Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels and repealing Council Directive 82/714/EEC (2006/87/EC) (repealed)

CHAPTER 10 EQUIPMENT

Article 10.01 Anchor equipment

1. Vessels intended for the carriage of goods, apart from ship-borne lighters whose length L does not exceed 40m, shall be equipped with bow anchors whose total mass P is obtained using the following formula:

• P = k · B · T (kg)

where

k

is a coefficient that takes account of the relationship between length L and beam B, and of the type of vessel:

for lighters, however, k = c will be taken;

c

is an empirical coefficient given in the following table:

Dead-weight tonnage in t	Coefficient c
up to 400 inclusive	45
from 400 to 650 inclusive	55
from 650 to 1 000 inclusive	65
more than 1 000	70

On vessels whose dead-weight tonnage is not greater than 400 t and which, owing to their design and intended purpose, are used only on predetermined short-haul sections, the inspection body may accept that only two-thirds of total mass P is required for the bow anchors.

2. Passenger vessels and vessels not intended for the carriage of goods, apart from pushers, shall be fitted with bow anchors whose total mass P is obtained using the following formula:

• P = k · B · T (kg)

where:

k

is the coefficient corresponding to paragraph 1, but where in order to obtain the value of the empirical coefficient (c) the water displacement in m³ entered in the Community certificate shall be taken instead of the deadweight tonnage.

3. Vessels referred to in paragraph 1 whose maximum length does not exceed 86 m shall be equipped with stern anchors whose total mass is equal to 25 % of mass P.

Vessels whose maximum length exceeds 86 m shall be equipped with stern anchors whose total mass is equal to 50 % of mass P calculated in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2.

Stern anchors are not required for:

(a) vessels for which the stern anchor mass will be less than 150 kg; in the case of vessels referred to in paragraph 1, final subparagraph, the reduced mass of the bow anchors shall be taken into account;

(b) lighters.

4. Vessels intended to propel rigid convoys which do not exceed 86 m in length shall be equipped with stern anchors whose total mass is equal to 25 % of maximum mass P calculated in accordance with paragraph1 for the formations (considered to be a nautical unit) permitted and entered in the Community certificate.

Vessels intended to propel rigid convoys which exceed 86 m in length downstream shall be equipped with stern anchors whose total mass is equal to 50 % of the maximum mass P calculated in accordance with paragraph 1 for the formations (considered to be a nautical unit) permitted and entered in the Community certificate.

5. The anchor masses established in accordance withparagraphs 1 to 4 may be reduced for certain special anchors.

6. The total mass P specified for bow anchors may be distributed between one or two anchors. It may be reduced by 15 % where the vessel is equipped with only a single bow anchor and the hawse pipe is located amidships.

The total mass required for stern anchors for pushers and vessels whose maximum length exceeds 86 m may be distributed between one or two anchors.

The mass of the lightest anchor shall not be less than 45 % of that total mass.

7. Cast iron anchors shall not be permitted.

8. On anchors their mass shall be indicated in characters which stand out in relief in a durable manner.

9. Anchors having a mass in excess of 50 kg shall be equipped with windlasses.

10. Each bow anchor chain shall have a minimum length of:

(a) 40 m for vessels not exceeding 30 m in length;

(b) 10 m longer than the vessel where this is more than 30 m and up to 50 m in length;

(c) 60 m where vessels are more than 50 m in length.

Each of the stern anchor chains shall be at least 40 m long. However, where vessels need to stop facing downstream they shall have stern anchor chains that are each at least 60 m in length.

11. The minimum tensile strength R of the anchor chains shall be calculated using the following formulae:

(a)

anchors having a mass up to 500 kg:

R = 0,35 · P' (kN);

(b)

anchors having a mass of more than 500 kg and not exceeding 2 000 kg:

;

(c)

anchors having a mass of more than 2 000 kg:

R = 0,25 · P' (kN).

where

P'

is the theoretical mass of each anchor determined in accordance with paragraphs 1 to 4 and 6.

The tensile strength of anchor chains shall be stated according to a standard in force in a Member State.

Where the anchors have a mass greater than that required by paragraphs 1 to 6, the tensile strength of the anchor chain shall be determined as a function of the actual anchor mass.

12. In cases where heavier anchors with correspondingly stronger anchor chains are aboard, only the minimum masses and minimum tensile strengths required according to paragraphs 1 to 6 and 11 shall be entered in the Community certificate.

13. Connecting pieces (swivels) between anchor and chain shall withstand a tensile load 20 % higher than the tensile strength of the corresponding chain.

14. The use of cables instead of anchor chains is permitted. The cables shall have the same tensile strength as that required for chains, but shall be 20 % longer.

