The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction) Regulations 1997

Stability information

16.—(1) The master of every ship shall be supplied with such reliable information as is necessary to enable him by rapid and simple means to determine the stability of the ship under varying conditions of service.

(2) That information shall include—

(a) one of the following—

(i) a curve of minimum operational metacentric height (GM) versus draught which assures compliance with the applicable intact stability requirements of Schedule 4 Part I to the Merchant Shipping (Load Lines) Rules 1968(1) or with the attained subdivision index of the ship, whichever is the more onerous condition or, where curves representing the requirements cross, the part of each curve which represents the more onerous requirement; or

(ii) a (corresponding) curve of the maximum allowable vertical centre of gravity (KG) versus draught; or

(iii) a tabular or equivalent presentation of either of these curves; and

(b) instructions concerning the operation of cross-flooding arrangements; and

(c) all other data and means of presentation necessary to assist the crew to maintain stability after damage.

(3) Where the curve provided or presented in compliance with paragraph (2)(a) is based wholly or in part on the attained subdivision index of the ship the operational GM(KG) values shall be applied in the manner and to the extent specified in paragraph 7 of Annex I in Merchant Shipping Notice No. M.1476.

(4) (a) The information required to be supplied by this regulation shall, before it is supplied to the master, be submitted for approval to that Assigning Authority to which the information supplied in respect of the ship pursuant to rule 30 of the Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Rules 1968 is required to be submitted in accordance with paragraph (5) of that rule.

(b) In this paragraph, “Assigning Authority” has the same meaning as in the Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Rules 1968.

(5) There shall be permanently exhibited or readily available on the navigating bridge for the guidance of the officer in charge of the ship, plans showing clearly for each deck and hold the boundaries of the watertight compartments, the openings therein, the means of closure and position of any controls thereof, and the arrangements for the correction of any list due to flooding. In addition, booklets containing this information shall be made available by the owners for the use of the officers of the ship.

(1)

Rule 30(5) was substituted by S.I. 1990/2128.