The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes I, II and II(A)) Regulations 1998

• Citation: S.I. 1998/2514
• Sections: 93

Section 1 Citation, commencement and revocation

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes I, II and II(A)) Regulations 1998 and shall come into force on 12th November.

(2) The following Regulations are hereby revoked—

(a) the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) Regulations 1980 ;

(b) the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) (Amendment) Regulations 1981 ;

(c) the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Classification) Regulations 1981 ;

(d) the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1984 ;

(e) the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) (Amendment) Regulations 1985 ;

(f) the Merchant Shipping (Application of Construction and Survey Regulations to Other Ships) Regulations 1985 ;

(g) the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) (New and Existing Ships) (Amendment) Regulations 1986 ;

(h) the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) (Amendment) Regulations 1987 ;

(i) the Merchant Shipping (Closing of Openings in Hulls and in Watertight Bulkheads) Regulations 1987 ;

(j) the Merchant Shipping (Stability of Passenger Ships) Regulations 1988 ;

(k) the Merchant Shipping (Closing of Openings in Enclosed Superstructures and in Bulkheads above the Bulkhead Deck) Regulations 1988 ;

(l) the Merchant Shipping (Closing of Openings in Enclosed Superstructures and in Bulkheads above the Bulkhead Deck) (Application to Non-United Kingdom Ships) Regulations 1988 ;

(m) the Merchant Shipping (Loading and Stability Assessment of Ro-Ro Passenger Ships) (Non-United Kingdom Ships) Regulations 1989 ;

(n) the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 ;

(o) the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 ; and

(p) the Anchors and Chain Cables Rules 1970 .

Section 2 Interpretation

(1) In these Regulations—

(a) a reference to a ship constructed on or after a specified date is a reference to a ship the keel of which is laid or which is at a similar stage of construction on or after that date; but in the case of a ship the keel of which was laid or which was at a similar stage of construction before a specified date, but which was not a passenger ship, which is converted to a passenger ship after that date, the ship is to be treated as constructed on the date on which such conversion commences;

(b) a reference to a numbered regulation is, unless otherwise stated, a reference to the regulation of that number in these Regulations;

(c) a reference in a regulation to a numbered paragraph is, unless otherwise stated, a reference to the paragraph of that number in that regulation; and

(d) where a sub-heading refers to “requirements” or to “additional requirements” for certain ships, the text following such a sub-heading in that regulation (or until the next sub-heading in that regulation) shall (unless the context otherwise requires) relate only to such ships.

(2) In these Regulations the following expressions have the following meanings respectively, except where the context requires otherwise—

“approved” means approved by the Secretary of State or, in relation to any equipment or arrangement mentioned in Merchant Shipping Notice No. M1645, by any persons specified in that Notice in relation to such equipment or arrangement;

“auxiliary steering gear” means the equipment, other than any part of the main steering gear, necessary to steer the ship in the event of failure of the main steering gear but not including the tiller, quadrant or components serving the same purpose;

“breadth of the ship” means the greatest moulded breadth at or below the ship’s deepest subdivision load waterline;

“bulkhead deck” means the uppermost deck up to which transverse watertight bulkheads are carried;

“ category A, B, C or D waters ” means waters specified as such in Merchant Shipping Notice 1837(M) Amendment 2;

“Certifying Authority” means the Secretary of State or any person authorised by the Secretary of State;

“control room” means a room either within or outside a propelling machinery space, from which propelling machinery and boilers may be controlled;

“crew space” means crew accommodation within the meaning of section 43 in the Merchant Shipping Act 1995;

“dangerous goods” means goods defined as such in the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997 , and any reference to a particular Class of dangerous goods is a reference to that Class of dangerous goods as defined in those Regulations;

“dead ship condition” means the condition under which the main propulsion plant, boilers and auxiliaries are not in operation due to the absence of power;

“draught” unless stated otherwise, means the vertical distance from the underside of keel amidships to a subdivision load waterline;

...

“ EEA State” has the meaning given by Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978

“emergency condition” means a condition under which any services needed for normal operational and habitable conditions are not in working order due to failure of the main source of electrical power;

“emergency source of electrical power” means a source of electrical power intended to supply the emergency switchboard in the event of failure of the main source of electrical power;

“emergency switchboard” means a switchboard which in the event of failure of the main electrical power supply system is directly supplied by the emergency source of electrical power or the transitional source of emergency electrical power and is intended to distribute electrical energy to the emergency services;

“enclosed superstructure” means a superstructure—

which has enclosing bulkheads of efficient construction in which all access openings are fitted with sills and weathertight doors; and

in which all other openings in the sides or ends thereof are fitted with efficient weathertight means of closing;

but does not include a bridge or poop fulfilling these requirements unless access to machinery and other working spaces within the bridge or poop is provided by alternative means which are available at all times when access openings in the bulkheads of the bridge or poop are closed;

“factor of subdivision” in relation to any ship or portion thereof means the factor of subdivision determined in accordance with such provisions of Schedule 2 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698(M) as apply to that ship or portion as the case may be;

“forward perpendicular” means the forward extremity of the length of the ship;

“freeboard deck” has the same meaning as in the Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Rules 1998 ;

“hazardous area” means an area in which explosive gas-air mixtures are, or may be expected to be, present in quantities such as to require special precautions for the construction and use of electrical apparatus or other apparatus which otherwise would constitute a source of ignition;

“high-speed craft” means a craft capable of a maximum speed in metres per second (m/s) equal to or exceeding: 3.7▽ 0.1667 where ▽ = volume of displacement corresponding to the design waterline (m3), excluding craft the hull of which is supported clear above the water surface in non displacement mode by aerodynamic forces generated by ground effect;

“ IMO ” means the International Maritime Organization;

“IMO Resolution A.265 ( VIII )” means Resolution A.265 (VIII) adopted by IMO, entitled “Regulations on Subdivision and Stability of Passenger Ships as an Equivalent to Part B of Chapter II of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1960”;

“independent power pump” means a pump operated by power otherwise than from the ship’s main engines;

“ international voyage ” means a voyage between a port in the United Kingdom and a port outside the United Kingdom;

“length” in relation to a ship, unless otherwise defined, means the length of a ship measured between perpendiculars taken at the extremities of the deepest subdivision load waterline;

“lightweight” means the displacement of a ship in tonnes without cargo, fuel, lubricating oil, ballast water, fresh water and feed water in tanks, consumable stores and passengers and crew and their effects;

“machinery space”, except in Parts II to VI , means any space which contains propelling machinery, boilers, oil fuel units, steam and internal combustion engines, generators and major electrical machinery, oil filling stations, refrigerating, stabilising, ventilation and air conditioning machinery and similar spaces, and where the context so admits any trunk to such a space;

“machinery space” in Parts II to VI means any space extending from the moulded base line of the ship to the bulkhead deck and between the extreme transverse watertight bulkheads bounding the spaces containing the main and auxiliary propelling machinery, generators and boilers serving the needs of propulsion, when installed;

“machinery spaces of Category A” means a machinery space which contains—

internal combustion type machinery used either for main propulsion purposes or for other purposes where such machinery has in the aggregate a total power output of not less than 375 kilowatts; or

any oil-fired boiler or oil fuel unit;

