The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction) Regulations 1997

PART II CONSTRUCTION—ALL SHIPS

Structural strength

6.—(1) The structural strength of every ship and the number and disposition of transverse watertight bulkheads shall be adequate for the service for which the ship is intended.

Additional requirements for ships constructed on or after 1st September 1984

(2) The hull, superstructure, structural bulkheads, deck and deckhouses shall be constructed of steel or other equivalent material except that the crowns and casings of machinery spaces of Category A shall be constructed only of steel.

Peak and machinery space bulkheads and stern tubes Requirements for ships constructed on or after 1st September 1984

7.—(1) Every ship shall be fitted with a collision bulkhead which shall be watertight up to the freeboard deck. This bulkhead shall be located at a distance from the forward perpendicular of not less than 5 per cent of the length of the ship or 10 metres, whichever is the least and, except as may be permitted by the Certifying Authority, not more than 8 per cent of the length of the ship.

(2) Where any part of the ship below the waterline extends forward of the forward perpendicular, such as bulbous bow, the distances stipulated in paragraph (1) shall be measured from a position—

(a) at the mid-length of such extension; or

(b) forward of the forward perpendicular at a distance of 1.5 per cent of the length of the ship; or

(c) forward of the forward perpendicular at a distance of 3 metres;

whichever is the aftermost position.

(3) The collision bulkhead may have steps or recesses in it provided that they are within the limits prescribed in paragraphs (1) and (2). Pipes piercing the collision bulkhead shall be fitted with suitable valves operable from above the freeboard deck and the valve chest shall be secured at the bulkhead inside the forepeak. The Certifying Authority may permit the location of such valves on the after side of the collision bulkhead provided that they are readily accessible under all service conditions and the space in which they are located is not a cargo space. All such valves shall be of steel, bronze or other ductile material; valves of ordinary cast iron or similar material shall not be fitted. Doors, manholes, ventilation ducts or any other openings shall not be fitted in the collision bulkhead.

(4) In every ship provided with a long forward superstructure the collision bulkhead shall be extended weathertight to the deck immediately above the freeboard deck. The extension shall, subject to the requirements of paragraph (5), be located within the limits prescribed in paragraphs (1) and (2). The part of the deck, if any, between the collision bulkhead and its extension shall be weathertight.

(5) In every ship provided with a bow door and a sloping loading ramp that forms part of the extension of the collision bulkhead above the freeboard deck, the part of the ramp which is more than 2.3 metres above the freeboard deck may extend forward of the limits specified in paragraphs (1) and (2). The ramp shall be weathertight over its entire length.

(6) The number of openings in the extension of the collision bulkhead above the freeboard deck shall be restricted to the minimum compatible with the design and normal operation of the ship. All such openings shall be capable of being closed weathertight.

Additional requirements for ships constructed on or after 1st February 1992

(7) In every ship, bulkheads made watertight up to the freeboard deck shall be fitted to separate the machinery space from cargo and accommodation spaces.

(8) In every ship, stern tubes shall be enclosed in a watertight space (or spaces) of moderate volume. Other measures may be taken to minimise the danger of water penetrating into the ship in case of damage to stern tube arrangements, subject to the approval of the Certifying Authority.

Construction and testing of watertight bulkheads, decks and inner bottoms Requirements for ships constructed on or after 1st September 1984

8.—(1) In every ship each transverse and longitudinal watertight subdivision bulkhead shall be constructed in such a manner that it shall be capable of supporting the pressure due to the maximum head of water which it might have to sustain in the event of damage to the ship. The head of water shall be at least up to the freeboard deck.

(2) Steps and recesses in the bulkheads shall be watertight and of a strength equivalent to that of the bulkhead.

(3) Frames or beams that pass through a watertight deck or bulkhead shall be made structurally watertight without the use of wood or cement.

(4) Watertight compartments shall be tested either by flooding or by a hose test at the most advanced stage of the fitting out of the ship or by other means acceptable to the Certifying Authority, to establish that the watertight bulkheads are effective.

(5) The forepeak, double bottoms, duct keels and inner skins shall be tested by flooding with water to the head prescribed in paragraph (1).

(6) Tanks intended to hold liquids and which form part of the subdivision of the ship shall be tested by flooding with water to a head corresponding to the deepest subdivision load line or to two thirds of the depth from the top of the keel to the freeboard deck whichever is the greater. In no case shall the test head be less than 0.9 metres above the top of the tank.

(7) The tests prescribed in this regulation shall not necessarily be regarded as a test of fitness of any compartment for the storage of oil fuel or for other special purposes for which a test of a superior character may be appropriate.

Construction and testing of watertight decks, trunks, tunnels, duct keels and ventilators Requirements for ships constructed on or after 1st September 1984

9.—(1) In every ship the watertight decks, trunks, tunnels, duct keels and ventilators shall be of the same strength as the watertight bulkheads at corresponding levels. The means for making them watertight and the arrangements for closing openings in them shall be to the satisfaction of the Certifying Authority. Watertight ventilators and trunks shall be watertight at least up to the freeboard deck.

(2) Watertight decks shall be subjected to a hose or flooding test after completion. Watertight trunks, tunnels and ventilators shall be subject to a hose test on completion. Alternatively they may be tested by other means acceptable to the Certifying Authority.

Watertight doors

10.—(1) Except for ships subject to Part III, every watertight door required to maintain the watertight integrity of a bulkhead, shall be made of suitable material and shall be efficiently constructed for its intended duty.

(2) (a) Every watertight door of the sliding type shall be capable of being operated by efficient hand operated gear both at the door itself and from an accessible position above the bulkhead deck.

(b) The operating gear for operating from above the bulkhead deck any sliding watertight door fitted in the bulkhead of a machinery space shall be situated outside the machinery space.

(3) Where there is access from the lower part of a machinery space to a watertight shaft tunnel the access opening shall be provided with a sliding watertight door which shall be capable of being operated locally from both sides of the door.

(4) Means shall be provided at remote operating positions to indicate when a sliding door is closed.

(5) Watertight doors shall be capable of being operated when the ship is listed up to 15 degrees either way.

Tests of watertight doors Requirements for ships constructed on or after 1st September 1984

11.  Each watertight door shall be tested by water pressure equivalent to the head up to the freeboard deck. The test shall be made before the ship is put into service, either before or after the door is fitted.

Ballast and bilge pumping and drainage arrangements

12.  Every ship shall be provided with efficient bilge pumping plant and means of drainage in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 1 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1671.