The Merchant Shipping (Closing of Openings in Enclosed Superstructures and in Bulkheads above the Bulkhead Deck) Regulations 1988

Citation, interpretation and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Closing of Openings in Enclosed Superstructures and in Bulkheads above the Bulkhead Deck) Regulations 1988 and shall come into force on 9th March 1988, except for regulation 8(2) which shall come into force on 1st November 1988.

(2) In these Regulations the following expressions have the following meanings respectively unless the context otherwise requires:

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

“doors” includes bow visors and appliances described in regulation 2(1)(c);

“enclosed superstructure” means a superstructure:—

(a)

which has enclosing bulkheads of efficient construction in which all access openings are fitted with sills and weathertight doors, and

(b)

in which all other openings in the sides or ends or superstructure deck thereof are fitted with efficient weathertight means of closing;

“length” means the ship’s overall length;

“loading doors” means the doors described in regulation 2(1)(a) to (d) inclusive;

“locked” means secured by a device which prevents unauthorised operation;

“margin line” has the same meaning as in the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1984(1)

“passenger ship” means a ship carrying more than 12 passengers and propelled by electricity or other mechanical power;

“required to be watertight” and“required to be weathertight” mean required by the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1984 or the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) Regulations 1980(2) to be watertight or weathertight as the case may be;

“ro/ro passenger ship” means a passenger ship provided with cargo or vehicle spaces in which vehicles or cargo can be loaded or unloaded in a horizontal direction;

“superstructure” means a decked structure situated on or above the bulkhead deck which either extends from side to side of the ship or is such that its side plating is not inboard of the shell plating of the ship by more than 4 per cent of the breadth of the ship and, where the bulkhead deck of the ship consists of a lower deck, includes that part of the hull of the ship which extends above the bulkhead deck;

“superstructure deck” means a deck forming the top of a superstructure;

“United Kingdom passenger ship” means a passenger ship which is a United Kingdom ship;

“watertight” and“weathertight” have the same meanings as in the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1984 and the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) Regulations 1980.

(3) A voyage for the purpose of these Regulations commences when a ship leaves its berth or anchorage at a port.

(4) For the purpose of these Regulations a door shall be deemed to be above the margin line if the sill of the opening with which it is associated is above that line.

(5) Where a ship is managed by a person other than its owner (whether on behalf of the owner or some other person, or on his own behalf), a reference in these Regulations to the owner shall be construed as including a reference to that person.

(6) These Regulations apply to United Kingdom ro/ro passenger ships.

(7) A reference in these Regulations to a numbered regulation is a reference to the regulation of that number in these Regulations.

(8) Any approval given pursuant to these Regulations shall be given in writing and shall specify the date when it is to come into force and the conditions (if any) on which it is given.

(1)

S.I. 1984/1216, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(2)

S.I. 1980/535, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.