89 
shall be not less than ten months, unless within that period an objection 
is communicated to the Organization by not less than one-third of the 
Parties or by the Parties the combined merchant fleets of which consti- 
tute not less than fifty per cent of the gross tonnage of the world’s mer- 
chant fleet whichever condition is fulfilled ; 
(iv) an amendment to Protocol I to the Convention shall be subject to 
the same procedures as for the amendments to the Annexes to the Con- 
vention, as provided for in sub-paragraphs (f) (ii) or (f) (iii) above; 
(v) an amendinent to Protocol II to the Convention shall be subject 
to the same procedures as for the amendments to an Article of the 
Convention, as provided for in sub-paragraph (f) (i) above; 
(g) the amendment shall enter into foree under the following conditions: 
(i) in the case of an amendment to an Article of the Convention, to 
Protocol II, or to Protocol I or to an Annex to the Convention not under 
the procedure specified in sub-paragraph (f) (iii), the amendment ac- 
cepted in conformity with the foregoing provisions shall enter into force 
six months after the date of its acceptance with respect to the Parties 
which have declared that they have accepted it ; 
(ii) in the case of an ainendment to Protoc ol TI, to an Appendix to an 
Annex or to an Annex to the Convention under the procedure specified 
in sub-paragraph (f) (iii), the amendment deemed to have been accepted 
in accordance with the foregoing conditions shall enter into force six 
months after its acceptance for all the Parties with the exception of 
those which, before that date, have made a declaration that they do not 
accept it or a declaration under sub-paragraph (f) (ii), that their express 
approval is necessary. 
(3) Amendment by a Conference: 
(a) Upon the request of a Party, concurred in by at least one-third of the 
Parties, the Organization shall convene a Conference of Parties to the Con- 
vention to consider amendments to the present Convention. 
(b) Every amendment adopted by such a Conference by a two-thirds 
majority of those present and voting of the Parties shall be communicated 
by the Secretary-General of the Organization to all Contracting Parties 
for their acceptance. 
. (ce) Unless the Conference decides otherwise, the amendment shall be 
deemed to have been accepted and to have entered into force in accordance 
with the procedures specified for that purpose in paragraph (2) (f) and (g) 
above. 
(4) (a) In the case of an amendment to an Optional Annex, a reference in the 
present Article to a “Party to the Convention” shall be deemed to mean a refer- 
ence to a Party bound by that Annex. 
(b) Any Party which has declined to accept an amendment to an Annex shall 
be treated as a non-Party only for the purpose of application of that amendment. 
(5) The adoption and entry ‘nto force of a new Annex shall be subject to the 
same procedures as for the adoption and entry into force of an amendment 
to an Article of the Convention. 
(6) Unless expressly provided otherwise, any amendment to the present Con- 
vention made under this Article which relates to the structure of a ship shall 
apply only to ships for which the building contract is placed, or in the absence 
of a building contract, the keel of which is laid, on or after the date on which 
the amendment comes into force. 
(7) Any amendment to a Protocol or to an Annex shall relate to the substance 
of that Protocol or Annex and shall be consistent with the Articles of the present 
Convention. 
(8) The Secretary-General of the Organization shall inform all Parties of 
any amendments which enter into force under the present Article, together 
with the date on which each such amendment enters into force. 
(9) An declaration of acceptance or of objection to an amendment under the 
present Article shall be notified in writing to the Secretary-General of the Or- 
ganization. The latter shall bring such notification and the date of its receipt to 
the notice of the Parties to the Convention. 
Article 17 
PROMOTION OF TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION 
The Parties to the Convention shall promote, in consultation with the Organi- 
zation and other international bodies, with assistance and co-ordination by the 
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