Applicable to yachts which are 24 metres and over in load line length, are in commercial use for sport or pleasure, do not carry cargo and do not carry more than 12 passengers.
2
DEFINITIONS
(Note – where a definition is not contained within this Code, guidance should be taken from meanings given within the International Conventions)
‘Administration’ with regard to this Code means the Government of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly.
‘Aiming Circle’ (Touchdown/positioning marking) The aiming point for a normal landing, so designed that the pilot’s seat can be placed directly above it in any direction with assured main and tail rotor clearances.
‘Approved’ in respect to materials or equipment means approved by the Administration or approved by an Administration or organisation which is formally recognised by the Administration.
‘Authorised surveyor’ means a surveyor who by reason of professional qualifications, practical experience and expertise is authorised by the Administration to carry out the survey required for the vessel.
‘Aviation Inspection Body’ Body delegated the responsibility of inspecting helicopter landing areas by the Administration. The verification process will include inspection, certification and, where necessary, the application of appropriate operational limitations.
‘Buoyant lifeline’ means a line complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘Cargo’ means an item(s) of value that is carried from one place and discharged at another place and for which either a charge or no charge is made and is not for use exclusively onboard the vessel.
‘Commercial vessel’ means a vessel which is not a pleasure vessel.
‘Control stations’ are those spaces in which the ship's radio or main navigating equipment or the emergency source of power are located or where the fire recording or fire control equipment is centralised.
‘Design Waterline’ Deepest loaded draught.
‘D-Value’ The largest overall dimension of the helicopter when rotors are turning. This dimension will normally be measured from the most forward position of the main rotor tip path plane to the most rearward position of the tail rotor tip path plane (or the most rearward extension of the fuselage in the case of Fenestron or Notar tails).
‘D-Circle’ A circle, usually imaginary unless the helicopter landing area itself is circular, the diameter of which is the D-Value of the largest helicopter the landing area is intended to serve. This will not be the case for landing areas of less than 1D width. For landing areas of less than 1D width, the edges of the imaginary D circle, may extend beyond the edge of the load bearing area by up to 0.085D on either side at the mid point.
‘Efficient’ in relation to a fitting, piece of equipment or material means that all reasonable and practicable measures have been taken to ensure that it is suitable for the purpose for which it is intended to be used.
‘Embarkation ladder’ means a ladder complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘Emergency source of electrical power’ is a source of electrical power, intended to supply the emergency switchboard in the event of failure of the supply from the main source of electrical power.
‘Emergency switchboard’ is a switchboard which in the event of failure of the main electrical power supply system is directly supplied by the emergency source of electrical power or the transitional source of emergency power and is intended to distribute electrical energy to the emergency services.
‘EPIRB’ means a satellite emergency position-indicating radio beacon, being an earth station in the mobile-satellite service, the emissions of which are intended to facilitate search and rescue operations, complying with performance standards adopted by the IMO contained in either Resolution A.810(19) or Resolution A.812(19) and Resolution A.662(16), or any Resolution amending or replacing these from time to time and which is considered by the Administration to be relevant, and is capable of:
(a)floating free and automatically activating if the ship sinks;
relaties0
‘Existing vessel’ means any vessel, the keel of which was laid or was at a similar stage of construction prior to the 1st October 2013 or the date of entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 if that be sooner.
‘Float-free launching’ means that method of launching a liferaft whereby the liferaft is automatically released from a sinking ship and is ready for use, complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘FOD’ Foreign Object Debris.
‘Freeboard’ has the meaning given in annex I of ICLL. The freeboard assigned is the distance measured vertically downwards amidships from the upper edge of the deck line to the upper edge of the related load line.
‘Freeboard deck’ has the meaning given in annex I of ICLL. The freeboard deck is normally the uppermost complete deck exposed to the weather and sea, which has permanent means of closing all openings in the weather part thereof, and below which all openings in the sides of the ship are fitted with permanent means of watertight closing.
In a ship having a discontinuous freeboard deck, the lowest line of the exposed deck and the continuation of that line parallel to the upper part of the deck is taken as the freeboard deck.
At the option of the owner and subject to the approval of the Administration, a lower deck may be designated as the freeboard deck provided it is a complete and permanent deck continuous in a fore and aft direction at least between the machinery space and peak bulkheads and continuous athwart ships.