“main generating station” means the space in which the main source of electrical power is situated;

“main source of electrical power” means a source intended to supply electrical power to the main switchboard for distribution to all services necessary for maintaining the ship in a normal operational and habitable condition;

“main steering gear” means the machinery, rudder actuators, steering gear power units, if any, and auxiliary equipment and the means of applying torque to the rudder stock, such as the tiller or quadrant, necessary for effecting movement of the rudder for the purpose of steering the ship under normal service conditions;

“main switchboard” means a switchboard which is directly supplied by the main source of electrical power and is intended to distribute electrical energy to the ship’s services;

“margin line” means a line at least 76 millimetres below the upper surface of the bulkhead deck at the side of a subdivided ship;

“Maritime and Coastguard Agency” means the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an executive agency of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions;

“maximum ahead service speed” means the greatest speed which the ship is designed to maintain in service at sea at her deepest seagoing draught;

“Merchant Shipping Notice”, “Marine Guidance Note” or “Marine Information Note” means a Notice/Note described as such and issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency;

“mile” means a nautical mile of 1852 metres;

“navigable speed” means the minimum speed at which a ship can be effectively steered in the ahead direction;

“noise level” means “A” weighted sound pressure level in decibels dB(A) as defined and tabulated in the British Standards specification number EN 60651: 1994;

“nominated surveyor” means a surveyor nominated by the Secretary of State to undertake the surveys required by these Regulations and includes a marine surveyor of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency;

“normal operational and habitable condition” means a condition under which the ship as a whole, the machinery, services, means and aids ensuring propulsion, ability to steer, safe navigation, fire and flooding safety, internal and external communications and signals, means of escape, and winches for emergency boats, as well as the designed comfortable conditions of habitability are in working order and functioning normally;

“oil fuel unit” means the equipment used for the preparation of oil fuel for delivery to an oil-fired boiler or the equipment used for the preparation for delivery of heated oil to an internal combustion engine, and includes any oil pressure pumps, filters and heaters dealing with oil at a pressure greater than 1.8 bar;

“open ro-ro cargo spaces” means ro-ro cargo spaces which are open at both ends, or open at one end and provided with adequate natural ventilation effective over their entire length through permanent openings in the side plating or deckhead;

“passenger” means any person carried in a ship except—

a person employed or engaged in any capacity on board the ship on the business of the ship;

a person on board the ship either in pursuance of the obligation laid upon the master to carry shipwrecked, distressed or other persons, or by reason of any circumstances that neither the master nor the owner nor the charterer (if any) could have prevented; and

a child under one year of age.

“passenger ship” means a ship carrying more than 12 passengers and propelled by electricity or other mechanical power;

“passenger space” means a space provided for the use of passengers, except as otherwise defined in paragraph 1(4) of section 1 of Schedule 2 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M);

“permeability” in relation to a space means the percentage of that space, on the assumption that it is in use for the purpose for which it was appropriated, that can be occupied by water;

“periodic survey” means a periodical survey pursuant to regulation 4(b) of the Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) Regulations 1995 ;

“pleasure vessel” has the same meaning as in the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1993 ;

“public spaces” includes halls, dining rooms, bars, smoke rooms, lounges, recreation rooms, nurseries, libraries and similar public permanently enclosed spaces;

“ relevant standard of an EEA State ”, in relation to a reference to an International Standard or a British Standard means—

a relevant standard or code of practice of a national standards body or equivalent body of an EEA State;

a relevant international standard recognised for use in an EEA State; or

a relevant specification acknowledged for use as standard by a public authority of an EEA State,

being a standard, code of practice or specification which provides, in use, levels of safety, suitability and fitness for purpose equivalent to those provided by the International Standard or the British standard; and

“ro-ro cargo spaces” means spaces not normally subdivided in any way and extending to either a substantial length or the entire length of the ship in which goods (packaged or in bulk, in or on rail or road cars, vehicles (including road or rail tankers), trailers, containers, pallets, demountable tanks or in or on similar stowage units or other receptacles) can be loaded and unloaded normally in a horizontal direction;

“ro-ro passenger ship” means a passenger ship provided with cargo or vehicle spaces not normally subdivided in any way and extending to either a substantial length or the entire length of the ship in which vehicles or cargo can be loaded or unloaded in a horizontal direction;

“settling tank” means an oil storage tank having a heating surface of not less than 0.183 square metre per tonne of oil capacity;

“similar stage of construction” means the stage at which—

construction identifiable with a specific ship begins; and

assembly of that ship has commenced comprising at least 50 tonnes or one per cent of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is less.

“special category space” means any enclosed space above or below the bulkhead deck intended for the carriage of motor vehicles with fuel in their tanks for their propulsion, into and from which such vehicles can be driven and to which passengers have access;

“ SOLAS ” means the Safety of Life at Sea Convention 1974 , and its 1978 Protocol and amendments in force on 1st July 1998;

“stability information” means the information required to be provided in compliance with regulation 38;

“steering gear power unit” means—

in the case of electric steering gear, the electric motor and its associated electrical equipment;

in the case of electro-hydraulic steering gear, the electric motor, its associated electrical equipment and connected pump; or

in the case of steam-hydraulic or pneumatic-hydraulic steering gear, the driving engine and connected pump;

“subdivided ship” means a ship which has a factor of subdivision of unity or 0.5;

“subdivision load waterline” means the waterline assumed in determining the subdivision of the ship in accordance with these Regulations;

“suitable” in relation to material means approved as suitable for the purpose for which it is used;

“superstructure” means a decked structure situated on or above the bulkhead deck which either extends from side to side of the ship or is such that its side plating is not inboard of the shell plating of the ship by more than 4 per cent of the breadth of the ship and, where the bulkhead deck of the ship consists of a lower deck, includes that part of the hull of the ship which extends above the bulkhead deck;

“superstructure deck” means a deck forming the top of a superstructure;

“United Kingdom ro-ro passenger ship” means a ro-ro passenger ship which is a United Kingdom ship;

“voyage” includes an excursion; and shall be taken to commence when a ship leaves its berth or anchorage at a port;

“watertight” in relation to a structure means capable of preventing the passage of water through the structure in any direction under the maximum head of water which it might have to sustain in the event of damage to the ship, but for structures below the bulkhead deck at least the head of water up to the ship’s bulkhead deck;

“weathertight” in relation to a structure means capable of preventing the passage of sea water through the structure in the worst sea and weather conditions likely to be encountered by the ship.

(3) Any reference in these Regulations to—

(a) a British Standard;

(b) a Merchant Shipping Notice;

(c) SOLAS; or

(d) any other specified Code, Circular, Resolution or Guidelines;

shall include—

(i) a reference to any document amending that publication which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time and is specified in a Merchant Shipping Notice, Marine Guidance Note or Marine Information Note; and

(ii) with respect to a British Standard, a reference to a relevant standard of an EEA State ....

(4) Where a ship is operated by a person other than its owner (whether on behalf of the owner or some other person, or on his own behalf), a reference in these Regulations to the owner shall be construed as including a reference to that person.

(5) Any approval given pursuant to these Regulations shall be given in writing and shall specify the date when it is to come into force and the conditions (if any) on which it is given.