Article 10.02 Other equipment

1. According to the applicable navigational authority regulations in force in the Member States, at least the following equipment shall be on board:

(a) radio-telephone system;

(b) appliances and devices for giving visual and audible signals as well as daytime and night-time vessel marking;

(c) stand-alone back-up lights for the prescribed mooring lights;

(d) a fire-proof, marked receptacle, with cover, to receive oily cleaning cloths;

(e) a fire-proof, marked receptacle, with cover, to receive hazardous or pollutant solid wastes and a fire-proof, marked receptacle, with cover, to receive hazardous or pollutant liquid wastes according to the relevant applicable navigational authority regulations;

(f) a fire-proof, marked receptacle, with cover, to receive slops.

2. In addition, the equipment shall include at least:

(a) Mooring cables;

Vessels shall be equipped with three mooring cables. Their minimum lengths shall be at least the following:

— first cable

:

L + 20 m, but not more than 100 m,

— second cable

:

2/3 of the first cable,

— third cable

:

1/3 of the first cable.

The shortest cable is not required on board vessels whose L is less than 20 m.

The cables shall have a tensile strength R_s that is calculated using the following formulae;

for L · B · T up to 1 000 m³: ;

for L · B · T exceeding 1 000 m³: .

For the required cables a certificate in accordance with European standard EN 10 204:1991, under No 3.1, shall be on board.

These cables may be replaced by ropes having the same length and tensile strength. The minimum tensile strength of these ropes shall be indicated in a certificate.

(b) Towing cables;

• (b) Tugs shall be equipped with a number of cables that are suitable for their operation.

• However, the main cable shall be at least 100 m long and have a tensile strength, in kN, not less than one third of the total power, in kW, of the main engine(s).

• Motor vessels and pushers that are also able to tow shall be equipped with a towing cable that is at least 100 m long and whose tensile strength, in kN, is not less than one quarter of the total power, in kW, of the main engine(s).

(c) A heaving line;

(d) A boarding gangway at least 0,4 m wide and 4 m long whose side edges are defined by a brightly-coloured strip; that gangway shall be equipped with a handrail. The inspection body may permit shorter gangways for small vessels;

(e) A gaff hook;

(f) An appropriate first-aid kit with a content in accordance with a relevant standard of a Member State. The first-aid kit shall be kept in an accommodation room or in the wheelhouse and be stored in such a way that it is easily and safely accessible if necessary. If first-aid kits are stored under cover, the cover shall be marked by a symbol for first-aid kit according to Figure 8 of Appendix I, having a side length of at least 10 cm;

(g) A pair of binoculars, 7 x 50 or with larger lens diameter;

(h) A notice concerning the rescue and revival of persons overboard;

(i) A searchlight that can be operated from the wheelhouse.

3. There shall be an embarkation stairway or ladder on vessels whose side height above the unladen waterline exceeds 1,50 m.

Article 10.03 Portable fire extinguishers

1. There shall be at least one portable fire extinguisher in accordance with European standard EN 3:1996 at each of the following places:

(a) in the wheelhouse;

(b) close to each entrance from the deck to accommodation spaces;

(c) close to each entrance to service spaces which are not accessible from the accommodation spaces and which contain heating, cooking or refrigeration equipment using solid or liquid fuels or liquefied gas;

(d) at each entrance to engine rooms and boiler rooms;

(e) at suitable points below deck in engine rooms and boiler rooms such that no position in the space is more than 10 metres walking distance away from an extinguisher.

2. For the portable fire extinguishers required by paragraph 1, only powder-type extinguishers with a content of at least 6 kg or other portable fire extinguishers with the same extinguishing capacity may be used. They shall be suitable for Class A, B and C fires and for fires in electrical systems of up to 1000 V.

3. In addition powder, water or foam fire extinguishers may be used which are suitable at least for the class of fire most likely to occur in the room for which they are intended.

4. Portable fire extinguishers with CO₂ as the extinguishing agent may be used only for extinguishing fires in galleys and electrical installations. The content of these fire extinguishers shall be no more than 1 kg per 15 m³ of the room in which they are made available for use.

5. Portable fire extinguishers shall be checked at least every two years. An inspection certificate shall be issued, signed by the inspector and showing the date of inspection.

6. If portable fire extinguishers are installed in such a way that they are out of sight the panel covering them shall be identified by a symbol for fire extinguishers as shown in Figure 3 of Appendix I, and having a side length of at least 10 cm.

