S.I. No. 424/2001 - Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Rules, 2001

ARRANGEMENT OF RULES

PART I Preliminary and General

1.

2.

3.

4.

PART II Surveys and Certificates

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

PART III Load Lines and Marks

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

PART IV Conditions of Assignment

22.

23.

24.

PART V Freeboards

25.

26.

27.

28.

PART VI Information for the Master

29.

30.

PART VII Equivalents

31.

List of Schedules

Schedule 1:	Appropriate load lines and seasonal zones, area and periods	Appropriate load lines and seasonal zones, area and periods
Schedule 2:	Conditions of assignment	Conditions of assignment
	Part I	Ships in general
	Part II	Special requirements applicable to type “A” ships
	Part III	Special requirements applicable to Type “B” ships
	Part IV	Special requirements applicable to ships assigned timber freeboards
	Part V	General
Schedule 3:	Record of particulars	Record of particulars
Schedule 4:	Freeboards	Freeboards
	Part I	Freeboards other than timber freeboards
	Part II	Timber Freeboards
	Part III	Sailing ships and other ships
Schedule 5:	Freeboard Tables	Freeboard Tables
Schedule 6:	Information as to stability	Information as to stability
Schedule 7:	Notice of load lines to be posted up before sailing	Notice of load lines to be posted up before sailing
Schedule 8:	Form of Irish Load Line Certificates	Form of Irish Load Line Certificates

S.I. No. 424 of 2001

Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Rules, 2001

I, Frank Fahey, Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by Sections 3 and 29 of the Merchant Shipping (Load Lines) Act, 1968 (No. 17 of 1968) and the Communications (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1987 ( S.I. No. 91 of 1987 ) as adapted by the Marine (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1997 ( S.I. No. 301 of 1997 ) and having had regard to the Convention of 1966, as amended by the Protocol of 1988, hereby make the following Rules;-

PART I PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL

1. These Rules may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Rules, 2001.

2. - (1) In these Rules -

“the 1966 Convention” means the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966

“the 1988 Protocol” means the Protocol of 1988 relating to the 1966 Convention;

“alteration” includes deterioration;

“amidships” in relation to a ship means the middle of the ship's length (L);

“anniversary date” in relation to a certificate means the day and the month of each year which corresponds to the date of expiry of the certificate;

“appropriate certificate” means

• (a) in the case of a Convention-size ship, an International Load Line Certificate or an International Load Line Certificate (1966), and

• (b) in the case of any other ship, an Irish Load Line Certificate;

“appropriate load line” means the load line directed to be marked on a ship pursuant to rule 5(2)(b), or in the case of a ship not surveyed under these Rules, pursuant to an International Load Line Certificate or International Load Line Certificate (1966) which is in force, indicating the maximum depth to which the ship may be loaded in salt water in a particular zone or area and seasonal period;

“appropriate marks” means the appropriate load lines, the deck-line and load line mark;

“Assigning Authority” means the Minister or any person or organisation authorised by the Minister for the purposes of these Rules;

“clearance” includes transire;

“Conditions of assignment” means the conditions relating to construction, arrangement and stability with which a ship must comply in order to be assigned freeboards;

“Convention-size” in relation to a ship, means in the case of an existing ship, of not less than 150 gross tons and in the case of a new ship, of not less than 24 metres in length;

“exclusive surveyor” means a surveyor appointed by and working exclusively for an Assigning Authority;

“Exemption Certificate” means an International Load Line Exemption Certificate or an Irish Load Line Exemption Certificate;

“existing ship” means a ship which is not a new ship;

“freeboard” means the distance measured vertically downwards at amidships from the upper edge of the deck-line described in rule 13 to the position at which the upper edge of the load line appropriate to the freeboard is to be marked;

“freeboard deck” means the deck from which the freeboards assigned to the ship are calculated, being -

• (a) the uppermost complete deck exposed to weather and sea, which has permanent means of closing all openings open to the weather, and below which all openings in the sides of the ship are fitted with permanent means of watertight closing; or

• (b) at the request of the owner and subject to the approval of the Minister, a deck lower than that described in subparagraph (a) above, it being a complete and permanent deck which is continuous both in a fore and aft direction at least between the machinery space and peak bulkheads of the ship, and athwartships,

a deck which is stepped being taken to consist for this purpose of the lowest line of the deck and the continuation of that line parallel to the upper part of the deck;

“International Loadline Certificate” means an International Load Line Certificate issued under the 1966 Convention as amended by the 1988 Protocol;

“International Loadline Certificate (1966)” means an International Loadline Certificate issued under the 1966 Convention before the relevant entry into force date (if any);

“International Load Line Exemption Certificate” means an International Load Line Certificate issued under the 1966 Convention as amended by the 1988 Protocol;

“International Load Line Exemption Certificate (1966)” means an International Load Line Exemption Certificate issued under the 1966 Convention before the relevant entry into force date (if any)”,

“International voyage” means a voyage between -

• (a) a port in the State and a port outside the State; or

• (b) a port in a Convention country (other than the State) and a port in any other country or territory (whether a Convention country or not) which is outside the State;

“Irish Load Line Certificate” means a certificate issued under rule 7(1) other than an International Load Line Certificate;

“Irish Load Line Exemption Certificate” means a certificate issued under rule 10(2);

“Length” means 96% of the total length on a waterline at 85% of the least moulded depth measured from the top of the keel, or as the length from the fore-side of the stem to the axis of the rudder stock on that waterline, if that be greater. Where the stem contour is concave above the waterline at 85% of the least moulded depth, both the forward terminal of the total length and the fore-side of the stem respectively shall be taken at the vertical projection to that waterline of the aftermost point of the stem contour (above that waterline). In ships designed with a rake of keel the waterline on which this length is measured shall be parallel to the designed waterline;

“load line” means a mark on the ship indicating the maximum depth to which a ship may be loaded;

“Marine Notice” means a Notice described as such issued by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources and which may be amended or replaced from time to time;

“material date” for the purposes of the definitions of a new and existing ship is -

• (a) in relation to a ship whose parent country is a Convention country other than Ireland, the date on which the 1966 Convention entered into force for that country; and

• (b) in relation to any other ship, the 4th October 1968;

“mean freeboard” means the arithmetic mean of the freeboard measured on each side of the ship;

“mean draught” means the mean of the draughts shown on the scales of measurement on the stem and on the stem post of the ship, and

“Minister” means the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources;

“moulded depth” in relation to a ship means the vertical distance measured from the top of the keel to the top of the freeboard deck beam at side, except that -

• (a) in the case of a wood or composite ship, it shall be measured from the lower edge of the keel rabbet;

• (b) if the form at the lower part of the midship section of the ship is of a hollow character or if thick garboards are fitted, it shall be measured from the point where the line of the flat of the bottom continued inwards cuts the side of the keel;

• (c) in the case of a ship having rounded gunwales it shall be measured to the point of intersection of the moulded lines of the deck and side shell plating, the lines extending as though the gunwale were of angular design; and

• (d) if the freeboard deck is stepped and the raised part of the deck extends over the point at which the moulded depth is to be determined, it shall be measured to a line of reference extending from the lower part of the deck along a line parallel to the raised part of the deck;

“near-coastal voyage” means any voyage which is not an international voyage;

“new ship” means a ship whose keel was laid, or which was at a similar stage of construction, on or after the material date.

“non-Irish ship” means any ship other than an Irish ship within the meaning of section (9) of the Mercantile Marine Act, 1955 ;

“parent country”, in relation to a ship, means the country or territory in which the ship is registered or, if the ship is not registered anywhere, it means the country or territory whose flag the ship flies;

“Principal Act” means the Merchant Shipping (Load Lines) Act, 1968 (No. 17 of 1968);

“rake of keel” means the inclination of the keel to a horizontal baseline;

“relevant entry into force date” means the date when the 1988 Protocol enters into force in respect of the Government of the parent country of the ship in question;

“sailing ship” means a ship designed to carry sail, whether as the sole means of propulsion, or as a supplementary means;

“sea” does not include smooth or partially smooth waters;

“smooth or partially smooth waters” means waters which are defined as such in schedule 14 of S.I. 380 of 1993;

“surveyor” means a surveyor of ships appointed by the Minister or an exclusive surveyor of any other Assigning Authority;

“valid Convention certificate” means -

• (a) an International Load Line Certificate (1966) or an International Load Line exemption Certificate (1966), which is in force, or

• (b) an International Load Line Certificate or an International Load Line Exemption Certificate, which is in force;

“watertight” in relation to any part of the ship, means capable of preventing the passage of water in any direction.

• (2) In these Rules -

• (a) a reference to a numbered Part is, unless otherwise stated, a reference to the Part of that number in these Rules;

• (b) a reference to a numbered rule is, unless otherwise stated, a reference to the rule of that number in these Rules; and

• (c) a reference in a rule to a numbered paragraph is, unless otherwise stated, a reference to the paragraph of that number in that rule.

• (3) Any approval given pursuant to these Rules shall be given in writing and shall specify the date on which it takes effect and the conditions (if any) on which it is given.

Repeals and revocations

3. The following Statutory Instruments are hereby revoked

MS (Load Lines) Rules	( S.I. No. 205 of 1968 )
MS (Load Lines) (Transitional Provisions) Regulations	( S.I. No. 207 of 1968 )
MS (Load Lines) (Length of Ship) Regulations	( S.I. No. 208 of 1968 )
MS (Load Lines) (Exemption) Order	( S.I. No. 237 of 1968 )
MS (Load Lines) (Deck Cargo) Regulations	( S.I. No. 238 of 1968 )
MS (Load Lines) (Amendment) Rules	( S.I. No. 71 of 1971 )
MS (Load Lines) (Particulars of Depth of Loading) Regulations	( S.I. No. 331 of 1974 )

Application

4. (1) These Rules apply to Irish ships wherever they may be and to other ships while they are within the State except -

• (a) ships of war;

• (b) ships solely engaged in fishing;

• (c) pleasure yachts not engaged in trade, and

• (d) ships which do not go to sea.

PART II SURVEYS AND CERTIFICATES

Assignment of freeboards

5. (1) The Assigning Authority shall assign freeboards to an Irish ship in accordance with the requirements of these Rules.

• (2) The Assigning Authority shall -

• (a) determine the particulars of the freeboards to be assigned;

• (b) determine which of the load lines described in Part III are to be marked on the sides of the ship in accordance with the requirements of that Part;

• (c) determine the position where the load lines, the deck-line and the load line mark are to be so marked; and

• (d) complete a copy of the record of particulars relating to the conditions of assignment.

• (3) Where a passenger ship is marked with subdivision load lines, and the lowest of those lines is lower than the line which is the appropriate load line then that subdivision load line shall have effect as if it is the appropriate load line for the purposes of these Rules.

Initial, renewal and annual surveys

6. (1) An Irish ship shall be subject to the surveys specified below:

• (a) An initial survey before the ship is put into service, which shall include a complete inspection of its structure and equipment as required by these Rules. This survey shall be such as to ensure that the arrangements, materials and scantlings comply fully with the requirements of these Rules.

• (b) A renewal survey at intervals not exceeding five years, except where paragraph (2)(a), (5),(6) of Rule 8 is applicable, which shall be such as to ensure that the structure, equipment, arrangements, materials and scantlings comply fully with the requirements of these Rules.