When a lower deck is designated as the freeboard deck, that part of the hull which extends above the freeboard deck is treated as a superstructure so far as concerns the application of the conditions of assignment and the calculation of freeboard. It is from this deck that the freeboard is calculated.
‘Garbage’ means all kinds of victual, domestic and operational waste excluding fresh fish and parts thereof, generated during the normal operation of the vessel and liable to be disposed of continuously or periodically, except sewage originating from vessels.
‘Hazardous space’ means a space or compartment in which combustible or explosive gases or vapours are liable to accumulate in dangerous concentrations.
‘ICAO’ International Civil Aviation Organization.
‘ICLL’ means the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, as amended.
‘IMO’ means the International Maritime Organization, a specialised agency of the United Nations devoted to maritime affairs.
‘Inflatable lifejacket’ means a lifejacket complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘Jet A1 Fuel’ also known as kerosene. It is used as a fuel for modern jet and turboprop engines. It consists primarily of hydrocarbon compounds, but other additives are present to increase safety. International regulations stipulate uniform standards for the quality and composition of kerosene.
‘Landing Area’ A generic term referring to any area primarily intended for the landing or take-off of aircraft.
‘Instructions for on-board maintenance’ means the instructions complying with the requirements of SOLAS III/Part B – Life Saving Appliances and Arrangements, Regulation 36.
‘Launching appliance’ means a provision complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code for safely transferring a lifeboat, rescue boat, or liferaft respectively, from its stowed position to the water and recovery where applicable.
‘Length’ means 96% of the total length on a waterline of a ship at 85% of the least moulded depth measured from the top of the keel, or the length from the fore-side of the stem to the axis of the rudder stock on that waterline, if that be greater. In ships designed with a rake of keel the waterline on which this is measured should be parallel to the designed waterline.4
‘Lifeboat’ means a lifeboat complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘Lifebuoy’ means a lifebuoy complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘Lifejacket’ means a lifejacket complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Cod.
‘Liferaft’ means a liferaft complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘Line throwing appliance’ means an appliance complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘LOS’ Limited Obstacle Sector. The 150° sector within which obstacles may be permitted, provided the height of the obstacles is limited.
‘Low flame spread’ means that the surface thus described will adequately restrict the spread of flame, this being determined to the satisfaction of the Administration by an established procedure.
‘Machinery spaces’ are all machinery spaces of category A and all other spaces containing propelling machinery, boilers, oil fuel units, steam and internal combustion engines, generators and major electrical machinery, oil filling stations, refrigerating, stabilizing, ventilation and air conditioning machinery, and similar spaces, and trunks to such spaces.
‘Machinery spaces of category A’ are those spaces and trunks to such spaces which contain:
(a)internal combustion machinery used for main propulsion; or
(b)internal combustion machinery used for purposes other than main propulsion where such machinery has in the aggregate a total power output of not less then 375Kw; or
(c)any oil-fired boiler or oil fuel unit.
‘Main source of electrical power’ is a source intended to supply electrical power to the main switchboard for distribution to all services necessary for maintaining the ship in normal operation and habitable condition.
‘Main switchboard’ is a switchboard which is directly supplied by the main source of electrical power and is intended to distribute electrical energy to the ship's services.
‘Main vertical zone’ means those sections into which the hull, superstructure and deckhouses are divided by A class divisions, the mean length of which on any deck does not normally exceed 40 metres.
‘MARPOL’ means the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as amended.
‘Major conversion’ means a conversion of a vessel:
(a)that substantially alters the dimensions of a vessel;
(b)which changes the type of the vessel;
(c)the intent of which in the opinion of the Administration is substantially to prolong its life;
(d)which otherwise so alters the ship that, if it were a new vessel, it would become subject to relevant provisions of the present code not applicable to it as an existing vessel.
relaties0
‘Maritime & Coastguard Agency’ (MCA) means the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, an executive agency of the United Kingdom Department for Transport.
‘Merchant Shipping Notice’ (MSN) means a Notice described as such and issued by the MCA and reference to a specific Merchant Shipping Notice includes reference to any Merchant Shipping Notice amending or replacing that Notice which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time and is specified in a Merchant Shipping Notice.