Article 10.03a Permanently installed fire-fighting systems in accommodation spaces, wheelhouses and passenger spaces

1. Fire protection in accommodation spaces, wheelhouses and passenger spaces is to be provided only by suitable automatic pressurised water sprinklers as permanently installed fire-fighting systems.

2. Installation or conversion of the systems shall be carried out only by specialised firms.

3. The systems shall be made of steel or equivalent non-combustible materials.

4. The systems shall be able to spray water at a rate of at least 5 l/m² per minute over the area of the largest room to be protected.

5. Systems spraying smaller quantities of water shall have a type-approval pursuant to IMO Resolution A 800(19) or another standard recognised in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 19(2) of this Directive. Type-approval shall be carried out by an approved classification society or an accredited testing institution. The accredited testing institution shall comply with the European standard for general requirements for the competence of testing and calibrating laboratories (EN ISO/IEC 17025: 2000).

6. The systems shall be checked by an expert:

(a) before being put into service;

(b) before being put back into service after they have been triggered;

(c) after any modification or repair;

(d) regularly at least every two years.

7. When carrying out the check in accordance with paragraph 6, the expert shall verify whether the systems meet the requirements of this paragraph.

The check shall at least include:

(a) external inspection of the entire system;

(b) functional testing of the safety systems and nozzles;

(c) functional testing of the pressure tanks and pumping system.

8. An inspection certificate, signed by the inspector, shall be issued, showing the date of inspection.

9. The number of installed systems shall be entered in the Community certificate.

10. For protecting objects in accommodation spaces, wheelhouses and passenger spaces, permanently installed fire-fighting systems shall be permissible only on the basis of recommendations from the Committee.

Article 10.03b Permanently installed fire-fighting systems in engine rooms, boiler rooms and pump rooms

1. Extinguishing agents

For protecting engine rooms, boiler rooms and pump rooms, the following extinguishing agents may be used in permanently installed fire-fighting systems:

(a) CO₂ (carbon dioxide);

(b) HFC 227ea (heptafluoropropane);

(c) IG-541 (52 % nitrogen, 40 % argon, 8 % carbon dioxide).

Other extinguishing agents shall be permissible only in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 19(2) of this Directive.

2. Ventilation, air intake

(a) Combustion air for the propulsion engines shall not be extracted from rooms that are to be protected by permanently installed fire-fighting systems. This shall not apply where there are two mutually independent and hermetically separated main engine rooms or if next to the main engine room there is a separate engine room with a bow thruster, ensuring that the vessel is able to make way under its own power in the event of fire in the main engine room.

(b) Any forced ventilation present in the room to be protected shall switch off automatically if the fire-fighting system is triggered.

(c) There shall be devices available with which all apertures which can allow air to enter or gas to escape from the room to be protected can be quickly closed. It shall be clearly recognisable whether they are open or closed.

(d) The air escaping from relief valves in the compressed-air tanks installed in engine rooms shall be conveyed to the open air.

(e) Over- or underpressure resulting from the inflow of extinguishing agent shall not destroy the components of the surrounding partitions of the room to be protected. It shall be possible for the pressure to equalise without danger.

(f) Protected rooms shall have a facility for extracting the extinguishing agent and the combustion gases. Such facilities shall be capable of being operated from positions outside the protected rooms and which would not be made inaccessible by a fire within such spaces. If there are permanently installed extractors, it shall not be possible for these to be switched on while the fire is being extinguished.

3. Fire alarm system

The room to be protected shall be monitored by means of an appropriate fire alarm system. The alarm shall be noticeable in the wheelhouse, the accommodation spaces and the room to be protected.

4. Piping system

(a) The extinguishing agent shall be conveyed to the room to be protected and distributed there by means of a fixed piping system. Inside the room to be protected the piping and associated fittings shall made of steel. Tank connecting pipes and expansion joints shall be exempt from this provided the materials used have equivalent properties in case of fire. Pipes shall be both internally and externally protected against corrosion.

(b) Outlet nozzles shall be dimensioned and fitted such that the extinguishing agent is evenly distributed.

5. Triggering device

(a) Fire-fighting systems with automatic triggering shall not be permissible.

(b) It shall be possible to trigger the fire-fighting system from a suitable place outside the room to be protected.

(c) Triggering devices shall be installed in such a way that they can be operated even in case of a fire and in the event of damage by fire or explosion in the room to be protected the necessary quantity of extinguishing agent can still be conveyed.

Non-mechanical triggering devices shall be powered from two different mutually independent energy sources. These energy sources shall be located outside the room to be protected. Control lines in the room to be protected shall be designed so as to remain functional for at least 30 minutes in the event of fire. This requirement shall be fulfilled in the case of electric wiring if it complies with the standard IEC 60331-21:1999.

