THE REPUBLIC OF
THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
OFFICE OF THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR
SAFETY CODE OF PRACTICE
FOR SMALL YACHTS
c/o Marshall Islands MaritimeTelephone: +1-703-620-4880
and Corporate AdministratorsE-mail:
11495 Commerce Park DriveTelefax: +1-703-476-8522
Reston, Virginia 20191-1507, USAWebsite:
Rev. 2/03MI-103B
NOTICE
This complimentary printing of the Safety Code of Practice for Small Yachts will not be automatically supplemented, and therefore may be out of date.
The updated version of this publication may be found on our website
(link: in the Combined Publications Folder (CPF), MI-300, the CD of which is required to be carried on board every Marshall Islands vessel.
A copy of the CPF, MI-300, with automatic updating service, may be ordered from:
Publications
Office of the Maritime Administrator
c/o Marshall Islands Maritime and Corporate Administrators, Inc.
11495 Commerce Park Drive
Reston, Virginia 20191-1507 USA
Telephone: +1-703-620-4880
Telefax: +1-703-476-8522
E-mail:
Rev. 2/03MI-103B
INTERNATIONAL REGISTRIES, INC.ReferenceMI-103B / SAFETY CODE OF PRACTICE
FOR SMALL YACHTS / SectionIRH
AuthorT. F. Heinan / Page1 of 1
Revision3
Issued25 February 2003
SUBJECT:ISSUE AND REVISION HISTORY
REV / DATE mm/dd/yy / DESCRIPTION / APPROVED BY / ENTERED BY / ENTERED mm/dd/yy
3 / 02/25/03 / Annex 10: revised title, deleted item 2.1.2 and re-numbered rest & revised item 2.2 / T.F. Heinan / T.F. Heinan / 02/25/03
2 / 12/01/01 / Deleted reference to MPT 1278 or 1259 from Categories 1 & 0 for 406MHz EPIRB in chart on page 37 because they are obsolete and will not be replaced. / T. F. Heinan / T. F. Heinan / 12/01/01
1 / 10/01/01 / Revised sections 2.0 & 11.1.2.1 / T. F. Heinan / T. F. Heinan / 10/01/01
Original / 06/01/01 / Safety Code of Practice for Small Yachts / T. F. Heinan / T. F. Heinan / 06/01/01
Rev. 2/03MI-103B
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SMALL YACHTS
(UP TO 24 METERS IN LOAD LINE LENGTH)
1.0INTRODUCTION
1.1General
1.2Insurance
2.0DEFINITIONS
3.0APPLICATION and INTERPRETATION
3.1Application
3.1.1Small Yachts
3.1.2Hull types
3.1.3Effective Date
3.1.4Responsibility
3.2Operational Limitations
3.3Equivalent Standards, Exemptions and Existing Yachts
3.3.1Equivalent standards
3.3.2Exemptions
3.3.3Existing yachts
3.4Appeal Process
3.5Review and Revision of the Code
3.6Tonnage Measurement
3.7Simplified Tonnage Measurement Method
4.0CONSTRUCTION and STRENGTH
4.1General Requirements
4.2Structural Strength
4.2.1General
4.2.2Construction materials
4.2.3New yachts
4.2.4Existing yachts
4.3Decks
4.3.1Weather deck
4.3.2Recesses
4.3.2.1Motor yachts
4.3.2.2Sailing yachts
4.3.2.3All yachts
4.3.2.4General Arrangements
4.4Watertight Bulkheads and Damage Survival
4.4.1New monohull yachts
4.4.2New multihull yachts
4.4.2.1Motor yachts
4.4.2.2Sailing yachts
4.4.3Existing yachts
5.0WEATHERTIGHT INTEGRITY
5.1Hatchways and Hatches
5.1.1General requirements
5.1.2Hatchways that are open at sea
5.2Doorways and Companionways
5.2.1Doorways located above the weather deck
5.2.2Companion hatch openings
5.3Skylights
5.4Portlights
5.5Windows
5.6Ventilators and Exhausts
5.7Air Pipes
5.8Sea Inlets and Discharges
5.9Materials for Valves and Associated Piping
6.0WATER FREEING ARRANGEMENTS
6.1Motor yachts
6.2Sailing yachts
6.3All yachts
7.0MACHINERY
7.1General Requirement
7.2Diesel engines
7.3Gasoline engines
7.4Installation
7.5Engine Starting
7.6Portable Generators
7.7Stowage of Gasoline
8.0ELECTRICAL ARRANGEMENTS
9.0STEERING GEAR
10.0BILGE PUMPING
10.1Yachts of 15 meters in Load line length and Over, or Carrying 15 or More Persons, or a Motor Yacht Operating in Area Category 1 or 0
