Load Line Regulations
SCHEDULE 1(Paragraphs 17(1)(a) and 18(a))Conditions of Assignment — Diamond Load Lines
Interpretation
1 The following definitions apply in this Schedule.
- breadth
breadth means the maximum breadth of a vessel, measured amidships to
(a) in a vessel with metal shell plating, the moulded line of the frame; or
(b) in any other case, the outer surface of the shell plating. (largeur)
- efficiently constructed
efficiently constructed means designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the requirements of a classification society. (de construction efficace)
- enclosed superstructure
enclosed superstructure means a superstructure that is efficiently constructed and weathertight. (superstructure fermée)
- forward perpendicular
forward perpendicular means the perpendicular taken at the forward end of the length of a vessel and coinciding with the fore side of the stem on the waterline on which the length is measured. (perpendiculaire avant)
- height of the superstructure
height of the superstructure means the least vertical height measured at the side from the top of the superstructure deck beams to the top of the freeboard deck beams. (hauteur de la superstructure)
- Position 1
Position 1 means a position exposed to weather and sea on
(a) the freeboard deck or a raised quarter-deck;
(b) a superstructure deck or a trunk deck forward of a point one-quarter of the vessel’s length from the forward perpendicular; or
(c) a trunk deck that is less than standard height above the freeboard deck. (emplacement de la catégorie 1)
- Position 2
Position 2 means a position exposed to weather and sea on
(a) a superstructure deck aft of a point one-quarter of the vessel’s length from the forward perpendicular; or
(b) a trunk deck whose height is equal to or greater than standard height above the freeboard deck and aft of a point one-quarter of the vessel’s length from the forward perpendicular. (emplacement de la catégorie 2)
- standard height
standard height or Hs means 1.80 m + L/300. (hauteur normale ou Hs)
- standard sheer
standard sheer means standard sheer as determined in accordance with regulation 38(8) of Annex I to the 1966 Convention. (tonture normale)
- Type A vessel
Type A vessel means a vessel in which
(a) no cargo ports or similar shell openings are below the freeboard deck;
(b) there are only small main deck openings fitted with efficiently constructed watertight hatchway covers;
(c) no dimension of a main deck cargo opening is greater than 1.9 m and the total area of each main deck cargo opening does not exceed 1.7 m2; and
(d) there are no more than two main deck cargo openings to a single cargo space. (bâtiment du type A)
- Type B vessel
Type B vessel means a vessel that is not a Type A vessel. (bâtiment du type B)
- weathertight
weathertight means designed to prevent water from penetrating a vessel in any sea condition. (étanche aux intempéries)
Stability and other Information
2 A vessel that carries bulk or liquid cargo shall carry the information required by regulation 7.2 of Chapter VI of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 and the Protocol of 1988 relating to that Convention, as amended from time to time.
Access Openings
3 Access openings in bulkheads at the ends of enclosed superstructures shall
(a) be fitted with efficiently constructed weathertight doors that are permanently attached to the bulkhead so that the whole structure is at least equivalent in strength to a bulkhead with no openings;
(b) have means for securing the doors weathertight that are permanently attached to the bulkhead or the doors and are operable from both sides of the bulkhead; and
(c) have sills at least 300 mm above the deck.
Hatchways
4 (1) Hatchways shall have efficiently constructed coamings
(a) at least 460 mm above the deck, in the case of coamings in Position 1; or
(b) at least 300 mm above the deck, in the case of coamings in Position 2.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the hatchway is fitted with a watertight cover.
(3) Except for open-hopper dredges, hatchways in Position 1 or Position 2 shall be fitted with efficiently constructed weathertight hatchway covers.
(4) If weathertight covers on hatchways are made of mild steel, the maximum allowable stress shall be calculated using the following loads:
(a) in the case of vessels that are 110 m in length or over, a load not less than 12 kPa on hatchways in Position 1 and not less than 9.6 kPa on hatchways in Position 2;
(b) in the case of vessels that are 24 m in length, a load not less than 9.6 kPa on hatchways in Position 1 and not less than 7.2 kPa on hatchways in Position 2; and
(c) in the case of vessels of intermediate length, a load obtained by interpolation from the loads referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b).
(5) The maximum allowable stress calculated for the loads in subsection (4) shall not exceed the minimum ultimate strength of the material using a safety factor of 4.25.
(6) Hatchway covers in Position 1 or Position 2 shall be so designed as to limit deflection to not more than 0.0028 times the span under the loads referred to in subsection (4). Mild steel plating that forms the tops of the covers shall not be thinner than one per cent of the spacing between stiffeners or 6 mm, whichever is greater.
(7) Coamings and hatchway covers of exposed hatchways on decks above the superstructure deck shall be efficiently constructed.
(8) The strength and stiffness of hatchway covers made of materials other than mild steel shall be at least equivalent to those of mild steel.
(9) The means for securing and maintaining the weathertightness of hatchway covers shall be such that the weathertightness can be maintained in any sea conditions.