If triggering devices are installed in such a way that they are out of sight the panel covering them shall be identified by the ‘fire-fighting installation’ symbol as shown in Figure 6 of Appendix I, having a side length of at least 10 cm, and the following text in red lettering on a white background:

‘Feuerlöscheinrichtung

Installation d'extinction

Brandblusinstallatie

Fire-fighting installation’.

(d) If the fire-fighting system is intended for the protection of several rooms, the triggering devices for each room have to be separate and clearly identified.

(e) Next to each triggering device operating instructions in one of the languages of the Member States shall be posted up visibly and indelibly. They shall contain, in particular, instructions regarding:

(aa)

triggering of the fire-fighting system;

(bb)

the need for checking to ensure that all persons have left the room to be protected;

(cc)

action to be taken by the crew when the fire-fighting system is triggered;

(dd)

action to be taken by the crew in the case of failure of the fire-fighting system.

(f) The operating instructions shall point out that before the fire-fighting system is triggered combustion engines drawing air from the room to be protected are to be shut down.

6. Warning system

(a) Permanently installed fire-fighting systems shall be provided with acoustic and optical warning systems.

(b) The warning system shall be set off automatically as soon as the fire-fighting system is first triggered. The warning signal shall sound for an appropriate time before the extinguishing agent is released and it shall not be possible to switch it off.

(c) Warning signals shall be clearly visible in the rooms to be protected and outside the accesses to them and clearly audible even under operating conditions producing the loudest inherent noise. They shall be clearly distinct from all other acoustic and optical signals in the room to be protected.

(d) The acoustic warning signals shall be clearly audible in the adjacent rooms even when connecting doors are closed and under operating conditions producing the loudest inherent noise.

(e) If the warning system is not self-monitoring as regards short-circuits, wire breaks and voltage drops, it shall be possible to check that it is working properly.

(f) At every entrance to a room that can be supplied with extinguishing agent, a clearly visible notice shall be put up bearing the following text in red lettering on a white background:

‘Vorsicht, Feuerlöscheinrichtung!

Bei Ertönen des Warnsignals (Beschreibung des Signals) den Raum sofort verlassen!

Attention, installation d'extinction d'incendie!

Quitter immédiatement ce local au signal (description du signal)

Let op, brandblusinstallatie!

Bij het in werking treden van het alarmsignaal (omschrijving van het signaal) deze ruimte onmiddellijk verlaten!

Warning, fire-fighting installation!

Leave the room as soon as the warning signal sounds (description of signal)’.

7. Pressure tanks, fittings and pressure pipes

(a) Pressure tanks, fittings and pressure pipes shall comply with the provisions in force in one of the Member States.

(b) Pressure tanks shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

(c) Pressure tanks, fittings and pressure pipes are not to be installed in accommodation spaces.

(d) The temperature in cabinets and installation spaces containing pressure tanks shall not exceed 50 ^oC.

(e) Cabinets or installation spaces on deck shall be firmly fixed in place and have air vents which are to be arranged in such a way that in the event of a leak in the pressure tank no gas can escape into the interior of the vessel. Direct connections to other rooms are not permitted.

8. Quantity of extinguishing agent

If the quantity of extinguishing agent is intended for protecting more than one room, the total amount of extinguishing agent available does not need to be greater than the quantity necessary for the largest room to be protected.

9. Installation, inspection and documentation

(a) The system shall be installed or converted only by a firm specialising in fire-fighting systems. The requirements specified by the extinguishing agent manufacturer and the system manufacturer (product data sheet, safety data sheet) are to be complied with.

(b) The system shall be checked by an expert:

(aa)

before being put into service;

(bb)

before being put back into service after it has been triggered;

(cc)

after any modification or repair;

(dd)

regularly at least every two years.

(c) In the inspection the expert shall check whether the system meets the requirements of this chapter.

(d) The inspection shall cover at least the following:

(aa)

external inspection of the entire installation;

(bb)

tightness check on pipes;

(cc)

functional checking of control and triggering systems;

(dd)

checking of tank pressure and content;

(ee)

checking of tightness and facilities for locking the room to be protected;

(ff)

checking the fire alarm system;

(gg)

checking the warning system.

(e) An inspection certificate shall be issued, signed by the inspector and showing the date of the inspection.

(f) The number of permanently installed fire-fighting systems shall be entered in the Community certificate.