• (c) An annual survey within the period of three months before or after each anniversary date of the appropriate certificate to ensure that -

• (i) alterations have not been made to the hull or superstructures which would affect the calculations determining the position of the load line;

• (ii) the fittings and appliances for the protection of openings, guard rails, freeing ports and means of access to crew's quarters are maintained in an effective condition;

• (iii) the appropriate marks are correctly and permanently indicated; and

• (iv) information is provided in accordance with Rules 29 and 30.

• (2) The owner and master shall ensure that after any of the surveys referred to in paragraph (1) has been completed, no material alteration is made to the ship, its structure and equipment, without the approval of the Assigning Authority.

• (3) After a satisfactory annual survey referred to in paragraph (1)(c), the surveyor shall endorse the International Load Line Certificate, the International Load Line Certificate (1966) or, as the case may be, the Irish Load Line Certificate, accordingly.

Issue of appropriate certificates

7. (1) Subject to the provisions of rule 8, the Assigning Authority shall issue an International Load Line Certificate in the case of a Convention-size ship, or an Irish Load Line Certificate in the case of any other ship, which has been surveyed in accordance with these rules.

• (2) If the certificate is an International Load Line Certificate it shall be in the form prescribed by Annex III to the 1988 Protocol.

• (3) If the certificate is an Irish Load Line Certificate it shall be in the form prescribed in Schedule 8.

• (4) In the case of a ship that has transferred from the registry of the Government of another country to the Irish registry, the Assigning Authority, subject to such survey requirements it considers to be necessary may, and in the case of a ship to which Council Regulation EEC No. 613/91 applies shall, issue an International Load Line Certificate for a period to be determined by the Assigning Authority, but for not longer than the period of validity of the certificate issued by or on behalf of the Government of that other country if satisfied that -

• (a) the ship has already been subjected to satisfactory initial, renewal and annual surveys, as appropriate;

• (b) the condition of the ship, including its structure and equipment, has been maintained so as to comply with the requirements of the 1966 Convention applicable to the ship;

• (c) after any of the surveys referred to in subparagraph (a) above have been completed, no material change has been made to the ship, including its structure and equipment, subject to such surveys, without the approval of the administration of that State; and

• (d) that in the case of a ship to which Council Regulation EEC No. 613/91 applies, the intact stability information approved by or on behalf of the Government of that other country is in English and complies with the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation's Resolution A.167(ES.1 V).

Duration and extension of certificates

8. (1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (4), (5) and (6), the duration of any certificate issued under these Rules shall not exceed a period of five years beginning with the date of completion of the initial or renewal survey referred to in rule 6 (1)(a) or (b) respectively.

• (2)
• (a) When the renewal survey referred to in rule 6(1) (b) is completed within three months before the expiry of the existing certificate, the new certificate shall be valid for a period beginning with the date of completion of the renewal survey and ending on a date which does not exceed five years from the expiry of the existing certificate.

• (b) When the renewal survey referred to in rule 6(1)(b) is completed after the expiry of the existing certificate, the new certificate shall be valid for a period beginning with the date of completion of the renewal survey and ending on a date which does not exceed five years from the expiry of the previous certificate.

• (c) When the renewal survey referred to in rule 6(1)(b) is completed more than three months before the expiry of the existing certificate, the new certificate shall be valid for a period beginning with the date of completion of the renewal survey and ending on a date which does not exceed five years from the date of completion of the renewal survey.

• (3) If a certificate is issued for a period of less than five years, the Assigning Authority may extend the validity of the certificate beyond the expiry date to the maximum period specified in paragraph (1), provided that the annual surveys applicable when a certificate is issued for a period of five years are carried out as appropriate.

• (4) If, after the renewal survey, a new certificate cannot be issued to the ship before the expiry of the existing certificate, the Assigning Authority may extend the validity of the existing certificate for a period which shall not exceed five months. This extension shall be endorsed on the certificate, and shall be granted only where there have been no alterations in the structure, equipment, arrangements, materials or scantlings which affect the ship's freeboard.

• (5) If, at the time when a certificate expires, a ship is not in a port in which it is to be surveyed, the Assigning Authority may extend the validity of the certificate but this extension shall be granted only where it appears proper and reasonable to the Assigning Authority to do so for the purpose of allowing the ship to complete its voyage to the port in which it is to be surveyed. No certificate shall be extended for a period longer than three months beginning with the date of expiry, and a ship to which an extension is granted shall not, on its arrival in the port in which it is to be surveyed, be entitled by virtue of such extension to leave that port without having a new certificate. When the renewal survey is completed, the new certificate shall be valid for a period ending on a date which does not exceed five years from the expiry of the previous certificate before the extension was granted.

• (6) A certificate issued to a ship engaged on short voyages which has not been extended under paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of this rule may be extended by the Assigning Authority for a period of not more than one month beginning with the date of its expiry. When the renewal survey is completed the new certificate shall be valid for a period ending on a date which does not exceed five years from the expiry of the previous certificate before the extension is granted.

• (7) In special circumstances, as determined by the Assigning Authority, a new certificate need not be dated from the expiry of the previous certificate before the extension was granted, as required by paragraphs (2), (5) and (6). In these special circumstances, the new certificate shall be valid for a period ending on a date which is not more than five years from the date of completion of the renewal survey.

• (8) If an annual survey is completed before the period specified in rule 6(1)(c) then:

• (a) a new anniversary date shall be endorsed on a certificate which shall not be more than three months later than the date on which the annual survey was completed;

• (b) the subsequent annual survey required by rule 6(1)(c) shall be completed at the intervals prescribed by that rule using the new anniversary date;

• (c) the expiry date of the certificate may remain unchanged provided one or more annual surveys are carried out so that the maximum intervals between the surveys prescribed by rule 6(1)(c) are not exceeded.