Cargo Ports and other Similar Openings
5 (1) Cargo ports and other similar openings in the shell of a vessel below the freeboard deck shall be fitted with watertight doors that are as strong as the structure to which they are attached.
(2) Cargo ports and other similar openings above the freeboard deck shall be fitted with weathertight doors that are as strong as the structure to which they are attached.
(3) The lower edges of cargo ports and other similar openings shall not be below a line drawn parallel to the freeboard deck at side that has the upper edge of the uppermost load line at its lowest point.
Machinery Space Openings
6 (1) Machinery space openings in Position 1 or Position 2 shall be enclosed by efficiently constructed steel casings.
(2) Access openings in the casings required by subsection (1) shall
(a) be fitted with efficiently constructed weathertight covers that are permanently attached and operable from both sides of the opening and have their lower edge at least 300 mm above the deck;
(b) if the opening is a doorway, meet the requirements set out in section 3; or
(c) if the opening is a funnel or machinery space ventilator that needs to be kept open for the essential operation of the vessel, be fitted with a coaming at a height above the deck of at least
(i) 3.8 m in Position 1, or
(ii) 1.8 m in Position 2.
Air Pipes
7 (1) If air pipes to tanks extend above the freeboard deck or superstructure decks, the exposed parts of the pipes shall be efficiently constructed and the height from the deck to the point on the pipe where water may downflood shall be at least 760 mm on the freeboard deck, 600 mm on raised quarter-decks and 300 mm on other superstructure decks.
(2) Air pipes shall be fitted with permanently attached means of closing.
Ventilators
8 (1) Ventilators and their coamings in Position 1 or Position 2 serving spaces below freeboard decks, decks of enclosed superstructures or trunk decks shall be efficiently constructed.
(2) The height of ventilator coamings shall be at least 760 mm above the deck in Position 1 and at least 600 mm above the deck in Position 2.
(3) Ventilator openings shall have permanently attached weathertight means of closing.
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply in respect of ventilators in Position 1 with coamings that extend 3.8 m or more above the deck or to ventilators in Position 2 with coamings that extend 1.8 m or more above the deck.
Side Scuttles
9 (1) Side scuttles to spaces below the freeboard deck or to spaces within enclosed superstructures shall be fitted with hinged inside deadlights so that they can be closed watertight.
(2) The sill of each side scuttle shall be above a line that is drawn parallel to the freeboard deck at side and has its lowest point 2.5 % of the breadth above the summer fresh water load line or 500 mm above that line, whichever is the greater distance.
(3) The side scuttles and deadlights shall be efficiently constructed.
Miscellaneous Openings in Freeboard, Superstructure and Trunk Decks
10 (1) Manholes and flush scuttles in Position 1 or Position 2 or within a superstructure other than an enclosed superstructure shall have watertight covers.
(2) Openings in freeboard decks other than hatchways, machinery space openings, manholes and flush scuttles shall be protected by
(a) an enclosed superstructure; or
(b) an efficiently constructed and weathertight deckhouse or companionway.
(3) Openings in an exposed part of a superstructure deck or in the top of a deckhouse on the freeboard deck that give access to a space below the freeboard deck or within an enclosed superstructure shall be protected in accordance with subsection (2).
Freeing Ports
11 (1) This section applies in respect of wells that could collect water and are formed by bulwarks on the weather parts of the freeboard deck or superstructure decks.
(2) If the sheer in way of the well is standard sheer or greater than standard sheer, drainage shall be provided by way of freeing ports with an area on each side of the vessel of at least
(a) “A” for each well on the freeboard deck or on the raised quarter-deck; and
(b) one-half of “A” for each well on superstructure decks other than raised quarter-decks.
(3) The value of “A” is calculated in square metres as follows:
(a) if the length of the bulwark in way of the well is 20 m or less, 0.7 plus 0.035 times the length of that bulwark; and
(b) in any other case, 0.07 times the lesser of
(i) the length of the bulwark in way of the well, and
(ii) 70 per cent of the length of the vessel.
(4) The freeing port area required by subsection (2) shall be increased by 0.04 m2 per metre of length of the well for each metre that the height of the bulwark exceeds
(a) 600 mm, in the case of vessels that are 73 m in length or less;
(b) 1 200 mm, in the case of vessels that are 146 m in length or more; and
(c) in the case of vessels that are of intermediate length, the height obtained by linear interpolation between the heights set out in paragraphs (a) and (b).
(5) In the case of vessels greater than 146 m in length with an average height of bulwark of less than 900 mm, the freeing port area required by subsections (2) and (4) shall be decreased by 0.04 m2 per metre of length of well for each metre by which the average height of the bulwark is less than 900 mm.
(6) The freeing port area required by subsections (2), (4) and (5) shall be increased by
(a) in the case of vessels with no sheer, 50 per cent;
(b) in the case of vessels with standard sheer, zero per cent; and
(c) in the case of vessels with less than standard sheer, the percentage obtained by linear interpolation between the percentages set out in paragraphs (a) and (b).