(6) For the purposes of these Regulations, passenger ships in Class II(A) are ships engaged on voyages of any kind other than international voyages, which are not—

(a) ships of Classes III to VI(A) as defined in the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1998 ; or

(b) ships of Classes A, B, C or D as defined in the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000 which are new ships, engaged on domestic voyages, for the purposes of those Regulations.

Section 3 Application

(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (6) below and to regulation 5(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000 (which relates to passenger ships of Class II (A) which are 24 metres or over in length and are existing ships, engaged on domestic voyages, for the purposes of those Regulations) , these Regulations apply to—

(a) passenger ships engaged on an international voyage, to the extent prescribed in paragraph (4A); and

(b) passenger ships of Class II(A) .

(2) These Regulations apply to United Kingdom ships wherever they may be, and to other ships whilst they are in United Kingdom waters.

(3)

(a) Regulations 22, 24 to 26, 31(2) and (3), 34(b), 35, 36 and 43(2) shall not apply to ships which are not United Kingdom ships; and

(b) any requirement that ships comply with Section 4 of Schedule 4 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) shall not apply to passenger ships constructed on or after 1st September 1984 which are not United Kingdom ships; but such ships shall comply instead with Section 3 of Schedule 4 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M).

(4) Subject to paragraph (4A), these regulations do not apply to—

(a) ships to which the Merchant Shipping (Cargo and Passenger Ship Construction and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023 apply;

(b) ships of war and naval auxiliary ships;

(c) ships owned or operated by a State and engaged only on governmental non-commercial service;

(d) ships operating only in category A, B, C or D waters;

(e) ships not propelled by mechanical means;

(f) fishing vessels;

(g) craft to which the Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2022 apply.

(4A) Subject to paragraph (3)(a), regulations 22(1), (3) and (7), 26(a), (b) and (c), 28(1), 29, 31, 32(2), 33 and 34 apply to passenger ships engaged on an international voyage.

(5) No account shall be taken of any deviation by a ship from her intended voyage due solely to stress of weather or any other circumstances that neither the master nor the owner nor the charterer (if any) of the ship could have prevented or forestalled.

(6) Part IV of these Regulations applies only to—

(a) United Kingdom ro-ro passenger ships; and

(b) non-United Kingdom ro-ro passenger ships with the exception of—

(i) regulation 31(2) and (3);

(ii) regulation 34(b) to the extent that it relates to regulation 31(2); and

(iii) regulation 35(1) and (2) to the extent that it relates to any berth which is not situated within a port in the United Kingdom.

(7) Where any requirement relates to a ship constructed on or after a certain date, then to the extent that the Secretary of State deems reasonable and practical that requirement shall apply in respect of any major repair, alteration or modification carried out on or after that date to a United Kingdom ship constructed before that date.

Section 4 Exemptions for certain classes of ships and individual ships

The Secretary of State may exempt classes of ships or individual ships from any of the provisions of these Regulations, subject to such conditions as he may specify, and may on giving reasonable notice alter or cancel any exemption so granted. In particular he may exempt from any of the requirements of these Regulations—

(a) any ship the keel of which was laid, or which was at a similar stage of construction before 25th May 1980, or any other ship which was converted to a passenger ship before that date, to the extent that he is satisfied that compliance therewith is unreasonable or impracticable in the circumstances;

(b) any ship of Class ... II(A) which does not proceed more than 20 miles from the nearest land, to the extent that he is satisfied that compliance therewith is unreasonable or unnecessary by reason of the sheltered nature and conditions of the intended services of the ship;

(c) any ship which is not normally engaged on international voyages but which, in exceptional circumstances is required to undertake a single international voyage, provided that it complies with safety requirements which are adequate for the voyage which is to be undertaken by the ship;

(d) any ship which embodies features of a novel kind, if the application might seriously impede research into the development of such features and their incorporation in ships engaged on international voyages. Any such ship shall, however, comply with safety requirements which are adequate for the service for which it is intended and are such as to ensure the overall safety of the ship;

(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(f) pleasure vessels.

Section 5 Approved standards

In complying with the requirements of these Regulations with respect to construction or maintenance relating to hull, machinery, electrical installations and control installations United Kingdom ships shall comply with the approved standards listed in Merchant Shipping Notice No. M.1672 which are relevant to it.

Section 6 Application

This Part applies to all ships, except that a ship which complies fully with regulations 2 to 8, 11 and 13 of IMO Resolution A.265(VIII) need not comply with all the requirements of this Part, but only with regulations 10, 14 and 17 to 19 (inclusive), Sections 2, 3 and 4 of Schedule 4 and Schedules 10 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M).

Section 7 Structural strength

The structural strength of every ship shall be sufficient for the service for which the ship is intended.

Section 8 Watertight subdivision

Every ship shall be subdivided by bulkheads, which shall be watertight up to the bulkhead deck, into compartments the maximum length of which shall be calculated in accordance with such of the provisions of Schedule 2 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) as apply to that ship. Every other portion of the internal structure which affects the efficiency of the subdivision of the ship shall be watertight, and shall be of a design which will maintain the integrity of the subdivision.

Section 9 Construction of watertight bulkheads

(1) Every portion of the ship required by these Regulations to be watertight shall be constructed in accordance with such of the requirements of Section 1 of Schedule 4 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) as apply to it.

(2) All tanks forming part of the structure of the ship and used for the storage of oil fuel or other liquids including double bottoms, peak tanks, settling tanks and bunkers shall be of a design and construction adequate for that purpose.

Section 10 Collision, machinery space and afterpeak bulkheads and shaft tunnels

(1) Every ship shall be provided with a collision bulkhead which shall be watertight up to the bulkhead deck and shall be fitted at a distance from the ship’s forward perpendicular of not less than 5 per cent of the length of the ship and not more than 3.0 metres plus 5 per cent of such length.

(2) Where, in a ship constructed on or after 1st September 1984, any part below the waterline extends forward of the forward perpendicular, the distances specified in paragraph (1) shall be measured from a point either—

(a) at the mid-point of the maximum length forward of the forward perpendicular of such an extension;

(b) at a horizontal distance forward of the forward perpendicular equal to 1.5 per cent of the length of the ship; or

(c) at a horizontal distance 3.0 metres forward of the forward perpendicular;

whichever gives the smallest measurement.

(3) Where a long forward superstructure is fitted, the forepeak or collision bulkhead on all passenger ships shall be extended weathertight to the next full deck above the bulkhead deck. The extension may only open forwards and shall be so arranged as to preclude the possibility of the bow door causing damage to it in the case of damage to, or detachment of, a bow door.

(4) The extension required in paragraph 3 need not be fitted directly above the bulkhead below, provided that no part of the extension is located outside of the limits specified in paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) as applicable. However, in ships constructed before 1st July 1997:

(a) where a sloping loading ramp forms part of the extension, the part of the extension which is more than 2.3 metres above the bulkhead deck may extend no more than 1 metre forward of the forward limit specified in paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) as applicable; and

(b) where the existing ramp does not comply with the requirements for acceptance as an extension to the collision bulkhead and the position of the ramp prevents the location of such extension within the limits specified in paragraph (1) or paragraph (2), as applicable, the extension may be situated within a limited distance aft of the aft limit specified in paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) as applicable. The limited distance aft should be no more than is necessary to ensure non-interference with the ramp. The extension to the collision bulkhead shall comply with the requirements of paragraph (3) and shall be so arranged as to preclude the possibility of the ramp causing damage to it in the case of damage to, or detachment of, the ramp.