Certificates ceasing to be valid, and surrender and cancellation of certificates

9. (1) An appropriate certificate issued in respect of an Irish ship shall cease to be valid where-

• (a) material alterations have taken place in the hull or superstructures of the ship such as would necessitate the assignment of an increased freeboard;

• (b) the fittings and appliances mentioned in rule 6(1)(c)(ii) are not maintained in an effective condition;

• (c) the certificate is not endorsed in accordance with rule 6(3) to show the ship has been surveyed in accordance with rule 6(1)(c);

• (d) the structural strength of the ship is lowered to such an extent that the ship is unsafe;

• (e) a new certificate is issued in respect of the ship; or

• (f) the ship ceases to be an Irish ship.

• (2) The Minister may cancel an appropriate certificate issued in respect of an Irish ship if he is satisfied that -

• (a) the certificate was issued on false or erroneous information;

• (b) information on the basis of which freeboards were assigned to the ship was incorrect in a material particular; or

• (c) the ship ceases to comply with the conditions of assignment relating to it.

• (3) Where the Minister proposes to cancel a certificate, he shall first notify the owner in writing, specifying the grounds for the proposed cancellation.

• (4) Subject to paragraph (5) the Minister shall not cancel the certificate until the owner has been given a reasonable opportunity to make representations, and the Minister has considered any such representation made.

• (5) Paragraph (4) shall not apply where the Minister considers that urgent safety considerations may so require.

• (6) The Minister may require any certificate issued under these Rules which has expired, ceased to be valid, or been cancelled, to be surrendered as he directs.

• (7) The requirement that the notification referred to in paragraph (3) should be in writing is satisfied where the text of the notification -

• (a) is transmitted by electronic means,

• (b) is received in legible form, and

• (c) is capable of being used for subsequent reference.

Issue of exemption certificates

10. (1) Where a ship is exempted under subsections(2) or (4) of Section 20 of the Principal Act an International Load Line Exemption Certificate in the form prescribed by Annex III to the 1988 Protocol shall be issued in respect of the ship by the Minister.

• (2) Where a ship is exempted under subsection 3 of such Section an Irish Load Line Exemption Certificate shall be issued in respect of the ship by the Minister which shall state the conditions with which the ship is to comply and shall be in the form prescribed in Schedule 8.

• (3) Except in so far as the nature or terms of any such exemption require the contrary:

• (a) the ship shall be assigned freeboards in accordance with rule 5;

• (b) shall be subject to surveys in accordance with rule 6; and

• (c) rules 6 to 9 apply in relation to the Exemption Certificate as they apply in relation to loadline line certificate,

subject to the substitution, for references in the said rules to an Assigning Authority, of references to the Minister.

Non-Irish Ships

11. (1) The Minister may, at the request of a Government of a Convention country survey a ship registered in that country and if satisfied that the requirements of the 1966 Convention, as amended by the 1988 Protocol, are complied with and that a survey has been satisfactorily completed in accordance with these Rules, issue to the ship an International Load Line Certificate and, where appropriate, endorse such certificates in accordance with the requirements of the 1966 Convention, as amended by the 1988 Protocol. A certificate issued in accordance with such a request shall contain a statement that it has been so issued and shall have the same effect as if it was issued by that Government and not by the Minister.

• (2) An Irish Load Line Certificate may be issued to a non-Irish ship which has been surveyed and marked in accordance with these Rules.

• (3) Subject to paragraph(4), a certificate issued under paragraph(2) shall be subject to the same conditions and have the same effect as a similar certificate issued to an Irish ship.

• (4) Any certificate issued under paragraph(2) in respect of a ship registered in a convention country shall be valid only so long as the ship is not plying on international voyages, and shall be cancelled by the Minister if he has reason to believe that the ship is plying on international voyages.

PART III LOAD LINES AND MARKS

Marking

12. (1) The load line directed to be marked on the ship pursuant to rule 5(2)(b), the deckline and the load line mark shall be marked by the owner on each side of the ship in accordance with the directions of the Assigning Authority and the requirements of this Part.

• (2) Where an Exemption Certificate is issued in association with the assignment of special freeboards which are less than those required by rule 26, the ship shall be marked by the owner in accordance with rule 19(4).

Deck-line

13. (1) The deck-line shall consist of a horizontal line 300 millimetres in length and 25 millimetres in width and shall be marked amidships on each side of the ship so as to indicate the position of the freeboard deck.

• (2) Subject to paragraph (3), the deck-line shall be marked in such a position on the side of the ship that its upper edge passes through the point amidships where the continuation outwards of the upper surface of the freeboard deck, or of any sheathing of that deck, intersects the outer surface of the shell of the ship as shown in Figure 1.

• (3) Where the design of the ship, or other circumstances, render it impracticable to mark the deck-line in accordance with paragraph (2) the Assigning Authority may direct that it be marked by reference to another fixed point as near as practicable to the position described in paragraph (2).

Load line mark

14. The load line mark as shown in Figure 2 shall consist of a ring 300 millimetres in outside diameter and 25 millimetres wide, intersected by a horizontal line 450 millimetres long and 25 millimetres wide the upper edge of which passes through the centre of the ring. The centre of the ring shall be marked amidships vertically below the deck-line so that, except as otherwise provided in rule 28, the distance from the centre of the ring to the upper edge of the deck-line is equal to the Summer freeboard assigned to the ship.

Load lines

15. (1) Except as otherwise provided for in paragraph (3), the load lines shown in Figure 2 shall consist of horizontal lines of 230 millimetres in length and 25 millimetres in width extending forward or abaft of a vertical line 25 millimetres in width marked 540 millimetres forward of the centre of the ring of the load line mark and at right angles to that line. The individual load lines shall be as follows -

• (a) the Summer load line, which shall extend forward of the said vertical line, and shall correspond horizontally with the line passing through the centre of the ring of the load line mark, and shall be marked S;

• (b) the Winter load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line, and be marked W;

• (c) the Winter North Atlantic load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line, and be marked WNA;

• (d) the Tropical load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line, and be marked T;

• (e) the Fresh Water load line, which shall extend abaft the vertical line, and be marked F; and

• (f) the Tropical Fresh Water load line, which shall extend abaft the vertical line and be marked TF.

• (2) The maximum depth to which a ship may be loaded in relation to a load line referred to in paragraph (1) shall be the depth indicated by the upper edge of the appropriate load line.

• (3) In the case of a sailing ship -

• (a) the Summer load line shall consist of the line passing through the centre of the ring of the load line mark; and

• (b) the Winter North Atlantic load line and Fresh Water load line only shall be marked on the ship as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2: Load Line Mark and Lines to be used with this mark

Figure 2: Load Line Mark and Lines for Sailing Ships

Timber load lines

16. (1) Timber load lines shall consist of horizontal lines of the dimensions specified in respect of such lines in rule 15(1), extending abaft or forward of a vertical line 25 millimetres in width and marked 540 millimetres abaft the centre of the ring of the load line mark and at right angles to that line as shown in Figure 4 and individual Timber load lines shall be as follows -

• (a) the Summer Timber load line, which shall extend abaft the said vertical line and be marked LS;

• (b) the Winter Timber load line, which shall extend abaft the vertical line and be marked LW;

• (c) the Winter North Atlantic Timber load line, which shall extend abaft the vertical line and be marked LWNA;

• (d) the Tropical Timber load line, which shall extend abaft of the vertical line and be marked LT;

• (e) the Fresh Water Timber load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line and be marked LF; and

• (f) the Tropical Fresh Water Timber load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line and be marked LTF.

• (2) The maximum depth to which a ship may be loaded in relation to a Timber load line referred to in paragraph (1) shall be the depth indicated by the upper edge of the appropriate Timber load line.

Appropriate load line

17. The appropriate load line in respect of a ship at any particular zone or area and seasonal period shall be ascertained in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 1.

Position of load lines

18. Each load line shall be marked in such a position on each side of the ship that the distance measured vertically downwards from the upper edge of the deck-line to the upper edge of the load line is equal to the freeboard assigned to the ship which is appropriate to that load line.

Method of marking

19. (1) The appropriate marks shall be marked in such a manner as to be plainly visible.

• (2) If the sides of the ship are of metal the appropriate marks shall be cut in, centre punched or welded; if the sides of the ship are of wood the marks shall be cut into the planking to a depth of not less than 3 millimetres; if the sides are of other materials to which the foregoing methods of marking cannot effectively be applied the marks shall be permanently affixed by bonding or some other effective method.

• (3) The appropriate marks shall be painted in white or yellow if the background is dark, and in black if the background is light.

• (4) Where an Exemption Certificate is issued in association with the assignment of special freeboards which are less than those required by rule 26, the load lines and the load line mark shall be marked on the ship by being painted in red on a contrasting background and shall comply with paragraph (2) above.

Authorisation of removal, etc., of appropriate marks

20. After the appropriate marks have been made on a ship,

• (a) it shall be the duty of the owner and master to keep the ship so marked; and

• (b) the marks shall not be concealed, removed, altered, defaced or obliterated except with the authority of the Assigning Authority.

Mark of Assigning Authority

21. (1) The identity of the Assigning Authority may be marked alongside the load line ring either above the horizontal line which passes through the centre of the ring, or above and below it.

• (2) Such a mark shall consist of not more than four initials each measuring approximately 115 millimetres in height and 75 millimetres in width.

PART IV RULES AS TO CONDITIONS OF ASSIGNMENT

Requirements relevant to the assignment of freeboards

22. (1) Subject to paragraph (2), every ship to which freeboards are assigned under these Rules shall comply with the conditions of assignment applicable to that ship and set out in Schedule 2.

• (2) An existing ship may, instead of complying with the conditions of assignment referred to in paragraph (1), comply with such of the requirements relevant to the assignment of freeboards to ships as were applicable to her under the law in force immediately before the material date.

Compliance with conditions of assignment

23. (1) Except as otherwise provided for in paragraph (2), a ship will cease to comply with the conditions of assignment -

• (a) if at any time after the assignment of freeboards there has been any alteration of the hull, superstructures, fittings or appliances of the ship such that

• (i) a requirement applicable to the ship under rule 22 is not complied with; or

• (ii) it differs in a material respect from the record of particulars provided in accordance with rule 24; or

• (b) if the record of particulars is not on board in accordance with rule 24(2).

• (2) A ship shall be taken to comply with the conditions of assignment notwithstanding an alteration referred to in paragraph (1)(a) if -

• (a) amended freeboards appropriate to the condition of the ship have been assigned, the ship has been marked with these load lines and a new certificate issued to the owner of the ship accordingly; or

• (b) the alteration has been inspected by a surveyor on behalf of the Assigning Authority and that Authority is satisfied that the alteration is not such as to require any change in the freeboards assigned to the ship, and full particulars of the alteration together with the date and place of his inspection have been endorsed by the surveyor on the record referred to in rule 24(1).

Record of particulars

24. (1) The record of particulars shall be provided on the ship in a form given in Schedule 3.

• (2) The record shall be furnished by the Assigning Authority and be retained on board at all times.