(7) If a vessel does not have guardrails in way of a trunk on an exposed part of the freeboard deck or has continuous hatchway side coamings between detached superstructures, the freeing port area shall be at least
(a) 20 per cent of the total area of the bulwarks if the breadth of the trunk or hatchways is 40 per cent or less of the breadth of the vessel;
(b) 10 per cent of the total area of the bulwarks if the breadth of the trunk or hatchways is 75 per cent or more of the breadth of the vessel; and
(c) the percentage of the total area of the bulwarks obtained by linear interpolation between the percentages set out in paragraphs (a) and (b) if the breadth of the trunk or hatchways is more than 40 per cent but less than 75 per cent of the breadth of the vessel.
(8) In superstructures that are open at either or both ends, the minimum freeing port area in way of wells shall be determined in accordance with the recommendation set out in interpretation LL.60 of the Unified interpretations of the provisions of the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966.
(9) The lower edges of the freeing ports shall be as near the deck as practicable.
(10) Two thirds of the required freeing port area for each well shall be located in the half of the well nearest the lowest point of the sheer curve.
(11) Shutters that are fitted to freeing ports shall have
(a) ample clearance to prevent jamming; and
(b) hinges that have pins or bearings of material that is resistant to corrosion.
Scuppers, Drains, Inlets and Discharges
12 (1) Every discharge pipe passing through the shell from spaces below the freeboard deck shall have
(a) an automatic non-return valve fitted at the shell with a positive means of closing that is operable
(i) from above the freeboard deck, or
(ii) from a readily accessible location if the discharge originates in a space that is crewed or equipped with a means of continuously monitoring the level of bilge water; or
(b) two automatic non-return valves, one of which is fitted at the shell and one inboard that is accessible for examination when the vessel is in service.
(2) Every discharge pipe that passes through the shell from within an enclosed superstructure, or from within a deckhouse or companionway required by subsection 10(2), shall
(a) meet the requirements set out in paragraph (1)(a) or (b); or
(b) have an automatic non-return valve fitted at the shell, if the discharge originates in a space that is regularly visited by the crew.
(3) Every scupper, drain or discharge pipe that passes through the shell above the summer fresh water load line at a distance that is less than the greater of 5 per cent of the breadth and 600 mm shall have an automatic non-return valve fitted at the shell.
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply in respect of a scupper, drain or discharge pipe that originates above the freeboard deck if the part of the pipe that is between the shell and the freeboard deck is efficiently constructed.
(5) Every scupper pipe that leads from a superstructure other than an enclosed superstructure, a deckhouse or a companionway required by subsection 10(2) shall drain overboard.
(6) In crewed machinery spaces, every main and auxiliary sea inlet and discharge necessary for the operation of machinery shall have a valve with a positive means of closing that can be controlled locally.
(7) The valves required by this section to have positive means of closing shall have indicators at the operating position to show whether the valve is open or closed.
(8) The pipes to which this section refers shall be efficiently constructed.
(9) The shell fittings and the valves required by this section shall be efficiently constructed.
Protection of the Crew
13 (1) The deckhouses used for the accommodation of the crew shall be efficiently constructed.
(2) All exposed parts of the freeboard and superstructure decks shall be fitted with guardrails or bulwarks that are at least 900 mm in height.
(3) Guardrails shall be fitted
(a) in at least three courses in which the space between the lowest course and the deck does not exceed 230 mm and the other courses are not spaced more than 380 mm apart; or
(b) if the sheer strake projects at least 200 mm above the deck, in at least two courses in which the space between the lower course and the sheer strake or the upper course does not exceed 380 mm.
(4) Guardrail supports shall be placed on the flat of the deck on vessels with rounded gunwales.
(5) Vessels shall have lifelines, gangways or underdeck passages for the protection of the crew while passing to and from their accommodation spaces, the machinery space and all other spaces used in the normal operation of the vessel.
(6) Whenever bulkhead openings are closed, other access shall be provided for the crew to reach accommodation spaces or machinery or other working spaces in enclosed superstructures that are bridges or poops.
(7) If an exposed part of a freeboard deck is in way of a trunk, guardrails that meet the requirements of subsection (3) shall be fitted for one-half the length of the exposed part.
Special Conditions of Assignment for Type A Vessels
14 Type A vessels shall meet the following requirements:
(a) machinery casings shall have bulkheads with no openings on all sides on the freeboard deck unless
(i) the casings are protected by an enclosed poop or bridge or efficiently constructed deckhouse of at least standard height, or
(ii) the openings meet the requirements set out in section 3 and lead to a space or passageway that is as strong as the casing and from which a second interior access opening that meets the requirements set out in section 3 is provided for access to the engine room;
(b) unless there is fore and aft access below the freeboard deck, a permanent fore and aft gangway shall be fitted at the superstructure deck level between the poop and all other deckhouses used in the normal operation of the vessel;
(c) hatchways on the exposed freeboard or forecastle deck shall have efficiently constructed watertight covers;
(d) vessels shall have guardrails fitted for at least half the length of the exposed parts of the weather deck; and
(e) if superstructures are connected by trunks, guardrails shall be fitted for the whole length of the exposed parts of the freeboard deck.
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