10.2Yachts of Less than 15 meters in Load line length and Carrying 14 or Fewer Persons and Operating in Area Category 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6
10.3Bilge Alarm
11.0INTACT STABILITY
11.1New Motor Yacht
11.1.1General
11.1.2New motor yachts of 15 meters in load line length and over or carrying 15 or more persons or operating in area Category 1 or 0
11.1.3New motor yachts of less than 15 meters in load line length and carrying 14 or less persons and operating in area Category 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6
11.2Existing Motor Yachts
11.2.1General
11.2.2Existing motor yachts of 15 meters in load line length and over or carrying 15 or more persons or operating in area Category 1 or 0
11.2.3Existing motor yachts of 15 meters in load line length and over and carrying 14 or fewer persons and operating in area Category 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6
11.2.4Existing motor yachts of less than 15 meters in load line length and carrying 14 or fewer persons and operating in area Category 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6
11.3New Monohull Sailing Yachts
11.3.1Sailing Yachts of 15 meters in load line length and over or carrying 15 or more persons
11.3.2Sailing Yachts of less than 15 meters in load line length and carrying 14 or fewer persons
11.3.2.1General
11.3.2.2Sailing Yachts without external ballast keels
11.3.2.3Sailing Yachts fitted with external ballast keels
11.3.2.4Formulae for estimating range of stability
11.3.2.5Assessment using the RYA ‘STOPS’ numeral or SSS numeral calculated by the Royal Ocean Racing Club
11.3.2.6Table showing permitted areas of operation and STOPS numeral for a yacht of less than 15 meters in load line length
11.3.2.7Stability information
11.3.2.8Guidance on stability assessment
11.4Existing Monohull Sailing Yachts
11.5Multihull Sailing Yachts - New and Existing
12.0FREEBOARD and FREEBOARD MARKING
12.1Motor Yachts
12.1.1New motor yachts
12.1.2Existing motor yachts
12.1.3All motor yachts
12.2Sailing Yachts
12.3Freeboard Mark and Loading
13.0LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES
13.1Requirements
13.2Approved types
13.3Life rafts
13.4Dan-buoy
13.5Life buoys
13.6Lifejackets
13.7Thermal Protective Aids
13.8Portable VHF
13.9406MHz EPIRB
13.10SART
14.0FIRE SAFETY
14.1New Yachts
14.1.1Yachts of 15 meters in load line length and over
14.1.2Yachts of less than 15 meters in load line length
14.1.3Insulation
14.1.4Fire extinguishing
14.1.5Cleanliness and containment
14.1.6Open flame gas appliances
14.1.7Furnishing materials
14.1.8Smoke detection
14.1.9Means of escape
14.2Existing Yachts
15.0FIRE APPLIANCES
16.0RADIO EQUIPMENT
16.1Radio Installation
16.2406MHz EPIRBs
17.0NAVIGATION LIGHTS, SHAPES and SOUND SIGNALS
18.0NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT
18.1Magnetic Compass
18.2Other Equipment
19.0MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT
19.1Nautical Publications
19.1.1Yachts of 12 meters in load line length and over
19.1.2Yachts of less than 12 meters in load line length
19.2Signaling Lamp
19.3Radar Reflector
19.4Measuring Instruments
19.5Searchlight
19.6Wire Cutting Equipment
20.0ANCHORS and CABLES
20.1General
20.2Anchors
20.3Anchor Cables
20.4Anchoring Arrangements
20.5Towlines
21.0ACCOMMODATIONS
21.1General
21.1.1Handholds and grab-rails
21.1.2Securement of heavy equipment
21.1.3Escape arrangements
21.1.4Ventilation
21.2Yachts at Sea for more than 24 hours
21.2.1Ventilation
21.2.2Lighting
21.2.3Water services
21.2.4Sleeping accommodation
21.2.5Galley
21.2.6Toilet facilities
21.2.7Stowage facilities for personal effects
22.0PROTECTION of PERSONNEL
22.1Deckhouses
22.2Bulwarks, Guard Rails and Handrails