(5) Ramps not meeting the requirements of paragraph (4) shall be disregarded as an extension of the collision bulkhead.

(6) Every ship shall be provided with a watertight afterpeak bulkhead and with watertight bulkheads dividing the space appropriated to the main and auxiliary propelling machinery, and boilers, if any, from other spaces. Such bulkheads shall be watertight up to the bulkhead deck provided that the afterpeak bulkhead may be stepped below the bulkhead deck if the safety of the ship as regards subdivision is not thereby impaired.

(7) The stern gland of every ship shall be situated in a watertight shaft tunnel or other watertight space separate from the stern tube compartment and of such a volume that if the tunnel or space is flooded the bulkhead deck will not be submerged. The stern tube shall be enclosed in a watertight compartment of moderate volume.

Section 11 Double bottoms

(1) Every ship shall be fitted with a watertight double bottom which shall extend from the forepeak bulkhead to the afterpeak bulkhead, as far as this is practicable, provided that a double bottom may be dispensed with in compartments where its fitting would not be compatible with the design and proper working of the ship, subject to the following minimum requirements for fitting such a double bottom—

(a) in ships of 50 metres but less than 61 metres in length, a double bottom shall extend from the machinery space to the collision bulkhead or as near to that bulkhead as is practicable;

(b) in ships of 61 metres but less than 76 metres in length, a double bottom shall extend from the collision bulkhead to the afterpeak bulkhead or as near to those bulkheads as is practicable, but not necessarily in the machinery space; and

(c) in ships of 76 metres in length or over, a double bottom shall be fitted amidships and shall extend from the collision bulkhead to the afterpeak bulkhead or as near to those bulkheads as is practicable.

(2) Any ship of Class ... II(A) may be exempted by the Secretary of State from the requirements for a double bottom in any portion of the ship which is subdivided by application of a factor of subdivision not exceeding 0.5 if it can be shown that the fitting of a double bottom in that portion of the ship would not be compatible with the design and proper working of the ship.

(3) When a double bottom is required by this regulation to be fitted, its moulded depth shall be of a satisfactory height and the inner bottom shall be continued out to the ship’s sides in such a manner as to protect the bottom to the turn of the bilge. The inner bottom shall be deemed to be adequate for this purpose if the line of intersection of the outer edge of the margin plate with the bilge plating is not lower at any point than a horizontal plane passing through the point of intersection with the frame line amidships of a transverse diagonal line inclined at 25 degrees to the base line and cutting it at a point one-half of the ship’s moulded breadth from the centreline.

(4) Wells constructed in the double bottom for the purpose of drainage shall not be larger nor extend downwards more than is necessary for such purpose. The depth of the well shall in no case be more than the depth of the double bottom at the centre line, less 460 millimetres, nor shall the well extend below the horizontal plane referred to in paragraph (3), provided that a well extending to the outer bottom may be constructed at the after end of a watertight shaft tunnel fitted in accordance with regulation 10(7) .

(5) Wells for purposes other than drainage shall not be constructed in the double bottom. A ship may be exempted from the requirements of this paragraph in respect of any well if it can be shown that it will not diminish the protection given by the double bottom.

(6) Nothing in this regulation shall require a double bottom to be fitted in way of watertight compartments of moderate size used exclusively for the carriage of liquids if the safety of the ship will not be impaired in the event of bottom or side damage by reason of the absence of a double bottom in that position.

Section 12 Weather deck

(1) The bulkhead deck or a deck above the bulkhead deck shall be weathertight. All openings in an exposed weathertight deck shall have coamings of adequate height and strength and shall be provided with efficient and rapid means of closing so as to make them weathertight. Freeing ports, open rails and scuppers shall be fitted as necessary for rapidly clearing the weather deck of water under all weather conditions.

(2) In passenger ships constructed on or after 1st July 1997, the open end of air pipes terminating within a superstructure shall be at least 1 m above the waterline when the ship heels to either an angle of 15 degrees, or the maximum angle of heel during intermediate stages of flooding, as determined by direct calculation, whichever is the greater. Alternatively, air pipes from tanks other than oil tanks may discharge through the side of the superstructure. The provisions of this paragraph are without prejudice to the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Load Lines) Regulations 1998 .

Section 13 Partial subdivision above the bulkhead deck

All reasonable and practicable measures shall be taken to limit where necessary the entry and spread of water above the bulkhead deck; such measures may include partial bulkheads or webs. Where such partial watertight bulkheads and webs are fitted on the bulkhead deck, above or in the immediate vicinity of main subdivision bulkheads, they shall have watertight shell and bulkhead deck connections so as to restrict the flow of water along the deck when the ship is heeled in a damaged condition. Where such partial watertight bulkheads do not coincide with the bulkheads below, the bulkhead deck between shall be made effectively watertight.

Section 14 Openings in watertight bulkheads

(1) The number of openings in watertight bulkheads shall be reduced to the minimum compatible with the design and proper working of the ship and means shall be provided for satisfactorily closing these openings.

(2)

(a) Every tunnel above the double bottom, if any, whether for access from the crew space to the machinery space, for piping or for any other purpose, which passes through such a bulkhead shall be watertight;

(b) The means of access to at least one end of such a tunnel, if it may be used as a passage at sea, shall be through a trunkway extending watertight to a height sufficient to permit access above the bulkhead deck;

(c) The means of access to the other end of the tunnel shall be through a watertight door;

(d) No tunnel shall extend through the first subdivision bulkhead abaft the collision bulkhead.

(3)

(a) Within spaces containing the main and auxiliary propelling machinery including boilers serving the needs of propulsion and all permanent bunkers, not more than one doorway, apart from the doorways to shaft tunnels, may be fitted in each main transverse bulkhead;

(b) Where two or more shafts are fitted, the tunnels shall be connected by an inter-communicating passage;

(c) There shall be only one doorway between the machinery space and tunnel spaces where one or two shafts are fitted and only two doorways where there are more than two shafts;

(d) All such doorways shall be located so as to have their sills as high as practicable.

(4) Doorways, manholes and access openings shall not be fitted in the collision bulkhead below the bulkhead deck of any ship or in any other bulkhead which is required by these Regulations to be watertight and which divides a cargo space from another cargo space or from a permanent or reserve bunker: Provided that any ship may be permitted to fit doorways in bulkheads dividing two between-deck cargo spaces if—

(a) the doorways are necessary for the proper working of the ship;

(b) the number of such doorways in the ship is the minimum compatible with the design and proper working of the ship, and they are fitted at the highest practicable level; and

(c) the outboard vertical edges of such doorways are situated at a distance as far as practicable from the ship’s shell plating and in no case less than one-fifth of the breadth of the ship, such distance being measured at right angles to the centre line of the ship at the level of the deepest subdivision load water line,

provided also that in ships constructed on or after 1st September 1984 carrying goods vehicles and accompanying personnel, doorways may be fitted in bulkheads dividing cargo spaces at any level, subject to compliance with regulation 19(1).