PART V FREEBOARDS

Types of freeboards

25. The freeboards that can be assigned to a ship under these Rules are the Summer freeboard; Tropical freeboard; Winter freeboard; Winter North Atlantic freeboard; Fresh Water freeboard and Tropical Fresh Water freeboard. In the case of ships carrying Timber the freeboards that may be assigned are Summer Timber freeboard; Winter Timber freeboard; Winter North Atlantic Timber freeboard; Tropical Timber freeboard; Fresh Water Timber freeboard and Tropical Fresh Water Timber freeboard.

Determination of freeboards

26. (1) Except as otherwise provided for in rule 27 the freeboards assigned to a new ship shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 4.

• (2) The freeboards assigned to an existing ship shall be determined in accordance with the provisions applicable to the ship under the law in force immediately before the material date.

Provided that if an existing ship has been so constructed or modified as to comply with all the conditions of assignment set out in Schedule 2 applicable to a new ship of her type, and application is made for the assignment to her of freeboards determined in accordance with Schedule 4 such freeboards shall be assigned to her.

Greater than minimum freeboards

27. (1) A freeboard determined in accordance with rule 26 is the minimum freeboard that may be assigned to the ship.

• (2)
• (a) Subject to subparagraph (b) below the Assigning Authority may, however, if it is satisfied that the ship complies with the requirements of these Rules, assign freeboards (other than Timber freeboards) which exceed the minimum freeboards by such an amount as it may determine.

• (b) Timber freeboards shall not be assigned to a ship to which greater than minimum freeboards have been assigned.

• (3) Where a freeboard greater than the minimum is assigned to a ship and the load line appropriate to that freeboard corresponds to, or is lower than, the position at which the lowest of the load lines appropriate to minimum freeboards would be marked then -

• (a) load lines only appropriate to the greater than minimum Summer freeboard and Fresh Water freeboard shall be marked on the sides of the ship;

• (b) the load line appropriate to the greater than minimum Summer freeboard shall be known as the “All Seasons load line” and shall consist of the horizontal line intersecting the load line mark;

• (c) the vertical line described in Rule 18 shall be omitted;

• (d) subject to the provisions of subparagraph (c) above, the Fresh Water load line shall be as described in Rule 18(1) and be marked accordingly.

Special position of deck-line: correction of freeboards

28. In any ship where the deck line is marked in accordance with Rule 13(3), the freeboards assigned to the ship shall be corrected to allow for the vertical distance by which the position of the deck-line is altered by virtue of that paragraph. The reference point to which the deck-line has been so marked, and the identity of the deck which has been taken as the freeboard deck, shall be specified in the appropriate certificate issued in respect of the ship.

PART VI INFORMATION FOR THE MASTER

Information as to stability of ships

29. (1) The owner of every ship to which these Rules apply shall provide, for the guidance of the master, information relating to the stability of the ship in accordance with this Rule. The information shall be in the form of a book which shall be kept on the ship at all times in the custody of the master.

• (2) In the case of an Irish ship this information shall include all matters specified in Schedule 6 to these Rules and be in the form required by that Schedule. This information shall also be in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs (3), (4) and (5).

• (3) Subject to paragraph (4), this information shall be based on the determination of stability taken from an inclining test carried out in the presence of a surveyor appointed by the Minister in the case of a ship listed in Part II of Schedule 6 or, ships listed in paragraph (5), by the Assigning Authority. This information shall be amended whenever any alterations are made to the ship or changes occur to it which will materially affect this information and, if necessary, the ship shall be re-inclined.

• (4) The inclining test may be dispensed with if -

• (a) in the case of any ship basic stability data is available from the inclining test of a sister ship and the Minister or, it is known that in the case of a ship listed in Part II of Schedule 6 the Assigning Authority is satisfied that reliable information can be obtained from such data; and

• (b) in the case of

• (i) a ship specially designed for the carriage of liquids or ore in bulk, or

• (ii) of any class of such ships,

the information available in respect of similar ships shows that the ship's proportions and arrangements will ensure more than sufficient stability in all probable loading conditions.

• (5) Before this information is issued to the master -

• (a) if it relates to a ship which is listed in Part II of Schedule 6; it shall be approved either by the Minister or the Assigning Authority which assigned freeboards to the ship; and

• (b) if it relates to any other ship, it shall be approved by the Minister.

Information as to loading and ballasting of ships

30. (1) The owner of any ship of more than 150 metres in length specially designed for the carriage of liquids or ore in bulk shall provide, for the guidance of the master, information relating to the loading and ballasting of the ship.

• (2) This information shall indicate the maximum stresses permissible for the ship and specify the manner in which the ship is to be loaded and ballasted to avoid the creation of unacceptable stresses in its structure.

• (3) In the case of an Irish ship the provisions of rule 29(5) shall have effect in respect of information required under this rule and the information so approved shall be included in the book referred in rule 29(1).

PART VII EQUIVALENTS

Equivalents

31. The Assigning Authority may, with the approval of the Minister -

• (a) allow any fitting, material, appliance or apparatus to be fitted in a ship, or allow other provisions to be made in a ship, in the place of any fitting, material, appliance, apparatus or provision respectively which is required under any of the provisions of these Rules, if satisfied by trial or otherwise that it is at least as effective as that so required; or

• (b) allow in an exceptional case departure from the requirements of any of the said provisions on condition that the freeboards to be assigned to the ship are increased to such an extent as to satisfy the Minister that the safety of the ship and protection afforded to the crew will be no less effective than would be the case if the ship fully complied with those requirements and there were no such increase of freeboards.

