IMO's 81st Maritime Safety Committee officially approved the revisions to SOLAS II-1 on coating performance of seawater ballast tanks, to apply in full force to the tankers and bulkers for which the building contract is placed on or after July 1, 2008. It is said that the decision will have a big impact on the shipbuilding industry - Japanese builders with limited premises in particular - as this involves changes to overall coating and surface treating processes.