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MERCHANT SHIPPING (CARGO SHIP CONSTRUCTION AND SURVEY) RULES, 1974 (LI  959).

IN exercise of the powers conferred on the Commissioner responsible for shipping (hereinafter referred to as " the Commissioner") by section 181 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1963 (Act 183) these Rules are hereby made this 13th day of June, 1974.

Rule 1—Watertight Bulkheads.

The transverse watertight bulkheads of every ship shall be of such number, structural strength and disposition as is adequate for the service for which the ship is intended.

Rule 2—Watertight Doors.

(1) Where watertight doors are provided to maintain the watertight integrity of a bulkhead, they shall be constructed efficiently and of suitable material.

(2) Watertight doors 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 dock.

(3) The gear, for operating any sliding watertight door fitted in the bulkhead of a machinery space, shall be situated outside the machinery space except where such a position would prohibit efficient gearing.

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

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

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

(7) The hand operating mechanism of the sliding watertight doors shall have an all round crank motion, and arrows indicating the direction of rotation for opening or closing the door shall be permanently marked.

Rule 3—Bilge Pumping Arrangements.

(1) Every ship shall be provided with an efficient bilge pumping plant.

(2) The means of drainage shall so arranged that water entering any part of the hull, other than a space permanently appropriated for the carriage of fresh water, water ballast, oil fuel or liquid cargo and for which other efficient means of pumping or drainage are provided, may be pumped out through at least one suction pipe when the ship is on an even keel or is listed not more than five degrees either way.

(3) Wing suctions shall be provided where necessary as well as efficient means to enable the water to flow to the suction pipes.

(4) The Commissioner may in his discretion authorise that the means of pumping or drainage may be dispensed with in particular compartments of any ship or class of ships where he is satisfied that the safety of the ship would not thereby be impaired.

Rule 4—Electrical Equipment and Installations.

(1) In all ships the electrical equipment and installations, including any electrical means of propulsion, shall conform to standards prescribed by the Commissioner and shall be such that the ship and all persons on board are protected against electrical hazards.

(2) Every ship in which electric power is the only power for maintaining auxiliary services essential for the propulsion or safety of the ship, shall be provided with two or more generating sets of such power as to enable the said services to be operated when any one of the sets is out of order.

(3) In every ship in which the electrical load includes services essential for the propulsion or safety of the ship and the normal sea load is such as to require the simultaneous working of two or more generators, arrangements shall be made to trip automatically sufficient non-essential load when the total current exceeds the connected generator capacity.

Rule 5—Emergency Electric Power for Ships of 5,000 tons Gross or Over.

(1) In every ship of 5,000 tons gross or over, a self-contained emergency source of electric power shall be provided in a position above the uppermost continuous deck outside the machinery castings, and shall be so arranged as to ensure its functioning in the event of fire or other casualty causing a failure of the main electrical installation.

(2) The emergency source of the electric power referred to in sub-rule (1) of this rule shall be capable of operating simultaneously for a consecutive period of not less than six hours the following services:—

(a) the emergency lighting prescribed by the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules, 1974;

(b) the emergency lighting system provided in the main machinery space, the space containing the ship's main electric generating plant, on the navigating bridge and in the chartroom;

(c) the general alarm if electrically operated;

(d) the ship's navigating lights, if solely electric, and

(e) the daylight signalling lamp, if it is operated by the ship's main source of electric power.

(3) The said emergency source of electric power shall be so arranged that it will operate efficiently  when the ship is listed 221/2 degrees and or when the trim of the ship is 10 degrees and shall be either—

(a) an accumulator (storage) battery or batteries capable of complying with the requirements of sub-rule (2) of this rule without having to be re-charged or suffering an excessive voltage drop; or

(b) a generator driven by an internal combustion type machinery with an independent fuel supply and with efficient starting arrangements. In this case the fuel provided shall have a flash point of not less than 110º F.

(4) Provision shall be made for the periodical testing of the emergency source of electric power and its associated circuits.

Rule 6—Emergency Power for Ships of Less than 5,000 Tons Gross.

(1) In every ship of less than 5,000 ton gross, a self contained emergency source of electric power shall be provided in a position above the uppermost continuous deck or raised quarter deck outside the machinery casings and shall be so arranged as to ensure its functioning in the event of fire or other casualty causing a failure of the main electrical installation.