SCHEDULE 1

Rule 17

APPROPRIATE LOAD LINES AND SEASONAL ZONES, AREAS AND PERIODS

Appropriate Load Lines

1. The seasonal zones, areas and periods which determine the appropriate load line in a particular sea area at a given time are set out in this Schedule and shown by way of illustration on the British Admiralty Chart No. D.6083 “Load Line Rules: Zones, Areas & Seasonal Periods, Edition No. 2”;

2. Subject to subparagraphs (d) to (g) below the load line appropriate to a ship shall be-

• (a) the Summer load line, when the ship is in a Summer Zone (excluding any part of such a zone which is a seasonal area in relation to the ship);

• (b) the Tropical load line, when the ship is in a Tropical Zone;

• (c) the Summer load line, the Winter load line or the Tropical load line, according to the season when the ship is in a seasonal zone or area (including any part of a Summer Zone which is a seasonal area in relation to the ship);

• (d) the Winter North Atlantic load line, in the case of a ship of 100 metres or less in length, when it is in the following zones during the Winter seasonal periods applicable to them -

• (i) North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone I, as set out in paragraph 4(a)

• (ii) North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, as set out in paragraph 4(b) as lies between the meridians of longitude 15°W and 50°W;

during the Winter seasonal periods applicable in those zones;

• (e) the Summer load line, in the case of a sailing ship, except in circumstances in which subparagraph (d) above applies;

• (f) an All Season load line, in the case of a ship marked in accordance with rule 27;

• (g) the Timber load line, corresponding to the seasons and zones, in the case of a ship marked with Timber load lines and carrying timber deck cargo in accordance with Part IV of Schedule 2.

Ports on Boundary Lines

3. For the purpose of applying the provisions of this Schedule to a ship at a port which stands on the boundary line between two zones or areas or between a zone and an area, or which is required by this Schedule to be considered as being on such a boundary line, the port shall be deemed to be within the zone or area into which the ship is about to proceed from which she has arrived as the case may be.

Zones, Areas and Seasonal Periods

NORTHERN WINTER SEASONAL ZONES AND AREA

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zones I and II

4. (a) The North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone I lies within the meridian of longitude 50°W from the coast of Greenland to latitude 45°N, thence the parallel of latitude 45°N to longitude 15°W, thence the meridian of longitude 15°W to latitude 60°N, thence the parallel of latitude 60°N to the Greenwich Meridian, thence this meridian northwards.

Seasonal periods:

WINTER:	16th October to 15th April.
SUMMER:	16th April to 15th October.

• (b) The North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II lies within the meridian of longitude 68°30'W from the coast of the United States to latitude 40°N, thence the rhumb line to the point latitude 36°N longitude 73°W thence the parallel of latitude 36°N to longitude 25°W and thence the rhumb line to Cape Torinana.

Excluded from this zone are the North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone I, the North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Area and the Baltic Sea bounded by the parallel of latitude of The Skaw in the Skagerrak.

The Shetland Islands are to be considered as being on the boundary line between the North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zones I and II.

Seasonal periods:

WINTER:	1st November to 31st March.
SUMMER:	1st April to 31st October.

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Area

5. The boundary of the North Atlantic winter Seasonal Area is -

the meridian of longitude 68°30'W from the coast of the United States to latitude 40°N, thence the rhumb line to the southernmost intersection of the meridian of longitude 61°W with the coast of Canada and thence the east coasts of Canada and the United States.

Seasonal periods:

For ships over 100 metres in length:

WINTER:	16th December to 15th February.
SUMMER:	16th February to 15th December.

For ships of 100 metres or less in length:

WINTER:	1st November to 31st March.
SUMMER:	1st April to 31st October.

North Pacific Winter Seasonal Zone

6. The southern boundary of the North Pacific Winter Seasonal Zone is -

the parallel of latitude 50°N from the east coast of the Russian Federation to the west coast of Sakhalin, thence the west coast of Sakhalin to the southern extremity of Cape Krilon, thence the rhumb line to Wakkanai, Hokkaido, Japan, thence the east and south coasts of Hokkaido to longitude 145°E, thence the meridian of longitude 145°E to latitude 35°N, thence the parallel of latitude 35°N to longitude 150°W and thence the rhumb line to the southern extremity of Dall Island, Alaska.

Seasonal periods:

WINTER:	16th October to 15 April.
SUMMER:	16th April to 15th October.

SOUTHERN WINTER SEASONAL ZONE

Southern Winter Seasonal Zone

7. The northern boundary of the Southern Winter Seasonal Zone is -

the rhumb line from the east coast of the American continent at Cape Tres Puntas to the point latitude 34°S, longitude 50°W, thence the parallel of latitude 34°S to longitude 17°, thence the rhumb line to the point latitude 35° 10'S, longitude 20°E, thence the rhumb line to the point latitude 34°S, longitude 28°E, thence the rhumb line to the point latitude 35°30'S, longitude 118°E, and thence the rhumb line to Cape Grim on the Northwest coast of Tasmania; thence along the north and east coasts of Tasmania to the southernmost point of Bruny Island, thence the rhumb line to Black Rock Point on Stewart Island, thence the rhumb line to the point latitude 47°S, longitude 170°E, thence the rhumb line to the point latitude 33°S, longitude 170°W, and thence the parallel of latitude 33°S to the point latitude 33°S to the point latitude 33°S, longitude 79°W, thence the rhumb line to the point latitude 41°S, longitude 75°W, thence the rhumb line to Punta Corona lighthouse on Chiloe Island, latitude 41° 47'S longitude 73°53'W, thence along the north, east and south coasts of Chiloe Island to the point latitude 43°20'S, longitude 74°20'W, and thence the meridian of longitude 74°20'W, to the parallel of latitude 45°45'S, including the inner zone of Chiloe channels from the meridian 74°20'W to the east.

Valparaiso is to be considered as being on the boundary line of the Summer and Winter Seasonal Zones.

Seasonal Periods:

WINTER:	16th April to 15th October.
SUMMER:	16th October to 15th April.

