The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship) (Bilge Alarm) Regulations 2021

Bilge water level detectors and alarms

4.—(1) A ship to which these Regulations apply must, at its effective date, have a bilge water level detector installed in—

(a) any engine room; and

(b) any other space where bilge water is likely to accumulate.

(2) A bilge water level detector referred to in paragraph (1) must sound an audible alarm which meets the requirements of paragraph (3)—

(a) at the control position, immediately upon the bilge water reaching the relevant level; and

(b) in all accommodation spaces, if the alarm has not been switched off at the control position after 30 seconds of the bilge water reaching the relevant level.

(3) The alarm must sound at a volume which—

(a) in the case of the control position, will be heard; and

(b) in the case of an accommodation space, is capable of waking a sleeping person,

in all of the weather and operational conditions reasonably anticipated to be applicable to that ship.

(4) Where a ship is fitted with more than one bilge water level detector, there must be a visual alarm at the control position which shows which of the bilge water level detectors has detected water reaching the relevant level.

(5) The bilge water level detectors and associated alarms required by this regulation must be able to continue to operate when the ship’s main power supply is not in operation.

(6) In this regulation—

“accommodation space” means a space used as a public space, corridor, lavatory, cabin, office, hospital, cinema, games and hobby room, barber shop, pantry without cooking appliances or any similar space;

“bilge water” means any water or other liquids that collect in the bilge;

“bilge water level detector” means a device which detects the level of bilge water in the bilge;

“control position” means the area from which the command and navigation of the ship is carried out;

“effective date” means—

(a)

in the case of a new ship, the date that these Regulations come into force; and

(b)

in the case of any other ship to which these Regulations apply, the first anniversary of the date that these Regulations come into force;

“new ship” means a ship the keel of which is laid, or which is at a similar stage of construction, on or after the date on which these Regulations come into force;

“relevant level” means a level of bilge water that—

(a)

is the maximum level that may be reached before the buoyancy and stability of the ship is threatened; and

(b)

provides reasonable time for persons on board the ship to take action to prevent the buoyancy and stability of that ship being compromised;

“similar stage of construction” means the stage at which—

(a)

construction identifiable with a particular ship begins; and

(b)

assembly of that ship has commenced comprising at least 50 tonnes or one per cent of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is the less.