The Merchant Shipping (Inspections of Ro-Ro Passenger Ships and High-Speed Passenger Craft) Regulations 2023

Part 2 Procedures for inspections

International convention requirements

3.—(1) An inspection must ensure that the ship complies with all relevant statutory requirements, including in particular, those relating to—

(a) construction;

(b) subdivision and stability;

(c) machinery and electrical installations;

(d) loading and stability;

(e) fire protection;

(f) maximum number of passengers;

(g) life-saving appliances;

(h) the carriage of dangerous goods, and

(i) radiocommunications and navigation.

(2) An inspection must include—

(a) the starting of the emergency generator;

(b) an inspection of emergency lighting;

(c) an inspection of the emergency source of power for radio-installations;

(d) a test of the public-address system;

(e) a fire drill, including a demonstration of the ability to use firemen’s outfits;

(f) the operation of the emergency fire-pump with two firehoses connected to the fire main line in operation;

(g) the testing of the remote emergency stop controls for fuel supply to boilers, main and auxiliary engines, and for ventilation fans;

(h) the testing of remote and local controls for the closing of fire dampers;

(i) the testing of fire detection and alarm systems;

(j) the testing of proper closing of fire doors;

(k) the operation of bilge pumps;

(l) the closing of watertight bulkhead doors, both from the local and remote-control positions;

(m) a demonstration that shows that key crew members are acquainted with the damage control plan;

(n) the lowering of at least one rescue boat and one lifeboat to the water, starting and testing their propulsion and steering system, and recovering them from the water into their stowed position on board;

(o) checking that all lifeboats and rescue boats correspond to the inventory;

(p) the testing of the ship’s steering gear and auxiliary steering gear.

(3) The inspection must assess the familiarisation of crew members with, and their effectiveness in—

(a) safety procedures,

(b) emergency procedures,

(c) maintenance,

(d) working practices,

(e) passenger safety,

(f) bridge procedures, and

(g) cargo and vehicle-related operations.

(4) Seafarers’ ability to understand and, where appropriate, give orders and instructions and report back in the common working language, as recorded in the ship’s logbook, must be checked.

(5) The documented evidence that crew members have successfully followed special training must be checked, in particular with regard to—

(a) crowd-management training,

(b) familiarisation training,

(c) safety training for personnel providing direct safety assistance to passengers in passenger spaces, and in particular to elderly and disabled persons in an emergency, and

(d) crisis management and human behaviour training.

(6) The inspection must include an assessment of whether rostering patterns are causing unreasonable fatigue, particularly for watch-keeping personnel.

(7) A check of the Certificate of competency for each member of the crew serving on board the ship to ensure that the individual complies with the relevant requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2022(1).

(1)

S.I. 2022/1342.