(2) The emergency source of electric power referred to in sub-rule (1) of this rule shall be capable of operating simultaneously, for a consecutive period of not less than three hours, the following services:—

(a) the emergency lighting prescribed by the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules, 1974;

(b) the general alarm if electrically operated, and

(c) the ship's navigation lights if solely electric.

(3) Every ship referred to in sub-rule (1) of this rule shall comply fully with the provisions of sub-rules (3) and (4) of rule 5 of these Rules.

Rule 7—Electric and Electro Hydraulic Steering Gear.

(1) Indicators shall be provided on all ships fitted with electric and electro hydraulic steering gear to show when the power units of such steering gear are running.

(2) Such indicators shall be situated in the machinery control room, on the navigating bridge and in such other position or positions as the Commissioner may approve.

(3) The following provisions shall apply to ships referred to in sub-rule (1) of this rule which are of 5,000 ton gross or over:—

(a) the electric and electro hydraulic steering gear shall be served by two circuits fed from the main switchboard and one of these circuits may pass through the emergency switchboard where there is such a switchboard on the ship;

(b) each circuit shall have an adequate capacity for supplying all the motors which are normally connected to it and which operate simultaneously;

(c) the capacity of each circuit shall be adequate for the most severe load condition where transfer arrangements are provided in the steering gear room to permit either circuit to supply any motor or combination of motors;

(d) the circuits shall be separated through their length as widely as is practicable and short circuit protection only shall be provided for such circuits and motors.

(4) Every ship  of under 5,000 tons gross, in which electrical power is the sole source of power for both main and ausiliary steering gear shall comply with the requirement of sub-rule (3) of this rule:

Provided that where the auxiliary steering gear is powered by a motor primarily intended for other services, the requirements of sub-rule (3) (d) of this rule may be waived by the Commissioner and suitable overload protection may be fitted.

Rule 8—Precautions Against Fire, Shock and Other Hazards of Electrical Origin.

(1) In every ship all electrical equipment shall be so constructed and installed that there would be no danger or injury to any person handling it in a proper manner.

(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (3) of this Rule, where electrical equipment supplied as ship's equipment is required to be operated at a voltage in excess of 55 volts, the exposed metal parts of such equipment which are not intended to be "live" but which are liable to become "live" under faulty conditions, shall be earthed.

(3) Exposed metal parts of portable electric lamps, tools, and similar apparatus, supplied as ship's equipment and required to be operated at a voltage in excess of 55 volts, shall be earthed through a conductor in the supply cable unless protection, at least as effective as earthing  through a conductor, is provided by the use of double insulation or a suitable transformer.

(4) Provision shall be made, as far as practicable, to ensure that the danger of electric shock is reduced to a minimum where electric lamps, tools or other apparatus are used in damp spaces.

(5) Main and emergency switchboards shall be so arranged so as to give access to the front and back thereof without danger to any person, and every switchboard shall be suitably guarded, and a non-conducting mat or grating shall be provided at the front and back where necessary.

(6) No exposed parts, of such switchboards, which may have a voltage between conductors or to earth exceeding 250 volts direct current or 55 volts alternating current shall be installed on the face of any switchboard or control panel.

(7) The hull return system of distribution shall not be used in any ship:

Provided that the Commissioner may exempt any ship other than a tanker, from complying with the requirements of this sub-rule subject to such conditions as he may think fit.

(8) Electric cables shall be flame retardent, sheathed or armoured or otherwise equally effectively protected, and all metal sheaths and metal armour of electrical cable shall be electrically continuous and shall be earthed.

(9) Lighting fittings shall be so arranged as to prevent rises in temperature which would be injurious to the electrical wiring or which would result in a risk of fire in the surrounding material.

(10) Electrical wiring shall be supported in such a manner as to avoid chaffing or other injury.

(11) Each electrical circuit shall be protected against short circuit and every such circuit other than a circuit which operates the ship's steering gear or any other circuit in respect of which an exemption has been granted, shall be protected against overload.

(12) The current carrying capacity of the circuit which it protects and the rating or setting of the device shall be clearly or permanently indicated on ot near each overload protective device.

(13) All accumulator (storage) batteries shall be housed in boxes or compartments constructed to protect the  batteries from damage and ventilated to minimise the accumulation of explosive gas.

