Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009

No. S 664

Merchant Shipping Act

(Chapter 179)

Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 100 of the Merchant Shipping Act, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, with the approval of the Minister for Transport, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009 and shall come into operation on 1st January 2010.

Deletion and substitution of Regulation 3-4 of Chapter II-1

2. Regulation 3-4 of Chapter II-1 of the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations (Rg 11) (referred to in these Regulations as the principal Regulations) is deleted and the following Regulation substituted therefor:

“Article ??

(a)

Emergency towing arrangements on tankers

(i)

Emergency towing arrangements shall be fitted at both ends on board every tanker of not less than 20,000 tonnes deadweight.

(ii)

For tankers constructed on or after 1st July 2002 —

(1)

the arrangements shall, at all times, be capable of rapid deployment in the absence of main power on the ship to be towed and easy connection to the towing ship. At least one of the emergency towing arrangements shall be pre-rigged ready for rapid deployment; and

(2)

emergency towing arrangements at both ends shall be of adequate strength taking into account the size and deadweight of the ship, and the expected forces during bad weather conditions. The design and construction and prototype testing of emergency towing arrangements shall be approved by the Director, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organisation¹.

¹Refer to the Guidelines on emergency towing arrangements for tankers, adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.35(63), as amended.

(iii)

For tankers constructed before 1st July 2002, the design and construction of emergency towing arrangements shall be approved by the Director, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organisation².

²Refer to the Guidelines on emergency towing arrangements for tankers, adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.35(63), as amended.

(b)

Emergency towing procedures on ships

(i)

This paragraph shall apply to —

(1)	all passenger ships;
(2)	cargo ships constructed on or after 1st January 2010; and
(3)	cargo ships constructed before 1st January 2010, with effect from 1st January 2012.

(ii)

Ships shall be provided with a ship-specific emergency towing procedure. Such a procedure shall be carried aboard the ship for use in emergency situations and shall be based on existing arrangements and equipment available on board the ship.

(iii)

The procedure³ shall include —

³Refer to the Guidelines for owners/operators on preparing emergency towing procedures (MSC.1/Circ.1255).

(1)	drawings of fore and aft deck showing possible emergency towing arrangements;
(2)	inventory of equipment on board that can be used for emergency towing;
(3)	means and methods of communication; and
(4)	sample procedures to facilitate the preparation for and conducting of emergency towing operations.”.

New Regulation 3-9 of Chapter II-1

3. Chapter II-1 of the principal Regulations is amended by inserting, immediately after Regulation 3-8, the following Regulation:

“Article ??

(a)

Ships constructed on or after 1st January 2010 shall be provided with means of embarkation on and disembarkation from ships for use in port and in port-related operations, such as gangways and accommodation ladders, in accordance with paragraph (b), unless the Director deems that compliance with a particular provision is unreasonable or impractical⁴.

⁴Circumstances where compliance may be deemed unreasonable or impractical may include where the ship:

1. has small freeboards and is provided with boarding ramps; or

2. is engaged in voyages between designated ports where appropriate shore accommodation or embarkation ladders (platforms) are provided.

(b)

The means of embarkation and disembarkation required in paragraph (a) shall be constructed and installed based on the Guidelines developed by the Organisation**.

** Refer to the Guidelines for construction, installation, maintenance and inspection/survey of means of embarkation and disembarkation set out in circular MSC.1/Circ.1331 issued by the Organisation.

(c)

For all ships the means of embarkation and disembarkation shall be inspected and maintained** in suitable condition for their intended purpose, taking into account any restrictions related to safe loading. All wires used to support the means of embarkation and disembarkation shall be maintained as specified in Regulation 20(d) of Chapter III.

** Refer to the Guidelines for construction, installation, maintenance and inspection/survey of means of embarkation and disembarkation set out in circular MSC.1/Circ.1331 issued by the Organisation.”.

Amendment of Regulation 10 of Chapter II-2

4. Regulation 10 of Chapter II-2 of the principal Regulations is amended by inserting, immediately after sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph (d)(i), the following sub-paragraph:

“(5) By the first scheduled dry-docking after 1st January 2010, fixed carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing systems for the protection of machinery spaces and cargo pump-rooms on ships constructed before 1st July 2002 shall comply with the provisions of paragraph 2.2.2 of Chapter 5 of the Fire Safety Systems Code.”.

