. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.00/117
9 March 2000
(00-0904)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   THE NETHERLANDS
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:   National Enquiry Point - EC WTO TBT Enquiry Point
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 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):
Dredgers with a tonnage of 500 GT and above
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Guidelines for the
construction and operation of dredgers assigned reduced freeboards, appertaining to the
Agreement for the construction and operation of dredgers assigned reduced freeboards.
6. Description of content:   These guidelines, that the Netherlands intends to introduce,
contain regulations concerning design criteria, standards for construction and inspection and
operational measures for dredgers.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
These guidelines are intended to enable dredgers to operate safely with a smaller freeboard
than the minimum size freeboard established by the 1966 International Convention on LoadLines.  They are intended for areas of activity in or between the territorial waters of the
participating countries.
These guidelines can also apply to dredging activities outside such geographical boundaries,
if other regulations do not take precedence.  The guidelines have been developed in order toestablish a harmonised standard for the construction and operation of dredgers on the basis
of an equivalent level of safety with rega rd to the 1966 International Convention on Load
Lines.  No more favourable treatment is provided for in the case of dredgers that sail under
the flag of countries that are not party to the Agreement. In the case of foreign dredgers that
meet equivalent technical requirements, a mutual  recognition clause will be included in the
implementation regulation.
The guidelines are the result of the work of a working group drawn from a broad Spectrum.
Representatives of the classification agencies, the dredging industry, the shipbuilding
industry and the maritime authorities of Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland participated in this working group.G/TBT/Notif.00/117
Page 2
8. Relevant documents:
- Agreement for the construction and operation of dredgers assigned reduced
freeboards;
- 1966 International Convention on Load Lines.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  15 May 2000
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 June 2000
10. Final date for comments:   1 May 2000
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:           