(5) Bulkheads in spaces that do not contain machinery and are required by these Regulations to be watertight shall not be pierced by openings which are capable of being closed only by portable bolted plates.

(6)

(a) In every ship—

(i) valves not forming part of a pipe system shall not be fitted in any bulkhead or other division required by these Regulations to be watertight;

(ii) if any such bulkhead or other division is pierced by pipes, scuppers, electric cables or other similar fittings, provision shall be made which will ensure that its watertightness is not thereby impaired;

(iii) lead or other heat sensitive materials shall not be used in systems which penetrate watertight subdivision bulkheads where deterioration of such systems in the event of fire would impair the watertight integrity of the bulkheads; and

(iv) in ships constructed on or after 1st September 1984, valves which are fitted in piping systems to maintain the integrity of the watertight bulkheads in the event of damage, should be screw-down valves capable of being controlled manually at the valve, and from a position above the bulkhead deck.

(b)

(i) The collision bulkhead of a ship shall not be pierced below the bulkhead deck by more than one pipe: Provided that if the forepeak in such a ship is divided to hold two different kinds of liquids the collision bulkhead may be pierced below the bulkhead deck by not more than two pipes;

(ii) Any pipe which pierces the collision bulkhead of such a ship shall be fitted with a screw-down valve capable of being operated from above the bulkhead deck, the valve chest being secured to the forward side of the collision bulkhead;

(iii) This valve may be fitted on the after side of the collision bulkhead if it is readily accessible under all service conditions and the space in which it is located is not a cargo space.

Section 15 Openings in the shell plating below the bulkhead deck

(1) The number of sidescuttles, scuppers, sanitary discharges and other openings in the shell below the bulkhead deck shall be the minimum which is compatible with the design and proper working of the ship.

(2) The arrangements for closing every such opening below the bulkhead deck shall be consistent with its intended purpose and shall be such as will ensure watertightness.

(3) The design and arrangements of openings in the shell plating below the margin line shall be in accordance with the specifications set out in Schedule 10 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M).

(4)

(a) In all ro-ro passenger ships, scuppers shall be fitted in special category spaces so as to ensure that water which may otherwise accumulate by operation of the fixed pressure water-spraying system is rapidly discharged directly overboard.

(b) In all ro-ro passenger ships, discharge valves for scuppers leading from special category spaces which are fitted with positive means of closing operable from a position above the bulkhead, in accordance with regulation 15(3), shall be kept open when the ship is at sea.

Section 16 Side and other openings above the bulkhead deck

(1) Sidescuttles, windows, gangway ports, cargo ports, bunkering ports and other openings in the shell above the bulkhead deck and their means of closing shall be of efficient design and construction and of sufficient strength having regard to the spaces in which they are fitted and to their positions relative to the deepest subdivision load waterline and to the intended service of the ship. All sidescuttles and windows shall be designed and constructed to standards recognised by the Certifying Authority.

(2) Efficiently hinged deadlights, which can be easily closed and secured watertight shall be provided for all sidescuttles to spaces below the first deck above the bulkhead deck.

(3) Each discharge led through the shell above the bulkhead deck from a space below the freeboard deck or from within any enclosed superstructure or from within any deckhouse on the freeboard deck which is fitted with weathertight doors, shall be fitted in compliance with the requirements of paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 10 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) with efficient means for preventing water from passing inboard.

Section 17 Construction and testing of watertight doors

Every door required to be watertight shall be of such design, material and construction as will maintain the integrity of the watertight bulkhead in which it is fitted. Any such door shall, together with its frame, be made of cast or mild steel and comply with the specifications set out in section 2 of Schedule 4 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M).

Section 18 Construction and testing of watertight decks, trunks etc.

(1) Watertight decks, trunks, tunnels, duct keels and ventilators shall be of the same strength as watertight bulkheads at corresponding levels. The means used for making them watertight, and the arrangements adopted for closing openings in them, shall be to the satisfaction of the Certifying Authority. Watertight ventilators and trunks shall be carried at least up to the bulkhead deck.

(2) Where a ventilation trunk passing through a structure penetrates the bulkhead deck, the trunk shall be capable of withstanding the water pressure that may be present within the trunk, assuming that the maximum heel angle allowable during intermediate stages of flooding shall be the angle specified in Schedule 1 of Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M).

(3) Where all or part of the penetration of the bulkhead deck is on the main ro-ro deck, the trunk shall be capable of withstanding impact pressure due to internal water motions (sloshing) of water trapped on the ro-ro deck.

(4) In ships constructed before 1st July 1997, the requirements of paragraph (2) shall apply not later than the date of the first periodic survey after 1st July 1997 or the date on which these Regulations come into force whichever is later.

(5) After completion, a hose or flooding test shall be applied to watertight decks and a hose test to watertight trunks, tunnels and ventilators.

Section 19 Ships carrying goods vehicles and accompanying personnel (watertight doors) Requirements for ships constructed on or after 1st September 1984

(1)

(a) In every ship designed or adapted for the carriage of goods vehicles and accompanying personnel, hinged, rolling or sliding watertight doors may be fitted at any level in watertight bulkheads dividing cargo spaces intended for such vehicles, if the total number of passengers, including the personnel accompanying the goods vehicles, which the ship is intended to carry does not exceed—

where

A is the total deck area in square metres available in any spaces for the stowage of goods vehicles which has a clear height of not less than 4 metres and has a clear height at the entrance or access of not less than 4 metres; provided that in calculating A any part of any space which does not have a clear height of 4 metres and any part of space, of whatever height, which does not have a clear height at the entrance or access of 4 metres shall be excluded from the calculation.

(b) Every watertight door fitted in accordance with this regulation shall comply with the requirements of paragraph 10 of Section 3 of Schedule 4 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) and every such door shall be connected with an indicator on the navigating bridge showing when the door is closed and all door fastenings are secured.

(2) In applying sub-paragraph (1)(1) of Schedule 1 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) for the worst operating condition, the permeability of cargo spaces used for the stowage of containers shall be derived by calculation in which the containers shall be assumed to be non-watertight and their permeability taken as 65 per cent. For ships which are dedicated to a particular trade or trades the actual value of permeability for the containers may be applied. In no case shall the permeability of the cargo spaces in which the containers are carried be taken as less than 60 per cent.

Section 20 Interpretation

In this Part the following expressions have the following meanings respectively—

“locked” means secured by a device which prevents unauthorised operation;

“restricted visibility” means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, snow, rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar causes;

“a closing appliance” shall be deemed to be below the margin line if the sill of the opening with which it is associated is below that line.

Section 21 Means of closing openings in watertight bulkheads and operating sliding watertight doors

(1) Every door fitted to an opening in a watertight bulkhead shall comply with the specifications set out in either Section 3 or 4 of Schedule 4 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M), as appropriate.

(2) In ships constructed before 1st February 1992, doors not complying with Section 3 of Schedule 4 of Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) shall be closed before each voyage commences, and shall be kept closed during navigation; the time of opening such doors in port and of closing them before the ship leaves port shall be entered in the log-book.