‘Mile’ means a nautical mile of 1852 metres.
‘Motor vessel’ means a vessel which is described in the register and on the certificate of registry as such, and which has a sole means of propulsion either one or more power units.
‘Multihull vessel’ means any vessel which in any normally achievable operating trim or heel angle, has a rigid hull structure which penetrates the surface of the sea over more than one separate or discrete area.
‘New vessel’ means a vessel to which this Code applies, the keel of which was laid or was at a similar stage of construction on or after the 1st October 2013 or the date of entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 if that be sooner.
‘Not readily ignitable’ means that the surface thus described will not continue to burn for more than 20 seconds after removal of a suitable impinging test flame.
‘Officer’ means
(a)any seafarer who is required to be qualified under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW Convention); or
(b)any other seafarer considered by the owner/managing agent to be an officer.
‘OFS’ Obstacle-Free Sector. The 210° sector, extending outwards to a distance that will allow for an unobstructed departure path appropriate to the helicopter that the landing area is intended to serve, within which no obstacles above helideck level are permitted.
‘Owner(s)/managing agent(s)’ means the registered owner(s) or the owner(s) or the managing agent(s) of the registered owner(s) or the owner(s) or owner(s) ipso facto, as the case may be.
‘Passenger’ means any person carried in a ship except:
(a)a person employed or engaged in any capacity on board the ship on the business of the ship;
(b)a person on board the ship either in pursuance of the obligation laid upon the master to carry shipwrecked, distressed or other persons, or by reason of any circumstances that neither the master nor the owner nor the charterer (if any) could have prevented; and
(c)a child under one year of age.
‘Passenger ship’ means a ship carrying more than 12 passengers. ‘Person’ means a person over the age of one year.
‘Pleasure vessel’ means a vessel so defined by the Administration (see National Annex).
‘Position 1’ means upon exposed freeboard and raised quarter decks, and upon exposed superstructure decks situated forward of a point located a quarter of the ship's length from the forward perpendicular.
‘Position 2’ means upon exposed superstructure decks situated abaft a quarter of the ship’s length from the forward perpendicular.
‘Radar transponder’ means a radar transponder for use in survival craft to facilitate location of survival craft in search and rescue operations.
‘Recess’ means an indentation or depression in a deck and which is surrounded by the deck and has no boundary common with the shell of the vessel.
‘Rescue boat’ means a boat complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code and designed to rescue persons in distress and for marshalling liferafts.
‘Retro-reflective material’ means a material which reflects in the opposite direction a beam of light directed on it.
‘Rocket parachute flare’ means a pyrotechnic signal complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘Safe haven’ means a harbour or shelter of any kind which affords entry, subject to prudence in the weather conditions prevailing, and protection from the force of the weather.
‘Sailing vessel’ means a vessel designed to carry sail, whether as a sole means of propulsion or as a supplementary means.
‘Sail training vessel’ means a sailing vessel which, at the time, is being used either:
a)to provide instruction in the principles of responsibility, resourcefulness, loyalty and team endeavour and to advance education in the art of seamanship; or
b)to provide instruction in navigation and seamanship for yachtsmen;
‘Seafarer’ means any person who is employed or engaged or works in any capacity on board a ship. (See National Annex for interpretation)
‘Self-activating smoke signal’ means a signal complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘Self-igniting light’ means a light complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘Short Range Yacht’ means a vessel under 500GT the keel of which was laid or was at a similar stage of construction prior to the 1st August 2005 or a new vessel constructed on or after that date under 300GT:
•restricted to operating in forecast or actual wind of a maximum Beaufort Force 4, for a motor yacht, and Beaufort Force 6 for a sailing yacht;
•within 60 nautical miles of a safe haven. (The Administration may permit operation on specified routes up to 90 nautical miles from a safe haven as appropriate).
‘Similar stage of construction’ means at a stage which:
(a)construction identifiable with a specific vessel begins; and
(b)assembly of that vessel, comprising at least 1% of the estimated mass of all structural material has commenced.
In the case of vessels constructed of FRP or GRP this will be considered as the date when more than 5% of the hull resin and reinforcement has been laid.
‘SLA’ Safe Landing Area. The area bounded by the perimeter line and perimeter lighting. The construction of the OFS and LOS segments (see below) should ensure that the main rotor will not risk conflict with obstacles when the nose of the helicopter is butted-up to, but not projecting over, the perimeter line. Thus the pilot, when landing in unusual circumstances, has confidence that he can touch down provided that all wheels are within the SLA and the nose of the helicopter is not projecting over the nearest perimeter line ahead. However, only correct positioning over the aiming circle (see ‘Aiming Circle’ above) will ensure proper clearance with respect to physical obstacles, provision of ground effect, and provision of adequate passenger access/egress.
‘SOLAS’ means the International Convention of Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.
‘SOLAS A pack’ means a liferaft emergency pack complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘SOLAS B pack’ means a liferaft emergency pack complying with the requirements of the IMO International Life-Saving Appliances Code.
‘Standard fire test’ means a test in which specimens of the relevant bulkheads, decks or other constructions are exposed in a test furnace by a specified test method in accordance with the IMO Fire Test Procedures Code.
‘Submersible Craft’ means any description of manned mobile submersible apparatus which is designed to maintain some or all of its occupants at or near atmospheric pressure including free, self-propelled, tethered, towed or bottom contact propelled apparatus and atmospheric diving suits. A diving bell is not a submersible craft for the purposes of these Regulations; and ‘diving bell’ means any compression chamber which is capable of being manned and is used or designed for use under the surface of water in supporting human life being a chamber in which any occupant is or may be subjected to a pressure of more than 300 millibars above atmospheric pressure during normal operation;
‘Superstructure’ has the meaning given in annex I to ICLL.
‘Survival craft’ means a craft capable of sustaining the lives of persons in distress from the time of abandoning the ship.
‘Trainee’
A trainee SHOULD:
1.Be engaged for the sole purpose of:
(a)obtaining instruction in the principles of responsibility, resourcefulness, loyalty and team endeavour; and/or
relaties0 (b)instruction in navigation and seamanship, marine engineering or other shipboard related skills.
relaties0
relaties0 2.Be considered to form part of a ‘trainee voyage crew'; and
relaties0 3.Participate in the operation of the vessel to the best of his or her ability. A trainee
SHOULD NOT:
1.be part of the crew for the purpose of safe manning or have any safety critical duties;
relaties0 2.have any employment contract or any employment relationship with the owner or operator of the vessel;
relaties0 3.receive any remuneration for his/her activities on board;
relaties0 4.be considered to be a seaman or seafarer; and
relaties0
relaties0
*Note - the fact that a trainee(s) may contribute towards the cost of their welfare whilst on board should not imply that they are passengers.
The Minimum age of trainees should be an issue for the National Marine Administration and requirements should be as indicated in the National Annex.
Training organisations wishing to operate training vessels carrying more than 12 trainees should comply with the requirements of the National Marine Administration as indicated in the National Annex.
‘Training manual’ with regard to life-saving appliances means a manual complying with the requirements of SOLAS III/Part B – Life Saving Appliances and Arrangements, Regulation 35.
‘Training Vessel’ Training Vessel which may be either a sailing or motor vessel, means a vessel which is operated to provide:
a)instruction in the principles of responsibility, resourcefulness, loyalty and team endeavour; and/or
b)instruction in navigation and seamanship, marine engineering or other shipboard related skills.
The vessel must be properly and safely manned at all times, both at sea and if necessary in port, by a sufficient number of experienced and competent personnel to ensure that trainees are adequately supervised giving particular consideration to the number, age and sex of the trainees.
All training should be properly organised with clearly detailed objectives and outcomes.
‘Two-way VHF radiotelephone set’ means a portable or a fixed VHF installation for survival craft complying with the performance standards adopted by the IMO contained in A.762(18) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Administration to be relevant from time to time.
‘Voyage’ includes an excursion.
‘Watertight’ means capable of preventing the passage of water in any direction.
‘Weather deck’ means the uppermost complete weather tight deck fitted as an integral part of the vessel's structure and which is exposed to the sea and weather.
‘Weathertight’ has the meaning given in annex I of ICLL. Weathertight means that in any sea conditions water will not penetrate into the ship.
‘Wheelhouse’ means the control position occupied by the officer of the watch who is responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel.
‘Window’ means a ship's window, being any window, regardless of shape, suitable for installation aboard ships.