvals given will
be in the form of maritime certificates.
- § 8:  Editorial amendments.
- § 11:  The amendments make the requirements for when the ballast system shall be
capable of restoring the units to an upright position in line with the requirements in
"International Maritime Organization;  Code for the Construction and Equipment of
Mobile Offshore Units (MODU-Code).G/TBT/Notif.98.557
Page 2
6. Description of content:  (cont'd)
- § 14 General requirements:  The Regulation is amended to allow for the use of
alternative modern indicating systems.
- § 21 Draught indicating system:  The draft is amended to give specific requirements
for the indicating system for ship type units.
- § 22:  Editorial amendments specifying that the requirement is intended for semi-
submersible units.
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:  If the
draft amendment of the Notice contains quantitative import restrictions or measures of equal
effect within the meaning of Article 11 of the EEA Agreement then such measures are
justified in the interests of public health and safety and in order to protect human life.  With
regard to foreign products which conform to the requirements, established in the country of
origin, § 4(a) contains a provision relating to mutual recognition.
8.Relevant documents:
- Regulations of 20 December 1991 No. 879 Concerning Ballast Systems on Mobile
Offshore Units.
- International Maritime Organization;  Code for the Construction and Equipment of
Mobile Offshore Units (MODU-Code)
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: } 1 January 1999
10. Final date for comments:  21 December 1998
11.Texts available from:  National enquiry point [    ] or address, e-mail and telefax number of
the other body: Norwegian Maritime Directorate
P.O. Box 8114 Dep.,
0032 Oslo
Norway
Telefax No.:  + 47 22 56 87 80