Section 22 Closure of hull openings, watertight doors, openings in watertight bulkheads

(1) The following closing appliances are to be securely closed before the ship proceeds on any voyage and are to be kept closed until the ship has been secured at a berth or anchorage—

(a) watertight doors below the margin line fitted in bulkheads which are required to be watertight and which separate cargo spaces;

(b) sidescuttles which can be opened and which are situated below the margin line;

(c) deadlights of any sidescuttles which are situated below the margin line and which—

(i) will not be accessible whilst the ship is at sea; or

(ii) are situated in spaces appropriated for use sometimes for the carriage of cargo and sometimes for use by passengers, while such spaces are being used for the carriage of cargo; and

(d) gangway and cargo loading doors below the margin line.

(2) No closing appliance described in paragraph (1) shall be considered as being securely closed unless it is locked.

(3) Watertight doors below the bulkhead deck fitted in bulkheads which are required to be watertight, other than those doors described in paragraph (1), shall be kept closed whilst the ship is on any voyage except—

(a) when opened in accordance with the procedures laid down in written operational instructions;

(b) when opened for the purpose of drill required by regulation 24; or

(c) when any such door is opened on the express authority of the master for a specific purpose, for no longer than a specific period of time and on condition that all other watertight doors below the margin line, except those opened in accordance with the provisions of sub-paragraph (a), are closed during that period.

(4) The operational instructions referred to in paragraph (3)(a) shall be kept on board the ship at all times in the custody of the master.

(5) Any watertight door which may be opened in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (3) shall be kept clear of obstructions which might prevent its rapid closure.

(6) Notwithstanding the requirements of this regulation, in an emergency situation the master may authorise the opening or closing of any watertight door, provided he is satisfied that such action is essential for the overall safety of the ship.

(7) Every portable plate closing an opening below the bulkhead deck in any portion of the internal structure of the ship which is required to be watertight shall be fitted in place before the ship proceeds on any voyage and shall be kept in place, except in case of urgent necessity, until the ship has been secured at a berth or anchorage. In replacing any such plate all reasonable precautions shall be taken to ensure that the joints are watertight.

(8) Both the watertight cover and the automatic non-return valve of a chute or other similar device on the ship having its inboard opening below the margin line shall be kept closed and secured when such device is not in use.

Section 23 Marking of doors, mechanisms and valves

In every ship constructed on or after 25th May 1980 all doors, mechanisms and valves connected with the damage control and watertight integrity of the ship shall be suitably marked to ensure that they may be properly used to provide maximum safety.

Section 24 Drills and inspections

(1) All deadlights which are accessible, all watertight doors to which regulation 22(3) applies, all valves and closing mechanisms of scuppers and the devices referred to in regulation 22(8) shall be opened and closed for purposes of drill—

(a) at intervals of not more than seven days; and

(b) immediately before the ship proceeds to sea if the ship is intended to remain at sea for a period of time of more than seven days.

(2) All watertight doors fitted in bulkheads required to be watertight which may be opened for the working of the ship in accordance with the requirements of regulation 22(3) shall be opened and closed for the purpose of drill once in every period of 24 hours.

(3) All closing appliances and devices referred to in regulation 22(1), (2) and (8) shall be inspected by a person appointed by the master for that purpose—

(a) before the ship proceeds on any voyage; and

(b) at intervals of not more than seven days if the ship is intended to remain at sea for a period of more than seven days, except when they are not accessible.

(4) The following closing appliances and mechanisms are to be inspected at intervals of not more than seven days by a person appointed for that purpose either generally or on any particular occasion by the master—

(a) all watertight doors other than those of the type described in regulation 22(1);

(b) all mechanisms, indicators and warning devices connected with such doors;

(c) all valves, the closing of which is necessary to make watertight any compartment below the margin line; and

(d) all valves, the operation of which is necessary for the efficient operation of damage-control cross-connections.

(5) Suitable notices and signs shall be provided on, or in the vicinity of, all the closing appliances referred to in paragraph (4) to indicate, as necessary, the procedures for operating the appliances, the purpose of the controls and any precautions to be observed.

Section 25 Training

All members of the crew who would have occasion to use any watertight doors shall be instructed in the safe operation of watertight doors. In addition written instructions on the safe operation of the doors, given in easily understood terms and illustrated wherever possible, shall be available to all members of the crew. Such instructions shall be based upon the operational instructions referred to in regulation 22(3)(a).

Section 26 Entries in official log book

Entries shall be made in the official log book recording the following—

(a) the times of the last closing, before the ship proceeds on any voyage, of the watertight doors and other closing appliances referred to in regulation 22(1) and of the next opening of such doors and closing appliances;

(b) the times of the opening and closing of any watertight door pursuant to regulation 22(3)(c);

(c) the times when the portable plates referred to in regulation 22(7) are fitted in place and the times of any removal and replacement of such plates whilst the ship is on any voyage;

(d) the occasions on which drills are held and inspections made in compliance with these Regulations and whether or not the closing appliances and devices to which any such drill or inspection relates are in good working order when the drill or inspection takes place; and

(e) the occasions upon which the valves referred to in regulation 15(4) are operated.

Section 27 Interpretation

(1) In this Part the following expressions have the following meanings respectively unless the context otherwise requires—

“doors” includes bow visors and appliances described in regulation 28(1)(c);

“length” means the ship’s overall length;

“loading doors” means the doors described in regulation 28(1)(a) to (d) inclusive; and

“locked” means secured by a device which prevents unauthorised operation.

(2) A door shall be deemed to be above the margin line if the sill of the opening with which it is associated is above that line.

Section 28 Interpretation

(1) Except in the cases specified in paragraphs (2) and (4) the following loading doors—

(a) gangway and cargo loading doors fitted in the shell or boundaries or enclosed superstructures;

(b) bow visors so fitted;

(c) weathertight ramps so fitted and used instead of doors for closing openings for cargo or vehicle loading; and

(d) cargo loading doors in the collision bulkhead;

shall be closed and locked before the ship leaves its berth and shall be kept closed and locked until the ship has been secured at its next berth.

(2) Where a bow visor or a weathertight ramp cannot be opened or closed while the ship is secured at its berth, it may so far as necessary and subject to paragraph (3) be opened or kept open while the ship approaches or draws away from its berth, as the case may be.

(3) In no case shall a loading door be open when the ship is more than one ship’s length from the cargo loading or discharging position of its berth.

(4) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to small doors intended to be used for pilot access, fuelling or other matters necessary for the operation of the ship and not intended to be used by passengers or for loading cargo.

Section 29 Closure of bulkheads on the ro-ro deck

(1) All transverse or longitudinal bulkheads which are taken into account as effective to confine the seawater accumulated on the ro-ro deck shall be closed and locked before the ship leaves the berth, and shall remain locked until the ship has been secured at its next berth.

(2) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (1), accesses through such bulkheads may be opened for a period sufficient to allow through passage, on the express authority of the master provided that this is required for the essential working of the ship.

Section 30 Supervision and reporting of closure

(1) Before the ship proceeds on a voyage an officer appointed for the purpose by the master shall—

(a) verify that every loading door has been closed and locked; and

(b) report the fact that they have been closed and locked to the master or other officer in charge of the bridge.

(2) Save as permitted by regulation 28(2) the ship shall not proceed on a voyage until the report referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(b) has been received by the master or other officer in charge of the bridge.

