Merchant Shipping (Safety And Load Line Conventions) Act 1932

Regulation X U.K.

Openings in Ship’s Sides below the Margin Line U.K.

(1)

The arrangement and efficiency of the means for closing any opening in the ship’s sides shall be consistent with its intended purpose and the position in which it is fitted and generally to the satisfaction of the Administration.

(2) (a) If in a between decks, the sills of any sidescuttles are below a line drawn parallel to the bulkhead deck at side and having its lowest point 2½ per cent. of the breadth of the ship above the deepest subdivision loadline, all sidescuttles in that between deck shall be of a non-opening type.

(b) If in a between decks, the sills of any sidescuttles other than those required to be of a non-opening type by sub-paragraph (a) are below a line drawn parallel to the bulkhead deck at side and having its lowest point at a height of 12 feet (3.66 metres) plus 2½ per cent. of the breadth of the ship above the deepest subdivision loadline, all sidescuttles in that between decks shall be of such construction as will effectively prevent any person opening them without the consent of the master of the ship.

(c) Other sidescuttles may be of any ordinary opening type.

(d) If in a between decks, the sills of any of the sidescuttles referred to in sub-paragraph (b) are below a line drawn parallel to the bulkhead deck at side and having its lowest point 4½ feet (1.37 metres), plus 2½ per cent. of the breadth of the ship above the loadline at which the ship is floating on her departure from any port, all the sidescuttles in that between decks shall be closed watertight and locked before the ship leaves port and they shall not be opened during navigation.

The time of opening such sidescuttles in port and of closing and locking them before the ship leaves port shall be entered in the official log book.

The Administration may indicate the limiting means draught at which these sidescuttles will have their sills above the line defined in this paragraph and at which it will be permissible to open them at sea on the responsibility of the master. In tropical waters in fair weather this limiting draught may be increased by 1 foot (.305 metres).

(3)

Efficient hinged inside deadlights arranged so that they can be easily and effectively closed and secured watertight shall be fitted to all sidescuttles—

(a)

which are required to be of a non-opening type;

(b)

which are to be fitted within one-eighth of the ship’s length of the forward perpendicular;

(c)

which are to be fitted in positions defined in sub-paragraph (2) (b);

(d)

which will not be accessible during navigation;

(e)

which are to be fitted in spaces intended for the accommodation of sailors and firemen;

(f)

which are to be fitted in spaces intended for the accommodation of steerage passengers.

(4)

Sidescuttles fitted below the bulkhead deck, other than those referred to in the preceding paragraph, shall be fitted with efficient inside deadlights which may be portable and stowed adjacent to the sidescuttles.

(5)

Sidescuttles and their deadlights, which will not be accessible during navigation, shall be closed and secured before the ship proceeds to sea.

(6)

No sidescuttles shall be fitted in any spaces which are appropriated exclusively to the carriage of cargo or coal.

(7)

Automatic ventilating sidescuttles shall not be fitted in the ship’s sides below the margin line without the special sanction of the Administration.

(8)

All machinery and other inlets and discharges in the ship’s sides shall be arranged so as to prevent the accidental admission of water into the ship.

(9)

The number of scuppers, sanitary discharges and other similar openings in the ship’s sides shall be reduced to the minimum either by making each discharge serve for as many as possible of the sanitary and other pipes, or in any other satisfactory manner.

(10)

Discharges led through the ship’s sides from spaces below the margin line shall be fitted with efficient and accessible means for preventing water from passing inboard. It is permissible to have for each separate discharge either one automatic non-return valve fitted with a positive means of closing it from above the bulkhead deck, or alternatively, two automatic non-return valves without such means, the upper of which valves is so situated above the deepest subdivision loadline as to be always accessible for examination under service conditions.

Where a positive action valve is fitted, the operating position above the bulkhead deck shall always be readily accessible and means shall be provided for indicating whether the valve is open or closed.

(11)

Gangway, cargo and coaling ports fitted below the margin line shall be of sufficient strength. They shall be effectively closed and secured watertight before the ship leaves port, and shall be kept closed during navigation.

Cargo and coaling ports which are to be fitted partly or entirely below the deepest subdivision loadline shall receive the special consideration of the Administration.

(12)

The inboard opening of each ash-shoot, rubbish-shoot, &c., shall be fitted with an efficient cover.

If the inboard opening is situated below the margin line, the cover shall be watertight, and in addition an automatic non-return valve shall be fitted in the shoot in an easily accessible position above the deepest subdivision loadline. When the shoot is not in use both the cover and the valve shall be kept closed and secured.