Council Directive 98/18/EC (repealed)Show full title

[F1 [F2 CLASS B, C AND D RO-RO SHIPS CONSTRUCTED AFTER 1 JANUARY 2003 U.K.

.6 Life-rafts U.K.

.1 The ro-ro passenger ship's life-rafts shall be served by marine evacuation systems complying with section 6.2 of the LSA Code or launching appliances complying with paragraph 6.1.5 of the LSA Code equally distributed on each side of the ship. U.K.

Communication between the embarkation station and the platform shall be ensured.

.2 Every life-raft on ro-ro passenger ships shall be provided with float-free stowage arrangements complying with the requirements of SOLAS Regulation III/13.4 U.K.

.3 Every life-raft on ro-ro passenger ships shall be of a type fitted with a boarding ramp complying with the requirements of paragraph 4.2.4.1 or 4.3.4.1 of the LSA Code as appropriate. U.K.

.4 Every life-raft on ro-ro passenger ships shall either be automatically self-righting or be a canopied reversible life-raft which is stable in a seaway and is capable of operating safely whichever way up it is floating. Open reversible life-rafts may be permitted if the administration of the flag State considers this appropriate in view of the sheltered nature of the voyage and the favourable climatic conditions of the area and period of operation, and provided that such life-rafts entirely comply with the requirements of Annex 10 to the High Speed Craft Code. U.K.

Alternatively, the ship shall carry automatically self-righting life-rafts or canopied reversible life-rafts in addition to its normal complement of life-rafts, of such aggregate capacity as will accommodate at least 50 % of the persons not accommodated in lifeboats. This additional life-raft capacity shall be determined on the basis of the difference between the total number of persons on board and the number of persons accommodated in lifeboats. Every such life-raft shall be approved by the administration of the flag State having regard to the recommendations adopted by the IMO, with MSC/Circ. 809.

.7 Fast rescue boats U.K.

.1 At least one of the rescue boats on a ro-ro passenger ship shall be a fast rescue boat approved by the administration of the flag State having regard to the recommendations adopted by the IMO, with MSC Circ. 809. U.K.

.2 Each fast rescue boat shall be served by a suitable launching appliance approved by the administration of the flag State. When approving such appliances, the administration of the flag State shall take into account that the fast rescue boat is intended to be launched and retrieved even under severe adverse weather conditions, and also have regard to the recommendations adopted by the IMO. U.K.

.3 At least two crews of each fast rescue boat shall be trained and drilled regularly having regard to section A-VI/2, table A-VI/2-2 ‘ Specification of the minimum standard of competence in fast rescue boats ’ of the Seafarers Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code and the recommendations adopted by the IMO by Resolution A.771(18), as amended. The training and drills shall include all aspects of rescue, handling, manoeuvring, operating these craft in various conditions, and righting them after capsize. U.K.

.4 In the case where the arrangement or size of an existing ro-ro passenger ship is such as to prevent the installation of the fast rescue boat required by paragraph .3.1, the fast rescue boat may be installed in place of an existing lifeboat which is accepted as a rescue boat or boat for use in an emergency, provided that all of the following conditions are met: U.K.

.1

the fast rescue boat installed is served by a launching appliance complying with the provisions of paragraph .3.2;

.2

the capacity of the survival craft lost by the above substitution is compensated by the installation of life-rafts capable of carrying at least an equal number of persons served by the lifeboat replaced; and

.3

such life-rafts are served by the existing launching appliances or marine evacuation systems.

.8 Means of rescue U.K.

.1 Each ro-ro passenger ship shall be equipped with efficient means for rapidly recovering survivors from the water and transferring survivors from rescue units or survival craft to the ship. U.K.

.2 The means of transfer of survivors to the ship may be part of a marine evacuation system, or may be part of a system designed for rescue purposes. U.K.

These means shall be approved by the flag State having regard to the recommendations adopted by IMO with MSC/Circ. 810.

.3 If the slide of a marine evacuation system in intended to provide the means of transfer of survivors to the deck of the ship, the slide shall be equipped with handlines or ladders to aid in climbing up the slide. U.K.

.9 Life jackets U.K.

.1 Notwithstanding the requirements of SOLAS Regulations III/7.2 and III/22.2 a sufficient number of life jackets shall be stowed in the vicinity of the assembly stations so that passengers do not have to return to their cabins to collect their life jackets. U.K.

.2 In ro-ro passenger ships, each life jacket shall be fitted with a light complying with the requirements of paragraph 2.2.3 of the LSA Code.] ] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Directive 2002/25/EC of 5 March 2002 amending Council Directive 98/18/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships.

F2 Substituted by Commission Directive 2003/75/EC of 29 July 2003 amending Annex I to Council Directive 98/18/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships (Text with EEA relevance).