Section 31 Closure of watertight and weathertight doors in bulkheads

(1) Watertight or weathertight doors above the margin line (except doors fitted in collision bulkheads to which regulation 28 applies) which are fitted in bulkheads which are required to be watertight or weathertight as the case may be and which separate or form the boundary of cargo spaces shall be closed and locked before the ship leaves its berth and be kept closed and locked until the ship has been secured at its next berth.

(2) Watertight and weathertight doors above the margin line fitted in the shell or in bulkheads which are required to be watertight or weathertight, other than those doors described in regulations 28(1) and 31(1), shall be kept closed whilst the ship is on any voyage except when opened on the express authority of the master.

(3) Any watertight or weathertight door which may be opened in accordance with the exception to paragraph (2) shall be kept clear of obstructions which might prevent its rapid closure.

Section 32 Watertight integrity from the bulkhead deck to spaces below

(1) In ro-ro passenger ships constructed before 1st July 1997—

(a) all accesses which lead to spaces below the bulkhead deck shall be made weathertight and means shall be provided on the navigation bridge, which will indicate whether the access is open or closed;

(b) all such accesses shall be closed before the ship leaves the berth on any voyage and shall remain closed until the ship is at its next berth;

(c) notwithstanding the requirements of sub-paragraph (b), accesses may be opened for a period sufficient to allow through passage on the express authority of the master, if this is required for the essential working of the ship; and

(d) the requirements of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) shall apply not later than the date of the first periodic survey after 1st July 1997, or the date on which these Regulations come into force whichever is later.

(2) In ro-ro passenger ships constructed on or after 1st July 1997—

(a) subject to the provisions of sub-paragraphs (b) and (c), all accesses that lead to spaces below the bulkhead deck shall have a lowest point which is not less than 2.5 metres above the bulkhead deck in way of that opening;

(b) where vehicle ramps are installed to give access to spaces below the bulkhead deck, their openings shall be capable of being closed weathertight to prevent ingress of water below, alarmed and indicated to the navigation bridge;

(c) accesses, not complying with sub-paragraph (a), leading to spaces below the bulkhead deck, which are essential for the proper working of the ship, e.g. those required for the movement of stores, may be permitted subject to being made weathertight, alarmed and indicated to the navigation bridge;

(d) the accesses referred to in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) shall be closed before the ship leaves the berth on any voyage and shall remain closed until the ship is at its next berth;

(e) the master shall ensure that an effective system of supervision and reporting of the closing and opening of such accesses referred to in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) is implemented; and

(f) the master shall ensure, before the ship leaves the berth on any voyage, that an entry in the log-book, as required by regulation 34 , is made of the time of the last closing of the accesses referred to in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c).

Section 33 Opening of doors in an emergency

Notwithstanding the provisions of regulations 28(1) and 31(1), gangway and cargo loading doors may be opened in an emergency but only when the master considers such opening will not put the safety of the ship at risk.

Section 34 Entries in official log book

Entries shall be made in the official log book recording the following—

(a) the times of the last closing, in accordance with regulations 28(1), 31(1), and 32(2) of the watertight and weathertight doors referred to in those regulations and of the next opening of such doors; and

(b) The times of the opening and closing of any watertight or weathertight door pursuant to regulations 31(2) and 33.

Section 35 Listing of loading and unloading berths

(1) The owner of a ship shall ensure that the ship is provided with a list (“the Berth List”) of all loading berths at which it is intended the ship shall load or discharge cargo or vehicles.

(2) The Berth List shall list separately for each port which the ship is intended to visit to load or discharge cargo or vehicles—

(a) the loading berths at which the ship in question can, when so loading or discharging, comply with the requirements of regulation 28(1) without relying on paragraph (2) of that regulation; and

(b) where it is intended that the ship shall so load or discharge in the manner permitted by regulation 28(2), the loading berths at which it will so load or discharge.

The berths of the type described in sub-paragraph (b) shall be listed separately from those of the type described in sub-paragraph (a).

(3) A copy of the ship’s Berth List shall be supplied to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

(4) No ro-ro passenger ship shall, except in an emergency, load or discharge cargo or vehicles through a loading door at any berth which is not listed in the ship’s Berth List and in the copy thereof supplied to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Section 36 Written instructions regarding the closure of doors above the bulkhead deck

(1) The owner of a ship shall ensure that the ship is provided with written instructions concerning the doors referred to in this Part.

(2) Such written instructions shall be approved by the Certifying Authority.

Section 37 Intact stability standard

Every ship shall, in all probable loading conditions, satisfy the stability criteria set out in Schedule 1 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698(M).

Section 38 Inclining, lightweight survey and stability information

(1) Every ship on her completion shall be inclined and the elements of her stability determined. The master shall be supplied by the owner with approved information relating to the stability of the ship in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.

(2)

(i) Every ship shall have a lightweight survey carried out within each period of five years to verify any changes in lightship displacement and longitudinal centre of gravity. Such periods shall commence on the date of issue of a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate or Passenger Certificate or from a previous inclining or lightweight survey, whichever date is the earliest.

(ii) The ship shall be re-inclined whenever, in comparison with the ship’s approved stability information derived from the previous inclining experiment, a deviation from the lightship displacement exceeding 2 per cent or a deviation of the longitudinal centre of gravity exceeding 1 per cent of the ship’s length is found or anticipated.

(iii) Every inclining or lightweight survey made for the purpose of this paragraph shall be carried out in the presence of a nominated surveyor.

(iv) The interval between lightweight surveys of any such ship may be extended for a period of not more than one year if, on the production of relevant information about the ship, it can be shown that the lightweight survey is not necessary at the required interval.

(3) An approved report of each inclining or lightweight survey carried out in accordance with paragraph (2) and of the calculation therefrom of the lightship condition shall be placed on board for the use of the master.

(4) Where elements of a ship’s stability have been found to have changed following any inclining or lightweight survey carried out in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (2) the master shall be supplied with amended approved stability information.

(5) Where any alterations are made to a ship so as materially to affect the stability information supplied to the master, amended stability information shall be provided, and the ship shall be re-inclined.

Section 39 Subdivision lines

Every ship shall be marked on its side amidships with the subdivision load lines assigned to it in accordance with Schedule 5 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M).

Section 40 Draughts marks

Every ship shall have scales of draughts marked clearly at the bow and stern.

Section 41 Automatic draught gauge system

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)

(a) Every ship of Class ... II(A) engaged on services which afford only short periods in port or where insufficient lighting is available during periods of darkness, or which include the use of berths exposed to adverse weather, shall be provided with a reliable automatic draught gauge system as prescribed in paragraph (1).

(b) Every other ship of Class ... II(A) shall be provided with such an automatic draught gauge system, except where the draught marks are located where they can be easily read.

Section 42 Recording of draught, trim and freeboard prior to departure

(1) On completion of loading of the ship and before it proceeds on a voyage, the master or an officer appointed for the purpose by the master shall ascertain—

(a) the ship’s draught at the bow and at the stern;

(b) the trim of the ship by the bow or the stern; and

(c) the vertical distance from the waterline to the appropriate subdivision load line mark on each side of the ship.

