Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Conventions) Act 1932

Appliances for Closing Access Openings in Bulkheads at ends of Detached Superstructures.

RULE XLIII Class 1 Closing Appliances.

These appliances are of iron and steel, are in all cases permanently and strongly attached to the bulkhead, are framed, stiffened and fitted so that the whole structure is of equivalent strength to the unpierced bulkhead, and are weathertight when closed. The means for securing these appliances are permanently attached to the bulkhead or to the appliances and the latter are so arranged that they can be closed and secured from both sides of the bulkhead or from the deck above. The sills of the access openings are at least 15 inches above the deck.

RULE XLIV Class 2 Closing Appliances.

These appliances are (a) strongly framed hard wood hinged doors, which are not more than 30 inches wide nor less than 2 inches thick; or (6) shifting boards fitted for the full height of the opening in channels riveted to the bulkhead, the shifting boards being at least 2 inches thick where the width of opening is 30 inches or less, and increased in thickness at the rate of 1 inch for each additional 15 inches of width, or (c) portable plates of equal efficiency.