(14) Devices liable to are shall not be installed in any compartment assigned principally to accumulator batteries unless the devices are flameproof and explosion proof.

(15) In every ship in which an electric space heater forms a part of the equipment, such heater shall be fixed in such a position and shall be so constructed as to reduce the risk of fire to the minimum.

(16) Every such heater shall be so constructed that the element is not exposed so as to enable clothing curtains or other materials to be scorched or set on fire by the heat from it.

Rule 9—Fire Protection.

(1) The following provisions shall apply to all cargo ships of 4,000 tons gross and over:—

(a)  where a bulkhead is required to be constructed of "B" Class panels, such panels shall be capable of preventing the passage of flame throughout a standard fire test of 30 minutes duration;

(b) every incombustible "B" Class panel used for this purpose, shall be such that if either face thereof is exposed to a standard fire test of 30 minutes duration, the average temperature on the unexposed face of the panel shall not increase at any time during the first fifteen minutes of the test, and during the entire period of the test it shall  not exceed by more than 250º F above the initial temperature on that face nor shall the temperature at any one point thereon increase by more than 405º F above the initial temperature;

(c) every combustible "B" Class panel used for this purpose shall be such that if either face thereof is exposed to a fire test of 30 minutes duration; the  average temperature of the unexposed face of the panel shall not increase by more than 250º F above the initial temperature on that face, nor shall the temperature at any one point thereon increase by more than 405º F above the initial temperature;

(d) the hull including the superstructure bulkheads , decks and deck houses shall be constructed of steel:

Provided that the Commissioner may in certain cases  authorise these to be constructed of such other suitable materials as he may be deem fit having regard to the risk of fire;

(e) the corridor bulkheads serving accommodation spaces and control stations shall be constructed of steel or "B" Class panels;

(f) the doorways and similar openings in corridor bulkheads shall be capable of being closed by permanently attached doors or by shutters;

(g) the number of ventilation openings in such bulkheads shall be kept to a minimum and such openings shall, as far as is practicable, be provided only in or under doors and shall where practicable, be in the lower part of the door;

(h) the interior stairways, ladders and crew lift trunks within accommodation spaces, shall be constructed of steel or other equivalent material;

(i) the boundary bulkheads of emergency generator room and the bulkheads separating a galley, paint room, lamproom or boatswain's store from an accommodation space shall be constructed of steel or other equivalent material;

(j) the deck coverings within accommodation spaces and control stations forming the crown of machinery and cargo spaces, shall be a type which will not readily ignite;

(k) paints, varnishes and other surface materials having a nitrocellulose or other highly inflammable base shall not be used in accommodation spaces, machinery spaces and control stations;

(l)  pipes intended to convey oil or other combustible liquids shall be of such material as the Commissioner may be determine having regard to the risk of fire;

(m) overboard scruppers, sanitary discharges or other outlets close to the waterline shall not be of a material likely to fail in the event of fire, and thereby give rise to a danger of flooding;

(n) cellulose nitrate films shall not be used in cinematograph installations.

(2) The following provisions shall apply to all cargo ships of between 500 tons gross and less than 4,000 tons gross:—

(a) the skylights to spaces containing main propulsion machinery or oil fired boilers or auxiliary internal combustion type machinery of total horse power of 1,000 or over shall be capable of being closed and, where practicable, opened from outside the spaces in the event of fire;

(b) where the skylights contain glass panels, such panels shall be of fire resisting construction fitted with wire reinforced glass, and shall have external permanently attached shutters of steel or other equivalent material;

(c) windows shall not be fitted is engine casings except where the Commissioner is satisfied that they are necessary and do not constitute a fire hazard;

(d) where such windows are fitted they shall be of the non-opening type and shall be of fire resisting construction fitted with wire reinforced glass and shall have permanently attached external shutters of steel or other equivalent material.

Rule 10—Boilers and other Pressure Vessels.

(1) In every ship the machinery, boilers and other pressure vessels shall be of a design and construction adequate for the service for which they are intended, and shall be so installed and protected as to reduce to a minimum any danger to persons on board.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-rule (1) of this rule, means shall be provided in the boilers and machinery and other pressure vessels of every ship which will prevent over pressure of any part of such machinery, boiler or other pressure vessel, and in particular every boiler and every oil fired steam generator shall be provided with not less than two safety valves:

Provided that the Commissioner may, having regard to the output or any other feature of any boiler or unfired steam generator, permit only one safety valve to be fitted where he is satisfied that adequate protection against over-pressure is provided.