22.3Safety Harnesses
22.4Toe Rails
22.5Surface of Working Decks
22.6Recovery of Persons from the Water
22.7Personal Clothing
22.8Training Manual
22.9Safety Briefing
22.10Instructions for on-board maintenance
23.0MEDICAL STORES
24.0TENDERS (Dinghies)
25.0STORM SAILS
26.0MANNING
26.1Owner Responsibility
26.2Yachts on Demise Charter
26.3Yachts on Skippered Charter
27.0RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS
27.1Recognized Classification Societies
27.2Classification Society Surveyor
28.0SURVEY, CERTIFICATION, INSPECTION and MAINTENANCE
28.1Requirements for Yachts to be Surveyed and Certificated
28.2Provisional Registration Arrangements for Existing Yachts
28.3Issue of a Document of Compliance Under the Code
28.4Compliance and Annual Surveys
28.4.1Compliance Survey for renewal of a Document of Compliance
28.4.2Yachts of 15 meters in load line length and over or carrying 15 or more persons
28.4.3Yachts of less than 15 meters in load line length and carrying 14 or less persons
28.4.3.1Annual safety inspections by the owner or managing agent
28.4.3.2Other surveys by the Maritime Administrator
28.5Appeal Against the Findings of a Survey
28.6Operation and Maintenance of the Yacht
28.7Other Conditions Applying to Certificates
28.7.1Existing yachts with certificates
28.7.2Validity and cancellation of certificates
29.0YACHTS OPERATING under RACE RULES
29.1Motor yachts
29.2Sailing yachts
30POLLUTION PREVENTION
30.1Requirements
30.2Oil
30.3Sewage
30.4Garbage
31.0Accident Investigations
ANNEX 1LIST OF REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
ANNEX 2GUIDELINES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF VARIATIONS TO THE STANDARDS APPLIED BY THE CODE
ANNEX 3SIMPLIFIED TONNAGE MEASUREMENT METHOD
ANNEX 4OPEN-FLAME GAS INSTALLATIONS
ANNEX 5LIST OF CERTIFICATES TO BE ISSUED
ANNEX 6COMMERCIAL YACHT PERMANENT CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY
ANNEX 7CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL FITNESS
ANNEX 8MEDICAL STORES
ANNEX 9MINIMUM MANNING LEVELS FOR SMALL MOTOR YACHTS IN COMMERCIAL USE
ANNEX 10HAND-OVER PROCEDURES FOR OWNERS OR MANAGING AGENTS WHEN DEMISE CHARTERING A COMMERCIAL YACHT
ANNEX 11DOCUMENT OF COMPLIANCE – SMALL COMMERCIAL YACHT
ANNEX 12DOCUMENT OF COMPLIANCE – SMALL PRIVATE YACHT
ANNEX 13PRIVATE YACHT CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY
Rev. 2/031MI-103B
SMALL YACHTS
(UP TO 24 METERS IN LOAD LINE LENGTH)
1.0INTRODUCTION
The Code has been developed for application to those commercial motor and sailing yachts of up to 24 meters in load line length for which the minimum length requirement has been waived. Marshall Islands Maritime Regulations provide for the substantial compliance of private yachts of this size with the Code to the extent considered reasonable and prudent.
1.1General
This Safety Code of Practice for Small Yachts (the Code) makes reference to the Maritime Regulations of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Vessels registered in the flag are required to comply with the various Maritime Regulations of the Administration that are relevant to the class of vessel to which they belong. However, the Administration has recognized that yachts in commercial use for sport or pleasure (commercial yachts) do not fall naturally into a single class, and certain prescribed merchant ship safety standards have been found to be incompatible with the safety needs particular to such yachts.
Likewise, yachts in private use for sport or pleasure (private yachts) are confronted with similar circumstances where safety standards compatible with the safety needs of such yachts have not been well defined by the Administration.
