(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, which amend the Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1984, give effect to the amendments to Chapter II-I of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) which were adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organisation on 25th May 1990 by Resolution MSC 19(58).
The Regulations require ships of 100 metres in length or more, which are constructed after 1st February 1992, to comply with subdivision and stability requirements based on the probabilistic concept of survival. The Regulations do not apply to ships which comply with the subdivision and stability requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Load Lines) Rules 1968 relating to Type "A' and certain Type "B' ships or with the subdivision and stability requirements of any one of five codes for special types of ship adopted by the International Maritime Organisation. They also require stability information based on those requirements to be provided on board the ship.
The Regulations also include requirements relating to the number and type of openings in internal and external boundaries of watertight compartments and the means of closing them.
The method of calculating the Subdivision Indices and “EXPLANATORY NOTES” are contained in Merchant Shipping Notice No. M 1476. These “EXPLANATORY NOTES” have been developed by the International Maritime Organisation in order to ensure the uniform application of the amendments.
M Notices maybe obtained from the Department of Transport’s Marine Library, at Sunley House, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LP, or from the Department’s Marine Offices. Copies of the text of the Amendments to Chapter II-I of SOLAS, and of the Codes referred to in new regulation 8B of the 1984 Regulation, may be obtained from the International Maritime Organisation, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR.