The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations 1991

PART II AMENDMENTS TO 1986 REGULATIONS

3.  The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1986, in this Part called “the Principal Regulations” shall be amended in accordance with the following:—

(1) In regulation 2(1) the following definitions shall be inserted in the appropriate alphabetical order:—

““Radar Transponder” means a radar transponder, for use in survival craft, the emissions of which are intended to facilitate location of a survival craft in search and rescue operations;

“Satellite EPIRB” means an 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 and is capable of:—

(a)

floating free if the ship sinks,

(b)

being automatically activated when afloat,

(c)

being manually activated, and

(d)

being carried by one person;

“ship constructed” means a ship of which the keel is laid or, where construction identifiable with the ship has begun, assembly has commenced comprising at least 50 tonnes or 1% of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is less;”.

(2) In regulation 2(1) the following definitions shall replace the definitions of the same terms in the Principal Regulations:—

““Portable radio equipment” means an installation complying with paragraph 6.4.2 of Merchant Shipping Notice No. M 928 or any Merchant Shipping Notice amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time;

“Retro-reflective material” means a material, which reflects in the opposite direction a beam of light directed on it, and complies with Merchant Shipping Notice No. M 1444 or any Merchant Shipping Notice amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time;

“two-way radiotelephone set” means a portable two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus or a fixed VHF installation in survival craft for communication between survival craft, between survival craft and ship and between survival craft and rescue unit;

“Survival craft EPIRB” means an emergency position-indicating radio beacon, being a station in the mobile service, for carriage in survival craft, the emissions of which are intended to facilitate search and rescue operations;

“Waterproofed” means protected as far as is practicable from the ingress of water;”.

(3) Regulation 5(6) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(6) (a) Every ship to which this regulation applies, constructed before 1st February 1992, shall be provided with either the following equipment:—

ALTERNATIVE A

(i) survival craft radio equipment determined in accordance with the following table:

No of persons ships certified to carry	Portable radio Equipment	Lifeboat Radiotelegraph Installation for motor lifeboats
13–199	1	–
200–1499	1	1
155 or more	—	2 (1 on each side)

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, a survival craft EPIRB so stowed that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft;

• or:—

ALTERNATIVE B

(i) a satellite EPIRB,

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, at least one radar transponder stowed in such locations that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft or, alternatively, one radar transponder stowed in each survival craft.

(b) Notwithstanding ALTERNATIVE A above, every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with:—

(i) the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i) on and after 1st August 1993, and

(ii) radar transponders as prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(iii) on and after 1st February 1995.

(c) The two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) shall, on and after 1st February 1999, comply fully with performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organiza tion (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time.

(d) Every such ship constructed on and after 1st February 1992 shall be provided with:—

(i) the two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) complying fully with performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time, and

(ii) either the survival craft EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE A(iii) or the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i), except that in any case a satellite EPIRB shall be provided on and after 1st August 1993.”.

(4) Regulation 6(8) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(8) (a) Every ship to which this regulation applies, constructed before 1st February 1992, shall be provided with either the following equipment:—

ALTERNATIVE A

(i) portable radio equipment; this equipment shall not be required if a lifeboat radiotelephone installation is fitted in a lifeboat on each side of the ship or if the ship is engaged on voyages of such duration that in the opinion of the Secretary of State portable radio equipment is unnecessary,

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, a survival craft EPIRB so stowed that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft;

• or:—

ALTERNATIVE B

(i) a satellite EPIRB,

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, at least one radar transponder stowed in a location that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft or, alternatively, one radar transponder stowed in each survival craft.

(b) Notwithstanding ALTERNATIVE A above, every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with:

(i) the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i) on and after 1st August 1993, and

(ii) radar transponders as prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(iii) on and after 1st February 1995.

(c) The two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) shall, on and after 1st February 1999, comply fully with performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organiza tion (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time.

(d) Every such ship constructed on and after 1st February 1992 shall be provided with:—

(i) the two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) complying fully with performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time, and

(ii) either the survival craft EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE A(iii) or the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i), except that in any case a satellite EPIRB shall be provided on and after 1st August 1993.”.

(5) Regulation 7(9) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(9) (a) Every ship to which this regulation applies, constructed before 1st February 1992, shall be provided with either the following equipment:—

ALTERNATIVE A

(i) portable radio equipment; this equipment shall not be required if a lifeboat radiotelegraph installation is fitted in a lifeboat on each side of the ship or if the ship is engaged on voyages of such duration that in the opinion of the Secretary of State portable radio equipment is unnecessary,

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, a survival craft EPIRB so stowed that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft;

• or:—

ALTERNATIVE B

(i) a satellite EPIRB,

(ii) in the case of a ship of 500 tons or over, at least 3 waterproofed two- way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable and in the case of a ship of under 500 tons, at least 2 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) in the case of a ship of 500 tons or over, on each side of the ship at least one radar transponder, and in the case of a ship under 500 tons at least one radar transponder. Each radar transponder shall be stowed in such a location that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft other than that required by paragraph (5) or, alternatively, one radar transponder shall be stowed in each survival craft other than that required by paragraph (5).

(b) Notwithstanding ALTERNATIVE A above, every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with:—

(i) the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i) on and after 1st August 1993, and

(ii) a radar transponder or radar transponders as prescribed in ALTER NATIVE B(iii) on and after 1st February 1995.

(c) The two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) shall, on and after 1st February 1999, comply fully with the performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organiza tion (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time.

(d) Every such ship constructed on and after 1st February 1992 shall be provided with:—

(i) the two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) complying fully with performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time, and

(ii) either the survival craft EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE A(iii) or the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i), except that in any case a satellite EPIRB shall be provided on and after 1st August 1993.”.

(6) Regulation 8(11) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(11) (a) Every ship to which this regulation applies, constructed before 1st February 1992, shall be provided with either the following equipment:—

ALTERNATIVE A

(i) portable radio equipment; this equipment shall not be required if a lifeboat radiotelegraph installation is fitted in a lifeboat on each side of the ship or if the ship is engaged on voyages of such duration that in the opinion of the Secretary of State portable radio equipment is unnecessary,

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, a survival craft EPIRB so stowed that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft;

• or:—

ALTERNATIVE B

(i) a satellite EPIRB,

(ii) in the case of a ship of 500 tons or over, at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable and in the case of a ship of under 500 tons, at least 2 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) in the case of a ship of 500 tons or over, on each side of the ship at least one radar transponder, and in the case of a ship under 500 tons at least one radar transponder. Each radar transponder shall be stowed in such a location that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft other than that required by paragraph (8) or, alternatively, one radar transponder shall be stowed in each survival craft other than that required by paragraph (8).

(b) Notwithstanding ALTERNATIVE A above, every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with:—

(i) the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i) on and after 1st August 1993, and

(ii) a radar transponder or radar transponders as prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(iii) on and after 1st February 1995.

(c) The two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) shall, on and after 1st February 1999, comply fully with the performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organi zation (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time.

(d) Every such ship constructed on and after 1st February 1992 shall be provided with:—

(i) the two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) complying fully with performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time, and

(ii) either the survival craft EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE A(iii) or the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i), except that in any case a satellite EPIRB shall be provided on and after 1st August 1993.”.

(7) Regulation 10(3) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(3) (a) Every ship to which this regulation applies, constructed before 1st February 1992, shall be provided with either the following equipment:—

ALTERNATIVE A

(i) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(ii) on each side of the ship, a survival craft EPIRB so stowed that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft;

• or:—

ALTERNATIVE B

(i) a satellite EPIRB,

(ii) in the case of a ship of 500 tons or over, at least 3 waterproofed two- way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable and in the case of a ship of under 500 tons, at least 2 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) in the case of a ship of 500 tons or over, on each side of the ship at least one radar transponder, and in the case of a ship under 500 tons at least one radar transponder. Each radar transponder shall be stowed in such a location that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft or, alternatively, one radar transponder shall be stowed in each survival craft.

(b) Notwithstanding ALTERNATIVE A above, every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with:—

(i) the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i) on and after 1st August 1993, and

(ii) a radar transponder or radar transponders as prescribed in ALTER NATIVE B(iii) on and after 1st February 1995.

(c) The two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(i) and B(ii) shall, on and after 1st February 1999, comply fully with the performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organiza tion (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time.

(d) Every such ship constructed on and after 1st February 1992 shall be provided with:—

(i) the two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(i) and B(ii) complying fully with performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time, and

(ii) either the survival craft EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE A(ii) or the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i), except that in any case a satellite EPIRB shall be provided on and after 1st August 1993.”.

(8) In regulation 13(7):— “100%” shall be replaced by “200%”.

(9) Regulation 13(8) shall be replaced by:—

“(8) Rescue boat release gears and lifeboat disengaging gears shall be overhauled and shall be proof tested at 200% safe working load at intervals not exceeding 5 years.”.

(10) In regulation 28 after “excursion” the following shall be inserted:—

• “or arrives within the territorial waters of the United Kingdom”.

(11) After Schedule 1, Part I, paragraph 5.8 the following new paragraph shall be inserted:—

“5.8A   Every lifeboat which is fitted with a fixed two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus with an antenna which is separately mounted shall be provided with arrangements for siting and securing the antenna effectively in its operating position.”.

(12) Schedule 1, Part I, sub-paragraph 7.1.29 shall be replaced by the following:—

“.29   an efficient radar reflector, unless a radar transponder is stowed in that lifeboat.”.

(13) After Schedule 1, Part II, paragraph 4 the following new paragraph shall be inserted:—

“5.   If a fixed two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus is fitted in the lifeboat it shall be installed in a cabin large enough to accommodate both the equipment and the person using it; provided that no separate cabin shall be required if the construction of the lifeboat provides a sheltered space to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State.”.

(14) Schedule 4, Part IV, sub-paragraph 1.1.14 shall be replaced by the following:—

• “an efficient radar reflector, unless a radar transponder is stowed in that liferaft;”.