S-1577.1          _______________________________________________

                            SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8015

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senators Vognild, Patterson, Gaspard, Hayner, Snyder, Newhouse, Anderson and McMullen.

Read first time February 25, 1991.  Under suspension of rules read second and third times and passed, February 25, 1991.Concerning an international nautical convention.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

     WHEREAS, To promote safety of life and property at sea and the protection of the marine environment, the International Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers was established in 1978; and

     WHEREAS, This international convention on crew standards has been ratified by seventy-eight nations, including all major maritime nations in the world, with the exception of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, Foreign flag vessels carry ninety-five percent of all waterborne commerce into the United States; and

     WHEREAS, Ratification by the United States of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, would provide the United States Coast Guard with the authority to enforce crew standards on foreign flag vessels in United States waters;

     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the President and Congress of the United States ratify the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978.

     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each member of Congress from the State of Washington.