The primary purpose in the Administration’s development of this Code has been to set standards of safety and protection for all persons on board yachts, particularly for those who are trainees, passengers or guests. The level of safety it sets out to achieve is considered to be commensurate with the current expectations of the general public. The Code relates especially to the construction of a yacht, its machinery, equipment and stability and to the correct operation of a yacht so that safety standards are maintained.
It will be noted that the Code deals with the equally important subjects of manning and of the qualifications needed for the senior members of the crew.
Designers and builders of new yachts will need to pay special regard to the intended area of operation and the working conditions to which a yacht will be subjected when selecting the materials and equipment to be used in its construction. The builder, repairer, owner or managing agent of a yacht, as appropriate, should take all reasonable measures to ensure that a material or appliance fitted in accordance with the requirements of the Code is suitable for the purpose intended having regard to its location in the yacht, the area of operation and the weather conditions which may be encountered.
When equipment manufactured in accordance with a recognized national or international standard is required by the Code, the Administration may accept existing equipment, provided it can be shown that the specification or technical description of the equipment provides, in use, equivalent levels of safety, suitability and fitness for purpose and does not constitute a risk to the yacht or its crew and passengers. Such equipment, when replaced, should be to the standard required by the Code.
Compliance with the Code in no way obviates the need for yachts and/or skippers to comply with local authority licensing, permit or regulatory requirements where applicable.
1.2Insurance
It is important to stress that, while all reasonable measures have been taken to develop standards in the Code that will result in the production of safe and seaworthy yachts, total safety at sea can never be guaranteed. As a consequence, it is most strongly recommended that the owner or managing agent of a yacht should take out a policy of insurance for hull and machinery and for third party liability and all persons who are part of the yacht’s complement from time to time. Such insurance should provide cover that is reasonable for claims that may arise. Yacht owners or managing agents must comply with Marshall Islands Maritime Regulations 2.23.2, 7.48 and 7.50. A copy of the certificate of insurance should be either displayed or available for inspection by persons on board the yacht. Evidence of such insurance will also be required at registration.
2.0DEFINITIONS
The following terms are used in the Code for which these definitions apply:
“Administration” with regard to this Code and the flag the yacht is entitled to fly, means the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Office of the Maritime Administrator, Reston, Virginia, USA, or an Agent formally authorized or appointed by the Maritime Administrator to represent or act on its behalf;
“Annual Survey” means a general or partial examination of the yacht, its machinery, fittings and equipment, as far as can readily be seen, to ascertain that it has been satisfactorily maintained as required by the Code and that the arrangements, fittings and equipment provided are as documented in the yacht’s Document of Compliance;
“Approved” in respect to materials or equipment means approved by the Administration or approved by another administration or an organization that is formally recognized by the Administration as its appointed representative in accordance with Marshall Islands Marine Notice 2-011-5;
“Appointed Representative” means a Recognized Organization, Authorized Surveyor, a radiocommunications service provider, marine architect or other entity deemed acceptable to the Administration to represent or act on its behalf with regard to the conduct of specified reviews, surveys and/or issue of certification;
“Authorized Surveyor” means an independent surveyor who by reason of professional qualifications, practical experience and expertise is authorized by the Administration to carry out surveys required for yachts as its Appointed Representative;
“Cargo” means an item of value that is carried from one place and discharged at another place and for which either a charge or no charge is made and is not for use exclusively onboard the yacht;
“Classification Society” or “Class” means a ship Classification Society, which the Administration has accepted as a Recognized Organization for the survey and certification of yachts in accordance with the guidelines of IMO Resolution A.739(18);
“Code” means the Republic of the Marshall Islands Safety Code of Practice for Small Yachts (MI-103B);
“Commercial yacht” means a pleasure yacht engaged in trade, commerce, on charter or carrying passengers for hire that is registered under Chapter 2, Part I, of the Marshall Islands Maritime Act 1990, as amended, and is described in the register and on the Certificate of Registry as a commercial yacht and is not a private yacht;
“Compliance Survey” means an examination by an Authorized Surveyor, to ascertain that the yacht’s structure, machinery, equipment and fittings are in substantial compliance with the requirements of the Code. At least part of the examination should be conducted when the yacht is out of the water;
