all accesses which lead to spaces below the bulkhead deck shall be made weathertight and means shall be provided on the navigation bridge, which will indicate whether the access is open or closed;

all such accesses shall be closed before the ship leaves the berth on any voyage and shall remain closed until the ship is at its next berth;

notwithstanding the requirements of sub-paragraph (b), accesses may be opened for a period sufficient to allow through passage on the express authority of the master, if this is required for the essential working of the ship; and

the requirements of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) shall apply not later than the date of the first periodic survey after 1st July 1997, or the date on which these Regulations come into force whichever is later.

subject to the provisions of sub-paragraphs (b) and (c), all accesses that lead to spaces below the bulkhead deck shall have a lowest point which is not less than 2.5 metres above the bulkhead deck in way of that opening;

where vehicle ramps are installed to give access to spaces below the bulkhead deck, their openings shall be capable of being closed weathertight to prevent ingress of water below, alarmed and indicated to the navigation bridge;

accesses, not complying with sub-paragraph (a), leading to spaces below the bulkhead deck, which are essential for the proper working of the ship, e.g. those required for the movement of stores, may be permitted subject to being made weathertight, alarmed and indicated to the navigation bridge;

the accesses referred to in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) shall be closed before the ship leaves the berth on any voyage and shall remain closed until the ship is at its next berth;

the master shall ensure that an effective system of supervision and reporting of the closing and opening of such accesses referred to in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) is implemented; and

the master shall ensure, before the ship leaves the berth on any voyage, that an entry in the log-book, as required by F1regulation 34, is made of the time of the last closing of the accesses referred to in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c).