Amendment of Regulation 20 of Chapter II-2

5. Regulation 20 of Chapter II-2 of the principal Regulations is amended by deleting sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph (f)(i) and substituting the following sub-paragraphs:

“(4) The requirement of this sub-paragraph shall apply to ships constructed on or after 1st January 2010. Ships constructed on or after 1st July 2002 and before 1st January 2010 shall comply with the requirements of paragraph (f)(i)(4) of this regulation which was in force immediately prior to 1st January 2010. When fixed pressure water-spraying systems are fitted, in view of the serious loss of stability which could arise due to large quantities of water accumulating on the deck or decks during the operation of the fixed pressure water-spraying system, the following arrangements shall be provided:

(A)

in passenger ships:

(I)

in the spaces above the bulkhead deck, scuppers shall be fitted so as to ensure that such water is rapidly discharged directly overboard, taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organisation⁵;

⁵Refer to the Guidelines for the drainage of fire-fighting water from closed vehicle and ro-ro spaces and special category spaces of passenger and cargo ships set out in circular MSC.1/Circ.1320 issued by the Organisation.

(II)

(1)	in ro-ro passenger ships, discharge valves for scuppers, fitted with positive means of closing operable from a position above the bulkhead deck in accordance with the requirements of the International Convention on Load Lines in force, shall be kept open while the ships are at sea;

(II)

(2)	operation of valves referred to in paragraph ( f)(i)(4)(A)(II)(1) shall be recorded in the official log-book;

(III)

in the spaces below the bulkhead deck, the Director may require pumping and drainage facilities to be provided in addition to the requirements of Regulation 35-1 of Chapter II-1. In such case, the drainage system shall be sized to remove no less than 125% of the combined capacity of both the water-spraying system pumps and the required number of fire hose nozzles, taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organisation⁶. The drainage system valves shall be operable from outside the protected space at a position in the vicinity of the extinguishing system controls. Bilge wells shall be of sufficient holding capacity and shall be arranged at the side shell of the ship at a distance from each other of not more than 40 m in each watertight compartment;

⁶Refer to the Guidelines for the drainage of fire-fighting water from closed vehicle and ro-ro spaces and special category spaces of passenger and cargo ships set out in circular MSC.1/Circ.1320 issued by the Organisation.

(B)

in cargo ships, the drainage and pumping arrangements shall be such as to prevent the build-up of free surfaces. In such case, the drainage system shall be sized to remove no less than 125% of the combined capacity of both the water-spraying system pumps and the required number of fire hose nozzles, taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organisation*. The drainage system valves shall be operable from outside the protected space at a position in the vicinity of the extinguishing system controls. Bilge wells shall be of sufficient holding capacity and shall be arranged at the side shell of the ship at a distance from each other of not more than 40 m in each watertight compartment. If this is not possible, the adverse effect upon stability of the added weight and free surface of water shall be taken into account to the extent deemed necessary by the Director in his approval of the stability information**. Such information shall be included in the stability information supplied to the master as required by Regulation 5-1 of Chapter II-1.

* Refer to the Guidelines for the drainage of fire-fighting water from closed vehicle and ro-ro spaces and special category spaces of passenger and cargo ships set out in circular MSC.1/Circ.1320 issued by the Organisation.

** Refer to the Recommendation on fixed fire-extinguishing systems for special category spaces, adopted by the Organisation by resolution A.123(V).

(5) On all ships, for closed vehicles and ro-ro spaces and special category spaces, where fixed pressure water-spraying systems are fitted, means shall be provided to prevent the blockage of drainage arrangements, taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organisation*. Ships constructed before 1st January 2010 shall comply with the requirements of this paragraph by the first survey after 1st January 2010.

Amendment of Regulation 6 of Chapter III

6. Regulation 6 of Chapter III of the principal Regulations is amended by deleting sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (b) and substituting the following sub-paragraph:

“Search and rescue locating devices

(ii)

At least one search and rescue locating device shall be carried on each side of every passenger ship and of every cargo ship of 500 tons and upwards. At least one search and rescue locating device shall be carried on every cargo ship of 300 tons and upwards but less than 500 tons. Such search and rescue locating devices shall conform to the applicable performance standards not inferior to those adopted by the Organisation*. The search and rescue locating devices** shall be stowed in such locations that they can be rapidly placed in any survival craft other than the liferaft or liferafts required by Regulation 31(a)(iv). Alternatively, one search and rescue locating device shall be stowed in each survival craft other than those required by Regulation 31(a)(iv). On ships carrying at least two search and rescue locating devices and equipped with free-fall lifeboats, one of the search and rescue locating devices shall be stowed in a free-fall lifeboat and the other located in the immediate vicinity of the navigation bridge so that it can be utilised on board and ready for transfer to any of the other survival craft.

* Refer to the Recommendation on performance standards for survival craft radar transponders for use in search and rescue operations, adopted by the Organisation by resolution MSC.247(83) (A.802(19), as amended) and the Recommendation on performance standards for survival craft AIS Search and Rescue transmitter (AIS SART), adopted by the Organisation by resolution MSC.246(83).

** One of these search and rescue locating devices may be the search and rescue locating device required by Regulation 7(a)(iii) of Chapter IV.”.

Amendment of Regulation 26 of Chapter III

7. Regulation 26 of Chapter III of the principal Regulations is amended by deleting sub-paragraph (v) of paragraph (b) and substituting the following sub-paragraph:

“(v)

Liferafts carried on ro-ro passenger ships shall be fitted with a search and rescue locating device in the ratio of one search and rescue locating device for every four liferafts. The search and rescue locating device shall be mounted inside the liferaft so its antenna is more than one metre above the sea level when the liferaft is deployed, except that for canopied reversible liferafts the search and rescue locating device shall be so arranged as to be readily accessed and erected by survivors. Each search and rescue locating device shall be arranged to be manually erected when the liferaft is deployed. Containers of liferafts fitted with search and rescue locating devices shall be clearly marked.”.

Amendment of Regulation 7 of Chapter IV

8. Regulation 7 of Chapter IV of the principal Regulations is amended by deleting the words “a radar transponder capable of operating in the 9 GHz band” in paragraph (a)(iii) and substituting the words “a search and rescue locating device capable of operating either in the 9 GHz band or on frequencies dedicated for AIS”.

New Regulation 6 of Chapter XI-1

9. Chapter XI-1 of the principal Regulations is amended by inserting, immediately after Regulation 5, the following Regulation:

“Article ??

Taking into account Regulation 21 of Chapter I, the Director shall conduct investigations of marine casualties and incidents in accordance with these Regulations, as supplemented by the Code of the International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident (Casualty Investigation Code) adopted by the Organisation by resolution MSC.255(84), and any amendment thereto which has come into force and has been accepted by the Government.”.

Amendment of Second Schedule

10. The Second Schedule to the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by deleting item 11.1 in Section 2 of the Record of Equipment for the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (Form P) and substituting the following items:

“(11.1) Number of search and rescue locating devices

(11.1.1) Radar search and rescue transponders (SART)

(11.1.2) AIS search and rescue transmitters (AIS-SART)”;

(b)

by deleting item 6 in Section 3 of the Record of Equipment for the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (Form P) and substituting the following items:

“(6) Ship’s search and rescue locating device

(6.1) Radar search and rescue transponder (SART)

(6.2) AIS search and rescue transmitter (AIS-SART)”;

(c)

by deleting item 9.1 in Section 2 of the Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate (Form E) and substituting the following items:

“(9.1) Number of search and rescue locating devices

(9.2) Radar search and rescue transponders (SART)

(9.3) AIS search and rescue transmitters (AIS-SART)”;

(d)

by deleting item 6 in Section 2 of the Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate (Form R) and substituting the following items:

“(6) Ship’s search and rescue locating device

(6.1) Radar search and rescue transponder (SART)

(6.2) AIS search and rescue transmitter (AIS-SART)”;

(e)

by deleting item 11.1 in Section 2 of the Record of Equipment for the Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (Form PNUC) and substituting the following items:

“(11.1) Number of search and rescue locating devices

(11.1.1) Radar search and rescue transponders (SART)

(11.1.2) AIS search and rescue transmitters (AIS-SART)”;

(f)

by deleting item 6 in Section 3 of the Record of Equipment for the Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (Form PNUC) and substituting the following items:

“(6) Ship’s search and rescue locating device

(6.1) Radar search and rescue transponder (SART)

(6.2) AIS search and rescue transmitter (AIS-SART)”;

(g)

by deleting items 9, 10, 10.1 and 10.2 in Section 2 of the Record of Equipment for the Nuclear Cargo Ship Safety Certificate (Form CNUC) and substituting the following items:

“(9) Radio installations used in life-saving appliances

(9.1) Number of search and rescue locating devices

(9.1.1) Radar search and rescue transponders (SART)

(9.1.2) AIS search and rescue transmitters (AIS-SART)

(9.2) Number of two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus”; and

(h)

by deleting item 6 in Section 3 of the Record of Equipment for the Nuclear Cargo Ship Safety Certificate (Form CNUC) and substituting the following items:

“(6) Ship’s search and rescue locating device

(6.1) Radar search and rescue transponder (SART)

(6.2) AIS search and rescue transmitter (AIS-SART)”.

[G.N. Nos. S 287/1999; S 40/2000; S 511/20; S 533/20; S 314/20; S 613/20; S 645/20; S 217/20; S 697/20; S 282/20; S 339/20; S 686/20; S 286/20]

Made this 29th day of December 2009.

LUCIEN WONG

Chairman,
Maritime and Port Authority of
Singapore.

[SS 1.2.1(20); AG/LEG/SL/179/2005/3 Vol. 4]

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