(3) Every boiler or other pressure vessel and its respective mountings shall, before being put into service for the first time, be subjected to a hydraulic test to a pressure in excess of the working pressure of that boiler of pressure vessel so as to ensure that together with its mounting it is adequate in strength and design for the service for which it is intended.

(4) Every boiler and pressure vessel and its mountings shall be maintained in an efficient condition.

(5) Suitable provisions shall be made to facilitate the cleaning and inspection of every pressure vessel.

Rule 11—Machinery.

(1) Main and auxiliary machinery essential for the propulsion and safety of the ship shall be provided with effective means of control and the machinery shall be capable of being brought into operation when initially no power is available in the ship.

(2) Where the risk of overspeeding of machinery exists, means shall be provided to ensure that the safe speed is not exceeded.

(3) Where main or auxiliary machinery or any parts thereof are subject to internal pressure, such machinery or parts shall before being put into service for the first time, be subjected to a hydraulic test to a pressure suitably in excess of their working pressure having regard to —

(a) the design and material of which they are constructed;

(b) the purpose for which and the working conditions under which they are intended to be used.

(4) Main and auxiliary machinery or any parts thereof which are subject to internal pressure shall be maintained in an efficient condition.

Rule 12—Means of Going Astern.

Every ship shall have sufficient power for going astern to secure proper control of the ship in normal circumstances.

Rule 13—Shafts.

Shafts shall be designed and constructed so as to withstand the maximum working stresses to which they may be subjected with a factor of safety which adequate having regard to—

(a) the material out of which they are constructed;

(b) the service for which they are intended, and

(c) the type of engine by which they are driven or of which they form a part.

Rule 14—Boiler Feed System.

(1) Every boiler which provides services essential for the safety of the ship and which could be rendered dangerous by the failure of its feed water supply, shall be provided with not less than two efficient and separate feed water systems, so arranged that either of them may be opened for inspection for overhaul without affecting the efficiency of the other.

(2) In every such system means shall be provided which will prevent over pressure in any part of the system.

(3) The arrangements for the supply of boiler feed water shall provide for the interception of oil in the feed water where the possibility of oil entering the feed water system exists.

(4) Every feed check valve, fitting or pipe through which feed water passes from a pump to the boilers shall be designed and constructed to withstand the maximum working stresses to which it may be subjected with a factor of safety which is adequate having regard to the material out of which it is constructed and the working conditions under which it is used.

(5) Every such valve, fitting or pipe shall, before being put into service for the first time, be subjected to a hydraulic test, in excess of the maximum working pressure of the boiler to which it is connected or of the maximum working pressure to which the feed line may be subjected whichever is greater.

(6) Valves, fittings and pipes shall be maintained in an efficient condition and feed pipes shall be adequately supported.

Rule 15—Steam Pipe System.

(1) Every steam pipe and every fitting connected thereto, shall be so designed and constructed as to withstand the maximum working stresses to which it may be subjected, with a factor of safety which is adequate having regard to—

(a) the material out of which it is constructed, and

(b) the working conditions under which it will be used.

(2) Without prejudice to sub-rule (1) of this rule, every steam pipe or fitting shall, before being put into service for the first time, be subjected to a test by hydraulic pressure to a pressure in excess of its working pressure, determined by having regard to the requirements of clauses (a) and (b) of sub rule (1) of this rule.

(3) Steam pipes and fittings shall be maintained in an efficient condition and steam pipes shall be well supported.

(4) Provision shall be made to avoid excessive stress whether caused through the variation in temperature, vibration or otherwise, and which may lead to the failure of a steam pipe or fitting.

(5) Efficient means shall be provided for the drainage of steam pipes so as to ensure that the interior of the pipe is kept free of water, and that water hammer action will not occur under any conditions likely to arise in the course of service of the ship.

(6) Where a steam pipe is required to receive steam from a source at a higher pressure than it can withstand with an adequate factor or safety, an efficient reducing valve, relief valve, and pressure gauge shall be fitted to such pipe.

Rule 16—Air Pressure System.

