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Chapter I General provisions
Defines terminology including that a passenger ship is a vessel carrying more than 12 passengers and a cargo ship is any other type of ship. States that unless a regulation specifies otherwise it doesn’t apply to warships, cargo ships under 500grt, sailing ships, pleasure yachts or fishing vessels. There are several regulations that specify otherwise, especially in the case of small cargo ships.
Sets out requirements for the Administration(flag state government) to issue certain certificates verifying that vessels are sea-worthy, properly equipped etc. Classification societies such as Lloyd’s Register of Shipping carry out these inspections and surveys on behalf of governments.
Chapter II-1 Construction–Structure, subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations
Details what design features should be incorporated in order to make a ship comply
Structure includes corrosion resistance of double bottoms for SWB and being able to access spaces for inspection through suitably sized openings. Tankers must have safe access to the bow in severe weather conditions and have emergency towing arrangements at both ends.
Subdivision and stabilityincludes floodable length in all ships, permeability and maximum permissible length of compartments in passenger ships, watertight doors and openings in the hull, damage stability.
Electrical installations
Power should come from at least two generating sets that collectively supply enough power for all normal operations without the support of the emergency power source. With one unit offline it must be possible to maintain normal propulsion and safety and to start the main propulsion from a dead ship condition.
Lighting must be provided in all spaces normally accessible to passengers or crew and these must also have emergency lighting arrangements.
A self-contained emergency source of power must be provided above the main continuous deck that kicks in automatically within 45seconds and can power emergency lighting, navigation lights and equipment, communications and a fire pump for at least 36hours on passenger ships, 18hours on cargo ships. It must also be capable of powering lifts and watertight doors for a shorter period to prevent people being trapped.
Machinery includes measures to prevent of overspeed, overstress and overpressure of engines, crankcase explosion relief valves and requirements for the reverse operation of engines to be sufficient to bring the vessel to a stop in a suitable time/distance.
Steering gear must be capable of being operated locally, going from 35°-35° at service speed, withstanding full astern speed and going from 35°-30° in 28seconds (with one power unit out of operation on a passenger vessel). Tankers over 10,000grt and other ships over 70,000 must have two or more identical power units.
Chapter II-2 Construction–Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction
Sets out the fire resistance qualities of A, B and C class subdividing bulkheads. A and B subdivisions must be constructed of non-combustible materials which prevents average temperatures on the far side rising by more than 140° within a specified period (eg A-60, A-30, A-0). A will contain smoke and flame, B will contain flame. C class subdivisions are also non-combustible but don’t contain heat, smoke or flame. What is required for each type of space on each type of ship is outlined in tables.(See also MSN 1667 + 8 for required integrity of subdivision on UK vessels)
Details the requirements for means of escape including prohibiting dead end corridors of more than 7 metres in length and providing at least two ways out of machinery spaces separated as widely as possible.
Measures to prevent flammable vapours collecting anywhere or pressure building in tank. Sounding pipes can’t be inside accommodation, crew spaces, workshops or near sources of ignition. It must be possible to isolate fuel lines.
Directs you to The International Code for Fire Safety Systems for details of fire detection and firefighting systems and equipment but requires all ships to have smoke detection in accommodation and service spaces.
Fire Pumps must number at least three on a passenger ship, two on a cargo ship.
A passenger ship’s fire pumps must be situated so that a fire in a single compartment cannot render them all inoperable.
If all the fire pumps of a cargo ship could be rendered inoperable by a single space fireit must have an emergency fire pump with a separate power and water source not situated in or adjacent to a machinery space.
All ships must have an isolation valve fitted to the section of the fire main in the machinery space containing the main fire pumps so that the rest of the fire main can be fed by a different pump if this section is damaged.
Pumps must be capable of delivering at least the required two jets (simultaneous with foam monitor use on tankers). Ships carrying Dangerous Goods must be able to get four jets.
In order to provide water rapidly the fire pump must either keep the fire main permanently pressurised, be capable of remote activation from the bridge or in a constantly manned compartment.
Hydrants must be positioned so that two jets of water, one through a single length of hose and each from different hydrants may reach any part of the ship normally accessible to passengers or crew.
Hydrants must have valves to allow the hoses to be disconnected when the fire main is pressurised.
For the vehicle deck of a Ro-Ro both must be through a single length of hose and the hydrants must be positioned near the entrances to the space.