(2) The draughts, trim and the vertical distances ascertained in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be recorded by the master or such officer as the case may be in the official log book.

Section 43 Calculation of stability prior to departure

(1) On completion of the loading of the ship and prior to its departure, the master shall determine the ship’s trim and stability and also ascertain and record that the ship is is in compliance with the requirements of such of regulations 37, 42, 44 to 46 (inclusive) and this regulation as are applicable to that ship . The determination of the ship’s stability shall always be made by calculation. Use of an electronic loading and stability computer or equivalent means may be accepted for this purpose.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) Where the calculation is made by means of a shore-based loading and stability computer system, a print-out of the calculation shall be presented to the master before the ship proceeds on its voyage. It shall be the duty of the person responsible for that system to ensure that the calculations are substantially correct.

Section 44 Stability in the damaged condition Requirements for ships constructed before 29 April 1990

(1)

(a) Subject to the Merchant Shipping (Ro-Ro Passenger Ships) (Stability) Regulations 2004 and regulation 45(2), in addition to the requirements of regulation 37, every ship shall be so constructed as to provide sufficient intact stability in all service conditions to enable the ship to withstand the flooding of any one of the main compartments into which the ship is subdivided in accordance with the provisions of regulation 8. If two of the main compartments, being adjacent to each other, are separated by a bulkhead which is stepped under the conditions of paragraph 6(3)(a) of Schedule 2 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) the intact stability shall be adequate to withstand the flooding of those two adjacent main compartments.

(b) Where in any ship the factor of subdivision required under paragraph 4 or 9 of Schedule 2 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) is 0.50 or less but more than 0.33, the intact stability shall be adequate to withstand the flooding of any two adjacent main compartments.

(c) Where in any ship the factor of subdivision required under paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) is 0.33 or less, the intact stability shall be adequate to withstand the flooding of any three adjacent main compartments.

(2)

(a) For the purposes of this regulation the sufficiency of the intact stability of every ship shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of Schedule 3 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) except that for ro-ro passenger ships the sufficiency of intact stability shall be determined in accordance with sections 1 and 3 of Schedule 2 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) not later than the first periodic survey after the date of compliance prescribed below, according to the value of A/Amax as calculated in accordance with MSC /Circ.574.

(b) The intact stability of every United Kingdom ro-ro passenger ship shall be examined in accordance with the appropriate sections of Schedule 3 of Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) in order to establish the sufficiency of positive stability provided as required by subparagraphs (1)(a) and (2)(a) whenever considered necessary in connection with amended stability information prepared in accordance with regulation 38(4) and (5). Such re-examinations shall demonstrate that at all stages of flooding there is sufficient positive residual stability after the assumed damage prescribed in section 1 of Schedule 3 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M).

(3)

(a) Every ship shall be constructed as to keep asymmetrical flooding, when the ship is in a damaged condition, at the minimum consistent with efficient arrangements. If cross-flooding fittings are provided in any such ship the fittings shall, where practicable, be self-acting but in any case where controls to cross-flooding fittings are provided, they shall be capable of being operated from above the bulkhead deck. The cross-flooding fittings shall be capable of reducing the heel within 15 minutes, sufficiently to meet the requirements of subparagraph 2(2)(c) of Schedule 3 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M).

(b) If the margin line may become submerged during the flooding assumed for the purposes of the calculation referred to in Schedule 3 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M), the construction of the ship shall be such as will enable the master of the ship to ensure—

(i) that the maximum angle of heel after flooding but before equalisation shall not exceed 15 degrees; and

(ii) that the margin line shall not be submerged in the final stage of flooding.

(4)

(a) There shall be provided by the owner in every ship a document for the use of the master of the ship containing—

(i) information as to the use of any cross-flooding fittings provided in the ship;

(ii) information necessary for the maintenance of sufficient intact stability under service conditions to enable the ship to withstand damage to the extent referred to in section 1 of Schedule 3 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M); and

(iii) information as to the condition of stability on which the calculations of heel have been based, together with a warning that excessive heeling might result should the ship sustain damage when in a less favourable condition.

(b) This additional information shall be included in the stability information book.

Section 45 Stability in the damaged condition Requirements for ships constructed on or after 29th April 1990

(1) Subject to paragraph (2) every ship shall comply with the provisions of regulation 44 except that—

(a) for the purpose of regulation 44(2) the sufficiency of intact stability required shall be calculated in accordance with Section 1 and 3 of Schedule 3 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M); and

(b) the cross-flooding fittings shall be capable of meeting the requirements of paragraph 3(2)(b) of Schedule 3 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M).

(2) This regulation shall not apply to ships which comply with those provisions of IMO Resolution A.265(VIII) as detailed in regulation 6.

Section 46 Requirements for ro-ro passenger ships which carry 400 persons or more

In addition to the provisions of regulations 44 and 45, ro-ro passenger ships certificated to carry 400 persons or more shall comply with the following—

(1) Vessels constructed on or after 1st July 1997 shall comply with section 3 of Schedule 3 of Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) with the damage deemed to occur anywhere in the ship’s length.

(2) Vessels constructed before 1st July 1997 shall comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) not later than the date of the first periodic survey following the compliance dates prescribed in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) below, whichever occurs latest—

(a)

(b) Number of persons permitted to be carried

(c) where age of the ship means the time from the date on which it was constructed.

Section 47 Exhibition of damage control plans

There shall be permanently exhibited in the ship, for the information of the officer in charge of the ship, plans showing clearly for each level the boundaries of the watertight compartments, the openings therein, the means of closing such openings and the position of the controls and the arrangements for the correction of any list due to flooding. In addition, booklets containing such information shall be made available by the owner for the use of the officers of the ship.

Section 48 Application

This Part applies to all ships; except that a ship which complies with requirements of the IMO Resolution A.265(VIII) need not comply with regulation 50 if it complies with regulation 19(b)(i) and (ii) of that Resolution.

Section 49 General

(1)

(i) Every ship shall be provided with an efficient pumping plant capable of pumping from and draining any watertight compartment in the ship, other than a space permanently appropriated for the carriage of fresh water, water ballast or oil and for which other efficient means of pumping or drainage is provided, under all conditions likely to arise in practice after a casualty, whether or not the ship remains upright.

(ii) Wing suctions shall be provided if necessary for that purpose.

(iii) Efficient arrangements shall be provided whereby water in any watertight compartment may find its way to the suction pipes.

(iv) Efficient means shall be provided for draining water from all insulated holds and insulated between-decks in such a ship; provided that the provision for drainage may be omitted in a particular compartment if—

(a) according to the calculations made in accordance with the conditions set out in Schedule 3 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) the safety of the ship will not be impaired; and

(b) that the provision of drainage would otherwise be undesirable.

(2) Sanitary, ballast and general service pumps having a capacity in accordance with paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 6 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M) may be accepted as independent power pumps if fitted with the necessary connections to the bilge pump systems.

(3) All tanks forming part of the structure of the ship and all watertight compartments, not being part of the machinery space, shall be provided with efficient sounding arrangements which shall be protected where necessary against damage.

Section 50 Number and type of bilge pumps

Every ship shall be provided with power pumps connected to the bilge main in accordance with the appropriate tables set out in Schedule 6 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1698 (M).