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laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels and repealing Council Directive 82/714/EEC (2006/87/EC) (repealed)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 6 STEERING SYSTEM

Article 6.01 General requirements

1. Vessels shall be fitted with a reliable steering system which provides at least the manoeuvrability required by Chapter 5.

2. Powered steering systems shall be designed in such a way that the rudder cannot change position unintentionally.

3. The steering system as a whole shall be designed for permanent lists of up to 15° and ambient temperatures from — 20 ^oC to + 50 ^oC.

4. The component parts of the steering system shall be rugged enough to always be able to withstand the stresses to which they may be subjected during normal operation. No external forces applied to the rudder shall impair the operating capacity of the steering apparatus and its drive unit.

5. The steering system shall incorporate a powered drive unit if so required by the forces needed to actuate the rudder.

6. A steering apparatus with powered drive unit shall be protected against overloads by means of a system that restricts the torque applied by the drive unit.

7. The penetrations for the rudder stocks shall be so designed as to prevent the spread of water-polluting lubricants.

Article 6.02 Steering apparatus drive unit

1. If the steering apparatus has a powered drive unit, it shall be possible to bring a second independent drive unit, or manual drive, into use within five seconds if the steering apparatus drive unit fails or malfunctions.

2. If the second drive unit or manual drive is not placed in service automatically, it shall be possible to do so immediately by means of a single operation by the helmsman that is both simple and quick.

3. The second drive unit or manual drive shall ensure the manoeuvrability required by Chapter 5 as well.

Article 6.03 Hydraulic steering apparatus drive unit

1. No other power consumers may be connected to the hydraulic steering apparatus drive unit. Where there are two independent drive units, such a connection to one of the units is however acceptable if the consumers are connected to the return line and may be disconnected from the drive unit by means of an isolating device.

2. Where there are two hydraulic drive units, a separate hydraulic reservoir is needed for each of the two units. However, double reservoirs are acceptable. Hydraulic reservoirs shall be fitted with a warning system that monitors any drop in the oil level below the lowest content level needed for reliable operation.

3. The pilot valve does not have to be duplicated if this can be actuated manually or by manually-controlled hydraulic actuation from the wheelhouse.

4. The dimensions, design and arrangement of the pipework shall as far as possible exclude mechanical damage or damage resulting from fire.

5. As far as hydraulic drive units are concerned, no separate pipework system shall be required for the second unit if independent operation of the two units is guaranteed and if the pipework system is able to withstand a pressure of at least 1.5 times that of the maximum service pressure.

6. Flexible piping is only permitted where its use is essential in order to damp vibrations or to allow freedom of movement of components. It shall be designed for a pressure that is at least equal to the maximum service pressure.

Article 6.04 Power source

1. Steering systems fitted with two powered drive units shall have at least two power sources.

2. If the second power source for the powered steering apparatus is not constantly available while the vessel is under way, a buffer device carrying adequate capacity shall provide back-up during the period needed for start-up.

3. In the case of electrical power sources, no other power consumers may be supplied by the main power source for the steering system.

Article 6.05 Manual drive

1. The manual wheel shall not be driven by a powered drive unit.

2. Regardless of rudder position, a kick-back of the wheel shall be prevented when the manual drive is engaged automatically.

Article 6.06 Rudder-propeller, water-jet, cycloidal-propeller and bow-thruster systems

1. Where the thrust vectoring of rudder-propeller, water-jet, cycloidal-propeller or bow-thruster installations is remotely actuated by electric, hydraulic or pneumatic means, there shall be two actuation systems, each independent of the other, between the wheelhouse and the propeller- or thruster-installation which, mutatis mutandis, meet the requirements of Articles 6.01 to 6.05.

Such systems are not subject to this paragraph if they are not needed in order to achieve the manoeuvrability required by Chapter 5 or if they are only needed for the stopping test.

2. Where there are two or more rudder-propeller, water-jet or cycloidal-propeller installations that are independent of each other the second actuation system is not necessary if the vessel retains the manoeuvrability required by Chapter 5 if one of the systems fails.

Article 6.07 Indicators and monitoring devices

1. The rudder position shall be clearly displayed at the steering position. If the rudder-position indicator is electric it shall have its own power supply.

2. There shall be at least the following indicators and monitoring devices at the steering position:

(a) oil level in the hydraulic reservoirs in accordance with Article 6.03(2), and service pressure of the hydraulic system;

(b) failure of the electrical supply for the steering control;

(c) failure of the electrical supply for the drive units;

(d) failure of the rate-of-turn regulator;

(e) failure of the required buffer devices.

Article 6.08 Rate-of-turn regulators

1. Rate-of-turn regulators and their components shall meet the requirements laid down in Article 9.20.

2. The proper functioning of the rate-of-turn regulator shall be displayed at the steering position by means of a green indicating light.

Any lack of or unacceptable variations in the supply voltage and an unacceptable decrease in the speed of rotation of the gyroscope shall be monitored.

3. Where, in addition to the rate-of-turn regulator, there are other steering systems, it shall be possible to clearly distinguish at the steering position which of these systems has been activated. It shall be possible to shift from one system to another immediately. The rate-of-turn regulator shall not have any influence on these other steering systems.

4. The electricity supply to the rate-of-turn regulator shall be independent of other power consumers.

5. The gyroscopes, detectors and rate-of-turn indicators used in the rate-of-turn regulators shall meet the minimum requirements of the minimum specifications and test conditions concerning rate-of-turn displays for inland waterways, as laid down in Annex IX.

Article 6.09 Acceptance procedure

1. The compliance of the installed steering system shall be checked by an inspection body. It may, for this purpose, request the following documents:

(a) description of the steering system;

(b) drawings and information on the drive units and the steering controls;

(c) information concerning the steering apparatus;

(d) electrical wiring diagram;

(e) description of the rate-of-turn regulator;

(f) operating instructions for the steering system.

2. Operation of the entire steering system shall be checked by means of a navigation test. If a rate-of-turn regulator is installed it shall be checked that a predetermined course can be reliably maintained and that bends can be negotiated safely.