(1) Where machinery essential for the propulsion and safety of the ship or persons on board is required to be started, operated or controlled solely by compressed air, an efficient air system shall be provided which shall include a sufficient number of air compressors and compressed air storage vessels to ensure that an adequate supply of  compressed air available under all conditions likely to be met in service.

(2) Parts of every such compressed air system, other than a pneumatic control system, which are subjected to air pressure shall be designed and constructed so as to withstand with an adequate factor of safety, the maximum working stresses to which they may be subjected.

(3) Every air pressure pipe or fitting in such system shall, before being put into service for the first time, be subjected to a hydraulic test of twice its maximum pressure.

(4) Every such air pressure pipe or fitting shall be maintained in an efficient condition.

(5) Means shall be provided to prevent over-pressure in any part of such compressed air system and adequate pressure relief arrangements shall be provided where water jackets or casings of air compressors and coolers might be subjected to dangerous over-pressure, due to leakage into them from air pressure parts.

(6) In every compressed air system, provision shall be made for —

(a) reducing to a minimum, the entry of oil into the system;

(b) draining the system; and

(c) for protecting the system from the effects of internal explosion.

(7) In every compressed air system, discharge pipes from starting air compressors shall lead directly to the starting air receivers  and all starting pipes from the air receivers leading to main or auxiliary engines, shall be entirely separate from the compressor discharge pipe system.

Rule 17—Cooling Water System.

At least two means of operating the cooling water services shall be provided in every ship in which cooling water services are essential for the running of the propelling machinery.

Rule 18—Lubricating and other Oil Systems.

In every ship in which oil is circulated under pressure for the lubrication, cooling or operation of the main propelling machinery and its auxiliary services, provision shall be made for an alternative means of circulating such oil in the event of the failure of a pump.

Rule 19—Oil and Gaseous Fuel Installations.

(1) Oil fuel provided for use in boilers or machinery shall have a flash point less than 150º F (closed test):

Provided that the Commissioner may, subject to such conditions as he may impose—

(a) permit any ship to use fuel having a flash point of not less than 130º F in boilers or not less than 110º F in internal combustion type machinery, and

(b) permit the use of gaseous fuel in ships designed for the carriage of liquefied gas, if such fuel results solely from the evaporation of cargo carried.

(2) Nothing in this rule shall apply to fuel provided for the machinery operating the emergency source of electric power required under rules 5 (3) (b) and 6 (3) of these Rules.

(3) Where oil or gaseous fuel is used, the arrangements for the storage, distribution and utilization of the fuel shall be such that, having regard to the hazards of fire and explosion which the use of such fuel may entail, the safety of the ship and of persons on board is preserved.

(4) In every ship in which oil or gaseous fuel is used in engines or boilers for the propulsion or safety of the ship, the arrangements for the storage, distribution and utilisation of the fuel shall be such that the effective use of the engines can be maintained under all conditions in the ship's service.

(5) Every oil fuel installation which serves a boiler supplying steam for the propulsion of the ship shall include not less than two oil fuel units.

Rule 20—Communication Between Bridge and Engine Room.

Every ship shall be provided with two means of communicating orders from the navigating bridge to the engine room control platform and one of the means shall be an engine room telegraph.

Rule 21—Steering Gear.

(1) Every ship shall be provided with an efficient main and auxiliary steering gear:

Provided that if the duplicate steering gear power units and their connections are fitted to the satisfaction of the Commissioner and each such power unit complies with the requirements of sub-rules (2) (e) and (3) of this rule and the duplicate units and connections operating together comply with the requirements of sub-rule (2) (c) and (d) of this rule, the Commissioner may dispense with the requirements of providing an auxiliary steering gear on any ship.

(2)  In every ship —

(a) the main steering gear including the rudder and associated fittings, shall be of adequate strength and sufficient to steer the ship at maximum service speed;

(b) the main steering gear and rudder stock shall be so designed that they are not damaged at maximum astern speed;

(c) the main steering gear shall be capable of putting the rudder over from 35º on one side to 35º on the other side with the ship running ahead at maximum service speed.

(d) the rudder shall be capable of being put over from 35º on either side to 30º on the other side in 28 seconds at maximum service speed;

(e) the auxiliary steering gear shall be capable of being brought rapidly into action and shall be of adequate strength and sufficient power to enable the ship to be steered at navigable speed.

(3) Where a rudder stock of over 14 inches diameter in way of the tiller is required in order to comply with the requirements of clause (a) of sub-rule (2) of this rule, the auxiliary steering gear shall be operated by power.