10. CO₂ fire-fighting systems

Fire-fighting systems using CO₂ as the extinguishing agent shall comply with the following provisions in addition to the requirements under paragraphs1 to 9:

(a) CO₂ containers shall be housed outside the room to be protected in a space or cabinet hermetically separated from other rooms. The doors to these installation spaces and cabinets shall open outwards, be lockable and bear on the outside a symbol for ‘General danger warning’ in accordance with Figure 4 of Appendix I, at least 5 cm in height, together with the marking ‘CO₂’ in the same colour and with the same height;

(b) installation spaces below decks for CO₂ containers shall be accessible only from the open air. These spaces shall have their own adequate artificial ventilation system with extraction ducts, completely separate from other ventilation systems on board;

(c) the CO₂ containers shall not be filled to more than 0,75 kg/l. The specific volume of unpressurised CO₂ gas is to be taken as 0,56 m³/kg;

(d) the volume of CO₂ for the room to be protected shall be at least 40 % of its gross volume. It shall be possible to supply this volume within 120 seconds, and to check whether supply has been completed;

(e) opening the container valves and operating the flood valve shall be separate control operations;

(f) the appropriate time mentioned under paragraph 6(b) shall be at least 20 seconds. There shall be a reliable device to ensure the delay before delivery of the CO₂ gas.

11. HFC-227ea — fire-fighting systems

Fire-fighting systems using HFC-227ea as the extinguishing agent shall comply with the following provisions in addition to the requirements under paragraphs 1 to 9:

(a) if there are several rooms to be protected, each with a different gross volume, each room shall be provided with its own fire-fighting system;

(b) each container of HFC-227ea that is installed in the room to be protected shall be equipped with an overpressure relief valve. This shall harmlessly release the contents of the container into the room to be protected if the container is exposed to the effects of fire and the fire-fighting system has not been triggered;

(c) each container shall be fitted with a device for checking the gas pressure;

(d) the containers shall not be filled to more than 1,15 kg/l. The specific volume of the unpressurised HFC-227ea is to be taken as 0,1374 m³/kg;

(e) the volume of HFC-227ea for the room to be protected shall be at least 8 % of the room's gross volume. This volume shall be supplied within 10 seconds;

(f) the HFC-227ea containers shall be provided with a pressure monitor which triggers an acoustic and optical alarm signal in the wheelhouse in the event of an unauthorised loss of propellant. If there is no wheelhouse, this alarm signal shall be given outside the room to be protected;

(g) after flooding, the concentration in the room to be protected shall not exceed 10,5 %;

(h) the fire-fighting system shall not contain any parts made of aluminium.

12. IG-541 — fire-fighting systems

Fire-fighting systems using IG-541 as the extinguishing agent shall comply with the following provisions in addition to the requirements under paragraphs 1 to 9:

(a) if there are several rooms to be protected, each with a different gross volume, each room shall be provided with its own fire-fighting system;

(b) each container of IG-541 that is installed in the room to be protected shall be equipped with an overpressure relief valve. This shall harmlessly release the contents of the container into the room to be protected if the container is exposed to the effects of fire and the fire-fighting system has not been triggered;

(c) each container shall be fitted with a device for checking the contents;

(d) the filling pressure of the container shall not exceed 200 bar at + 15 °C;

(e) the volume of IG-541 for the room to be protected shall be at least 44 % and no more than 50 % of the room's gross volume. This volume shall be supplied within 120 seconds.

13. Fire-fighting systems for protecting objects

For protecting objects in engine rooms, boiler rooms and pump rooms, permanently installed fire-fighting systems shall be permissible only on the basis of recommendations from the Committee.

Article 10.04 Ship's boats

1. The following craft shall carry a ship's boat according to European standard EN 1914: 1997:

(a) motor vessels and barges exceeding 150 t deadweight;

(b) tugs and pushers with a water displacement of more than 150 m³;

(c) floating equipment;

(d) passenger vessels.

2. It shall be possible for one person to launch such ship's boats safely within five minutes from the first manual action necessary. If a powered launching device is used this shall be such that safe, quick launching shall not be impaired if its power supply fails.

3. Inflatable ship's boats shall be inspected according to manufacturer's instructions.

Article 10.05 Lifebuoys and lifejackets

1. On board craft there shall be at least three lifebuoys in accordance with European standard EN 14144: 2002. They shall be ready for use and attached to the deck at appropriate points without being attached to their mounting. At least one lifebuoy shall be in the immediate vicinity of the wheelhouse and shall be equipped with a self-igniting, battery-powered light that will not be extinguished in water.

2. A personalised, automatically inflatable lifejacket in accordance with European standards EN 395: 1998 or EN 396: 1998 shall be within reach of every person who is regularly on board a craft.

Non-inflatable lifejackets in accordance with these standards shall also be admissible for children.

3. Lifejackets shall be inspected in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.