The Conference recommends that the gross tonnage and the
net tonnage as determined in accordance with the provisions of the
International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, should
be accepted as the parameters referred to where those terms are used
in conventions, laws and regulations, and also as the basis for statistical
data relating to the overall size or useful capacity of merchant ships.
In addtion, recognizing that the transition from existing tonnage
measurement systems to the new system provided in the Convention should
cause the least possible impact on the economics of merchant shipping
and port operations, the Conference recommends that Contracting Governments,
port authorities, and all other agencies which use tonnage as a basis
for charges should carefully consider which parameter is most appropriate
for their use in the light of their present practice.