“Control stations” are those spaces in which the yacht’s radio or main navigating equipment or the emergency source of power is located or where the fire recording or fire control equipment is centralized;
“Date of expiry” in relation to pyrotechnics and self-activating smoke signals means a date within three (3) years from the date of manufacture of that product;
“Daylight” means one (1) hour before sunrise until one (1) hour after sunset;
“Declared Area(s) of Operation” are those areas designated by the owner or managing agent to which the yacht would be limited for registration and safety certification purposes;
“Efficient” in relation to a fitting, piece of equipment or material means that all reasonable and practicable measures have been taken to ensure that it is suitable for the purpose for which it is intended to be used;
“Emergency condition” is 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” is a source of electrical power, intended to supply the emergency switchboard in the event of failure of the supply from the main source of electrical power;
“Emergency switchboard” is a switchboard that 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 power and is intended to distribute electrical energy to the emergency services;
“EPIRB” means a satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacon, being an earth station in the mobile-satellite service, the emissions of which are intended to facilitate search and rescue operations, complying with performance standards adopted by the IMO contained in either Assembly Resolution A.763(18) or Assembly Resolution A.661(16), or any Resolution amending or replacing these from time to time and which is considered by the Administration to be relevant, and is capable of:
(a)floating free and automatically activating if the yacht sinks;
(b)being manually activated; and
(c)being carried by one (1) person;
“Existing commercial yacht” means any yacht which is registered under Chapter 2, Part I, of the Marshall Islands Maritime Act 1990, as amended, and is described in the register and on the Certificate of Registry as a commercial yacht, the keel of which was laid or the construction or lay up was started before 1 June 2001;
“Favorable weather” means wind, sea and visibility or any other conditions existing throughout a voyage or excursion that are deemed by the skipper to be safe for a yacht to operate within the limits applied to it;
“Float-free launching” means that method of launching a life raft whereby the life raft is automatically released from a sinking yacht and is ready for use;
“Freeboard” has the meaning given in Annex I of the ILLC viz. The freeboard assigned is the distance measured vertically downwards amidships from the upper edge of the deck line to the upper edge of the related load line;
“Freeboard deck” has the meaning given in Annex I of the ILLC viz. The freeboard deck is normally the uppermost complete deck exposed to the weather and sea, which has permanent means of closing all openings in the weather part thereof, and below which all openings in the sides of the yacht are fitted with permanent means of watertight closing.
(a)In a yacht having a discontinuous freeboard deck, the lowest line of the exposed deck and the continuation of that line parallel to the upper part of the deck are taken as the freeboard deck.
(b)At the option of the owner and subject to the approval of the Administration, a lower deck may be designated as the freeboard deck provided it is a complete and permanent deck continuous in a fore and aft direction at least between the machinery space and peak bulkheads and continuous athwartships.
(c)When a lower deck is designated as the freeboard deck, that part of the hull which extends above the freeboard deck is treated as a superstructure so far as concerns the application of the conditions of assignment and the calculation of freeboard. It is from this deck that the freeboard is calculated and measured;
“Garbage” means all kinds of victual, domestic and operational waste excluding fresh fish and parts thereof, generated during the normal operation of the yacht and liable to be disposed of continuously or periodically, except sewage originating from yachts;
“ILLC” means the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, as amended;
“IMO” means the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations devoted to maritime affairs;
“Launching appliance” means a provision for safely transferring a lifeboat, rescue boat, life raft or inflated boat respectively, from its stowed position to the water and recovery where applicable;
“Lifeboat” means a lifeboat complying with the requirements of the LSA Code;
“Life buoy” means a life buoy complying with the requirements of the LSA Code;
“Life jacket” means a life jacket complying with the requirements of the LSA Code;
“Life raft” means a life raft complying with the requirements of the LSA Code;
“Line throwing appliance” means an appliance complying with the requirements of the LSA Code;
“Load Line Length” means 96% of the total length on the waterline of a yacht at 85% of the least molded depth measured from the top of the keel, or the length from the fore-side of the stem to the axis of the rudder stock on that waterline, if that be greater. In yachts designed with a rake of keel, the waterline on which this is measured shall be parallel to the designed waterline;