Tankers must have an isolation valve in the fire main at the poop front and at 40m intervals along the cargo deck to allow damaged sections to be isolated.
Hoses shall have a minimum length of 10 metres and maximums of:
15 metres in machinery spaces
20 metres in other spaces and open decks
25 metres on open decks where the ship’s breadth exceeds 30 metres
Nozzles shall be 12, 16 or 19 millimetres in diameter and shall offer spray, jet and shutoff functionality.
Hoses must be provided for every hydrant and accommodation space on passenger ships and must be connected at all times.
A cargo ship must have at least one length of hose per 30m of ship length (5 minimum) plus one spare not including those required for machinery spaces.
Cargo ships carrying dangerous goods must have three additional hoses and nozzles.
International Shore Connectors shall be carried by ships of 500grt or more and fittings shall be provided to allow this to be used on either side of the ship.
Portable Fire Extinguishersof suitable types must be provided for all accommodation spaces, service spaces and control stations numbering at least 5 in total. Extinguishers intended for use in a space must be stowed near its entrance. CO² extinguishers must not be stowed in accommodation spaces.Spare charges or redundancies must be available for the first ten extinguishers plus 50% of the remaining number.
Fixed Firefighting Systems can be gas, foam or water but Halon is prohibited. Rooms that store the medium should ideally be accessed from an open deck and must have gas-tight doors that open outwards. There must be sufficient medium for the maximum requirement of the largest space.
Fixed firefighting systems must have a visual and audible alarms that identify the system in use (at least 20 seconds warning as per FSS Code).
Machinery spaces must have a fixed firefighting system as well as a foam nozzle and drums for the fire main andsufficient foam extinguishers of at least 45l (or equivalent system) to cover all oil fire hazards.Boiler rooms must have 135l foam extinguishers. Each machinery space must have at least two portable foam extinguishers positioned so you’re never more than 10m walking distance from one. Passenger ships must also have at least two water fog lances for each machinery space
Category A machinery spaces over 500m³ shall also be protected by a water-based fixed firefighting system
Paint and flammable liquid lockers must have a CO², dry powder or sprinkler system or equivalent operable from outside the space.
Passenger ships must have sprinkler systems in all control spaces, accommodation and service spaces. Cargo ships may forgo sprinklers in favour of having B or C class internal bulkheads.
Cargo spaces, including dangerous goods spaces but excluding RO-RO and vehicle spaces must have CO² or inert gas systems or an alternative deemed suitable by the Administration (Flag State) for the cargoes carried.
Deck Foam Monitors capable of reaching the entire tank deck shall be installed on tankers.
Firefighter’s Outfitsshall consist of suit, boots, helmet, torch, axe and breathing apparatus with lifeline. All ships shall carry at least two. Passenger ships shall have an additional two for every 80m in length and for each main vertical zone. Tankers shall have an additional two. They shall be stored in permanent, marked and suitably separated locations.
Breathing Apparatus must last at least 30minutes and ships must have two spare charges for each set of BA or one if they have a compressor.
Emergency Escape Breathing Devices requirements are at least 2 for the accommodation spaces plus one spare and a suitable number in visible positions in machinery spaces. Passenger ships must have at least 4 in each main vertical zone.
EEBDs must last at least 10 minutes and have a full hood or face mask.
Fire Drills shall be held, crew performance assessed and training given
Fire Parties shall be formed
SOLAS Training Manuals in the working language of the ship shall include instruction on fire prevention, raising the alarm and the use of FFA held on board.
Fire Plans shall be displayed and a copy kept externally in a watertight container for shore services
Fire Safety Operational Booklets in the working language of the ship shall be provided detailing fire prevention measures in all ship and cargo handling operations making reference to IMDG, IBC, IGC and CSPSBC codes.
Maintenance and inspection of all FFA is mandated by SOLAS, the specifics including intervals are contained in MSC/Circ.850
Helipads shall be designed and equipped to protect the vessel from the fire hazards of helicopter operations including:
At least two 45kg dry powder extinguishers
CO² extinguishers providing a total of at least 18kg of medium
Foam monitors or other system capable of delivering foam across the entire helideck in all flyable conditions
At least two nozzles and hoses capable of reaching any part of the helideck
Two additional Firefighter Outfits
A fire blanket and cutting gear
Hangars shall be provided with the fire fighting and detection systems of a category A machinery space.
