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30.—(1) Every tanker of Class VII(T) of 20,000 tons or over constructed or adapted and used to carry crude oil and petroleum products having a closed flashpoint not exceeding 60°C, and Reid vapour pressure below atmospheric pressure, and other liquids having a similar fire hazard, shall be provided with an inert gas system complying with the standard requirements contained in Schedule 9 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666.
(2) A tanker referred to in paragraph (1) need not be provided with the standard requirements for an inert gas system if—
(a)being a chemical tanker carrying as cargo any substance mentioned in paragraph (1), it is provided with an inert gas system complying with the alternative requirements for chemical tankers contained in Schedule 10 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666;
(b)being a chemical tanker constructed before 1st July 1986 and carrying crude oil or petroleum products, it is provided with an inert gas system complying with the alternative requirements for chemical tankers applicable to it contained in Schedule 10 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666;
(c)being a gas carrier carrying as cargo a substance mentioned in paragraph (1), it is provided with cargo tank inerting arrangements equivalent to those specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b);
(d)being a chemical tanker or gas carrier constructed before 1st July 1986, it is carrying a flammable cargo other than crude oil or petroleum products; or
(e)being a chemical tanker or gas carrier constructed on or after 1st July 1986 and carrying a flammable cargo other than crude oil or petroleum products, it complies with the following requirements, that is to say—
(i)that the capacity of each tank used for carriage of that cargo does not exceed 3,000 cubic metres;
(ii)that the capacity of each nozzle of a tank washing machine does not exceed 17.5 cubic metres per hour; and
(iii)that the total combined throughput from all such machines in use in a cargo tank at any time does not exceed 110 cubic metres per hour.
In sub-paragraphs (d) and (e), the references to a flammable cargo other than crude oil or petroleum products includes (without prejudice to the generality of those references) references to any of the cargoes listed in Chapters 17 and 18 of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk.
(3) (a) Every inert gas system provided in accordance with this regulation shall be designed, constructed and tested to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State. It shall be designed and operated so as to render and keep the atmosphere of the cargo tanks including the slop tanks non-flammable at all times, except where such tanks are to be gas free.
(b)In the event that the inert gas system is unable to meet the operational requirement set out above and it has been assessed that it is impractical to effect a repair, then cargo discharge, deballasting and necessary tank cleaning may only be resumed when the emergency procedures laid down in the Guidelines for Inert Gas Systems are complied with.
(c)Where inert gas is being supplied by a system referred to in this regulation, and the oxygen content of the inert gas in the inert gas supply main exceeds 8 per cent by volume, it shall be the duty of the master to ensure that:
(i)immediate action is taken to improve the gas quality;
(ii)if the quality of the gas does not improve, all operations in those tanks to which the inert gas is being supplied are suspended so as to avoid air being drawn into those tanks;
(iii)the deck isolation valve (not being the water-seal device) is closed; and
(iv)sub-standard gas is vented to the atmosphere.
(4) (a) Every tanker of Class VII(T) of less than 20,000 tonnes deadweight operating with a tank cleaning procedure using crude oil washing, shall be fitted with an inert gas system complying with the standard requirements contained in Schedule 9 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666.
(b)Every tanker of Class VII(T) operating with a tank cleaning procedure using crude oil washing shall be provided with fixed tank washing machines only.
(5) Every tanker of Class VII(T) fitted with a fixed inert gas system shall be provided with a closed ullage system.
(6) Combination carriers shall not carry solid cargoes unless all cargo tanks are empty of crude oil and other petroleum products having a closed flash point not exceeding 60°C and other liquids having a similar fire hazard and are gas freed or unless the arrangements provided in each case are in accordance with the relevant operational requirements contained in the Guidelines for Inert Gas Systems.
(7) Tankers constructed before 25th May 1980 of less than 40,000 tons deadweight carrying oil other than crude oil or other liquids having a similar fire hazard which are not fitted with tank washing machines having an individual throughput greater than 60 cubic metres shall not be required to be fitted with an inert gas system.
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