(4) In every ship which is fitted with a power operated steering gear, the position of the rudder shall be indicated at the principal steering station.

Rule 22—Spare Gear.

Every ship shall be provided with such spare gear, as the Commissioner may determine, having regard to the intended service of the ship.

Rule 23—Compasses.

(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (4) of this rule, every ship shall be provided with two efficient  magnetic compasses which shall be mounted in binnacles and sited on the ship's centre line.

(2) One of such compasses shall be provided for use as a standard compass and shall be sited near the normal steering position and in a position from which the view of the horizon is least obstructed.

(3) The other compass shall  be used as a steering compass and shall be sited at the normal steering position except where the projected or reflected image of the standard magnetic compass provided for this purpose or gyro-compass, or a repeater from a gyro or transmitting magnetic compass is positioned near the normal steering position. In such a case, the second magnetic compass, mounted in a binnacle or on a pedestal, may be fitted at the emergency steering position.

(4) Where there is no emergency steering position, two magnetic compasses and binnacles shall not be required provided that the ship is equipped with a standard projector magnetic compass and a gyro-compass with repeaters and provided also that a spare magnetic compass bowl with its gimbal units is carried on board so that it may be interchanged with the standard compass if that compass should become unserviceable.

Rule 24—Anchors and Chain Cables.

Every ship shall be provided with such anchors, chain cables and hawsers as are sufficient in number, weight and strength, having regard to the size and the intended service of the ship.

Rule 25—Means of Escape.

(1) In every ship stairways and ladderways shall be arranged so as to provide an easy means of escape to the lifeboat embarkation deck from all crew spaces, and other spaces in which the crew are employed.

(2) Two means of escape shall be provided from each engine room, shaft tunnel and boiler room as widely separated from each other as practicable.

(3) One of these may be watertight door if such a door is available as a means of escape, and where no such watertight door is available, the two means of escape shall consist of two sets of steel ladders leading to separate doors in the casing or elsewhere from which there is access to the lifeboat or liferaft embarkation on deck or decks.

(4) The Commissioner may exempt any ship of less than 2,000 tons gross from the requirements of sub-rules (2) and (3).

Rule 26—Means of Stopping Certain Machinery.

(1) In every ship, means shall be provided for stopping ventilating fans fitted in the machinery, accommodation and cargo spaces.

(2) Means shall be provided for closing all skylights, doorways, ventilators, annular spaces around funnels and other openings to machinery and cargo spaces.

(3) Such means shall be capable of being operated from positions outside the said spaces which would not become inaccessible by a fire within such spaces.

(4) In every ship machinery driven forced and induced draught fans, oil fuel transfer pumps, oil fuel units pumps and other similar fuel pumps, shall be fitted with remote controls situated outside the spaces in which such machinery or pumps are situated.

(5) Such controls shall be capable of stopping the machinery or pumps in the event of fire in the spaces.

(6) Every pipe connected to any oil fuel storage, setting or daily service tank other than a double bottom tank, shall be fitted with a valve or cock which shall be secured to the tank to which it is connected, and shall be capable of being closed from a position outside the space in which the tank is situated:

Provided that where any inlet pipe is fitted to such a tank, a non-return valve similarly secured to the tank may be substituted for the valve or cock required under this sub-rule.

(7) Every pipe connected to an oil fuel deep tank transversed by any shaft or pipe tunnel, in addition to the valve to be fitted to the tank under the requirements of sub-rule (6) this rule, may be fitted with a valve on the pipe line outside the tunnel, to enable control to be exercised in the event of fire.

Rule 27—Survey of Ships Before Issue of Convention Certificates.

(1) The owner of every ship shall cause his ship to be surveyed by a surveyor for the purpose of the issue of a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate. The certificate shall be issued for a period of four years subject to compliance with the provisions of rule 28 of these Rules.

(2) The surveyor shall survey the ship and satisfy himself that the arrangements, materials and scantlings of structure, boilers and other pressure vessels and their appurtenances (other than domestic boilere), main and auxiliary machinery, electrical installations and other equipment comply with the requirements of these Rules, and are in respects satisfactory for the services for which the ship is intended, having regard to the period for which a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate is to be issued.

Rule 28—Intermediate Surveys.

(1) The owner of every ship in respect of which a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate has been issued shall, as long as that certificate remains in force, cause the ship to be surveyed in the manner and at the intervals specified in sub-rule (2) this rule, to determine whether the ship is complying with the requirements of the certificate.

(2) The surveys to be carried out under sub-rule (1) of this rule shall be as follows:—

(a) the hull and ship's side fastenings shall be examined in dry dock at intervals not exceeding two years, and the ship's side fittings shall be thoroughly examined at intervals not exceeding four years;

(b) all boilers, other than domestic boilers, including exhaust gas or steam heated steam generators and economisers shall be examined internally and externally at intervals not exceeding two years until they are eight years old after which they shall be examined annually;

(c) screw shafts and tube shafts fitted with continuous liners or running in oil shall be withdrawn and surveyed at intervals not exceeding three years. All other screws and tube shafts shall withdrawn and surveyed at intervals not exceeding two years.

(3) The surveyor shall survey the ship with a view to satisfying himself that:

(a) the parts of the ship and the equipment specified in sub-rule (2) of this rule, as are subject to the survey are efficient and no material alterations have been made in the hull, machinery or equipment of the ship to which the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate relates.

(4) If the surveyor is satisfied, he may allow the Certificate to remain to in force or he may cancel it as he thinks fit.

Rule 29—Application.

Unless the context otherwise provides, these Rules shall apply to:

(a) sea-going cargo ships registered in Ghana of not less than 500 tons gross, other than fishing vessels;

(b) sea-going cargo ships not registered in Ghana of not less than 500 tons gross, other than fishing vessels, when they are at a port or place in Ghana or within the territorial waters thereof:

Provided that these Rules shall not apply to a ship other than a Ghanaian ship, by reason of her being within a port in Ghana if she would not have been in such port, but for the stress of weather or any other circumstances that neither the master not the owner nor the charterer, if any, of the ship could have prevented or forestalled.

Rule 30—Exemption.

The Commissioner may, on the application of a shipowner, and subject to such conditions as he may think fit, exempt any ship the keel of which was laid prior to the 26th May, 1965 from compliance with any of these Rules.

Rule 31—Interpretation.

In these Rule unless the context otherwise requires —

" B Class panel " means a panel which complies with the requirements of rule 9 of these Rules;

" bulkhead deck " means the uppermost deck up to which the transverse watertight bulkheads are carried;

" combustible material " means any material which is not an incombustible material;

" control station " means spaces in which radio equipment, main navigating equipment, central fire recording equipment or the emergency generator are located;

" equivalent material " means, in relation to steel, any material which by itself or due to insulation provided, has structural and integrity properties equivalent to steel at the end of an appropriate fire test;

" incombustible material " means material which neither burns nor gives off inflammable vapours in sufficient quality to ignite at a pilot flame when heated up to approximately 1,382º F ;

" machinery control room " means a room from which the propelling machinery and boilers serving the needs of propulsion may be controlled;

" machinery space " means any space used for propelling, auxiliary or refrigerating machinery, boilers, pumps, engineer's workshop, generators ventilation or air-conditioning machinery, oil filling stations and similar spaces and trunks to such spaces;

" maximum service speed " means the greatest speed which the ship is designed to maintain to sea at its deepest sea-going draft;

" standard fire test " means a test in which a specimen of the material to be tested, with a surface area of not less than 50 square feet, and height not less than 8 feet, is exposed in a test furnace to a series of time temperature relationships, approximately as follows:—

(a) at the end of the first five minutes — 1,000º F

(b) at the end of the first ten minutes — 1,300º F

(c) at the end of the first thirty minutes — 1,550º F

(d) at the end of the first sixty minutes — 1,700º F

" steering gear power unit " means—

(a) in the case of electric steering gear —

     the electric motor and its associated electrical equipment;

(b) in the case of electro hydraulic steering gear—

     the electric motor, its associated electrical equipment an connected pump;

(c) in the case of steam hydraulic or pneumatic hydraulic steering gear —

     the driving engine and connected pump.

Rule 32—Penalties.

The owner of a ship who contravenes any of the provisions of these Rules shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred cedis and the master of the ship shall liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred cedis.

COLONEL P.K. AGYEKUM

Commissioner Responsible for Shipping

Date of Gazette Notification: 2nd August, 1974.