Chapter III Life-saving appliances and arrangements
Sets out carriage requirements for LSA:
At least three 2-way VHF Radios for all passenger ships and for cargo ships over 500grt
At least twoSARTs, one on each side of the vessel in a place easy to retrieve for abandoning. One can be kept in a lifeboat and must be in the case of free-fall lifeboat (one in four liferafts on aPassenger RO-RO must have a SART fitted inside, the canister must be clearly marked)
At least 12 Rocket Parachute Flares on or near the bridge
Comms between control, muster and embarkation stations
General emergency alarm and PA system
Lifebuoys
Complying with the LSA Code and marked with the ship’s name and port of registry
Readily available on both sides of the ship on all decks
At least one on the stern
At least one on each side with a buoyant line at least 30m long and twice stowage height above the waterline
At least half shall have lights
At least two shall have lights and smoke and be capable of quick release from the bridge
The number required on a ship depends on her length.
Passenger Ships require:
Under 60m – 8
60-120m – 12
120-180m– 18
180-240m – 24
240m and over – 30
Cargo Ships require:
Under 100m – 8
100-150m – 10
150-200m– 12
200m and over– 14
Lifejackets
Complying with the LSA code and not liable to impede boarding or use of lifeboat seatbelts
One for everyone on board
Fitted with lights
Additional lifejackets on a passenger ship - 5% at muster stations and conspicuous locations, plus spares for cabins that are remote from muster stations and public spaces
Additional 100% at muster stations on a RO-RO passenger ship
Additional children’s lifejackets for 10% of the number of passengers or a greater number sufficient for each infant on board
Additional lifejackets on the bridge, in the engine room and at any manned stationsufficient in number for the people on watch in those locations
Additional lifejackets at remotely located survival craft stations
An immersion or anti-exposure suit for all Rescue Boat and MES party members
Thermal Protective Aids and Immersion Suits
Lifeboats shall carry Immersion Suits for at least three people and, if they are not TEMPSC, TPAs for the rest
Survival Craft launching and boarding equipment must be able to function properly with the ship in its lightest condition and with an unfavourable trim of 10° and list of 20° (ie wires and ladders are long enough, free-fall lifeboats suitably positioned). They must be capable of boarding and launch within 30 minutes (cargo ship TEMPSC 10 minutes).
Passenger vessels shall carry PEMSC or TEMPSC for 50% of the total number of persons on board on each side (30% for short international voyages). The Administration can permit this number to be reduced to a minimum of 37.5% by substituting liferafts. Additional liferafts to accommodate 25% of the total number of persons on board with at least one launching appliance on each side. A rescue boat, which may be one of the lifeboats.
RO-RO passenger vessels must carry additional liferafts with total capacity able to accommodate at least 50% of the people not accommodated in lifeboats. RO-RO liferafts shall be self-righting or reversible and have a boarding ramp.
Cargo Ships shall carry sufficient TEMPSC on each side to accommodate everyone on board. In addition they shall carry enough liferafts for everyone on board that can be transferred easily from side to side or enough for everyone on each side.
Alternatively one or more freefall lifeboats on the stern and liferafts for everyone on board on each side with launching appliances on at least one side.
Where the stem or stern of a cargo ship are more than 100m from the nearest survival craft an additional liferaft shall be placed at this extreme end.
Chemical and gas tanker lifeboats must have a positive pressure air system
Oil, chemical and gas tankers carrying cargoes with a flashpoint under 60° must have fire-protection on their lifeboats (eg water deluge system)
A MES may replace liferafts but not lifeboats
Officers in charge of lifeboats unless too few and then trained persons. The person in charge and their second in command shall have a list of the survival craft crew and their duties. Personnel shall be familiar with these duties before the voyage begins
Muster stations shall be near to their embarkation station, lit with emergency lighting and of sufficient size for the number of people mustering.
Embarkation stations shall have an embarkation ladder long enough to reach the water in the ship’s lightest condition and with unfavourable trim and list.
Launching stations must be in a sheltered position abaft the collision bulkhead and ideally where the ship’s side goes straight down with no overhang.
Free-fall and davit-launched lifeboats should be close to accommodation and service spaces.
Stowage of survival craft should be such that they do not interfere with each other during launch, they are as close to the waterline as possible but have an embarkation position at least 2m above the waterline, are protected from fire and explosion hazards (not above fuel or slops tanks) and can be prepared and launched by two people within 5 minutes