TROPICAL ZONE

Northern Boundary of the Tropical Zone

8. The northern boundary of the Tropical Zone is -

the parallel of latitude 13°N from the east coast of the American continent to longitude 60°W, thence the rhumb line to the point latitude 10°N, longitude 58°W, thence the parallel of latitude 10°N to longitude 20°W, thence the meridian of longitude 20°W to latitude 30°N and thence the parallel of latitude 30°N to the west coast of Africa; from the east coast of Africa the parallel of latitude 8°N to longitude 70°E, thence the meridian of longitude 70°E to latitude 13°N, thence the parallel of latitude 13°N to the west coast of India; thence the south coast of India to latitude 10°30'N on the east coast of India, thence the rhumb line to the point latitude 9°N, longitude 82°E, thence the meridian of longitude 82°E to latitude 8°N, thence the parallel of latitude 8°N to the west coast of Malaysia, thence the coast of South-East Asia to the east coast of Vietnam at latitude 10°N, thence the parallel of latitude 10°N to longitude 145°E, to latitude 13°N and thence the parallel of latitude 13°N to the west coast of the American continent.

Saigon is to be considered as being on the boundary line of the Tropical Zone and the Seasonal Tropical Area.

Southern Boundary of the Tropical Zone

9. The southern boundary of the Tropical Zone is -

the rhumb line from the Port of Santos, Brazil, to the point where the meridian of longitude 40°W intersects the Tropic of Capricorn; thence the Tropic of Capricorn to the west coast of Africa; from the east coast of Africa the parallel of latitude 20°S to the west coast of Madagascar, thence the west and north coasts of Madagascar to longitude 50°E, thence the meridian of longitude 50°E to latitude 10°S, thence the parallel of latitude 10°S to longitude 98°E, thence the rhumb line to Port Darwin, Australia, thence the coasts of Australia and Wessel Island eastwards to Cape Wessel, thence the parallel of latitude 11°S to the west side of Cape York; from the east side of Cape York the parallel of latitude 11°S to longitude 150°W, thence the rhumb line to the point latitude 26°S, longitude 75° W, thence the rhumb line to the point latitude 32° 47'W, and thence to the parallel of latitude 32° 47'S to the west coast of South America.

Coquimbo and Santos are to be considered as being on the boundary line of the Tropical and Summer Zones.

Areas to be included in the Tropical Zone

10. The following are to be considered as being included in the Tropical Zone -

• (a) the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, from Port Said to the meridian of longitude 45°E;

Aden and Berbera are to be considered as being on the boundary line of the Tropical Zone and the Seasonal tropical Area;

• (b) the Persian Gulf to the meridian of longitude 59°E; and

• (c) the area bounded by the parallel of latitude 22°S from the east coast of Australia to the Great Barrier Reef, thence the Great Barrier Reef to latitude 11°S. The northern boundary of the area is the southern boundary of the Tropical Zone.

SEASONAL TROPICAL AREAS

11. The following are Seasonal Tropical Areas.

• (a) In the North Atlantic

An area bounded

on the north by the rhumb line from Cape Catoche, Yucantan, to Cape San Antonio, Cuba, the north Coast of Cuba to latitude 20°N and thence the parallel of latitude 20° N to longitude 20°W;

on the west by the coast of the American continent;

on the south and east by the northern boundary of the Tropical Zone.

Seasonal Periods:

TROPICAL:	1st September to 31st May.
SUMMER:	1st June to 31st August.

• (b) In the Bay of Bengal

The Bay of Bengal north of the northern boundary of the Tropical Zone.

Seasonal Periods:

TROPICAL:	1st December to 30 April.
SUMMER:	1st May to 30th November.

• (c) In the South Indian Ocean

• (i) An area bounded

on the north and west by the southern boundary of the Tropical Zone and the east coast of Madagascar;

on the south by the parallel of latitude 20°S;

on the east by the rhumb line from the point latitude 20°S; longitude 50°E, to the point latitude 15°S, longitude 51° 30'E, and thence by the meridian of longitude 51°30'E to latitude 10°S.

Seasonal periods:

TROPICAL:	1st April to 30th November.
SUMMERS:	1st December to 30th March.

• (ii) An area bounded

on the north by the southern boundary of the Tropical Zone;

on the east by the cost of Australia;

on the south by the parallel of latitude 15°S from longitude 51°30'E, to longitude 114°E and thence the meridian of longitude 114°E to the cost of Australia;

on the west by the meridian of longitude 51°30'E.

Seasonal periods:

TROPICAL:	1st May to 30th November.
SUMMER:	1st December to 30 April.

• (d) In the China Sea

An area bounded

on the west and north by the coasts of Vietnam and China from latitude 10°N to Hong Kong;

on the east by the rhumb line from Hong Kong to the Port of Sual (Luzon Island) and the west coasts of the Islands of Luzon, Samar and Leyte to latitude 10°N;

on the south by the parallel of latitude 10°N.

Hong Kong and Sual are to be considered as being on the boundary of the Seasonal Tropical Area and Summer Zone.

Seasonal periods:

TROPICAL:	21st January to 30th April.
SUMMER:	1st May to 20th January.

• (e) In the North Pacific

• (i) An area bounded

on the north by the parallel of latitude 25°N;

on the west by the meridian of longitude 160°E;

on the south by the parallel of latitude 13°N;

on the east by the meridian of longitude 13°W;

Seasonal Periods:

TROPICAL:	1st April to 31st October.
SUMMER:	1st November to 31st March.

• (ii) An area bounded

on the north and east by the west coast of the American Continent;

on the west by the meridian of longitude 123°W from the coast of the American continent to latitude 33°N and by the rhumb line from the point latitude 33°N, longitude 123°W to the point latitude 13°N, longitude 105°W;

on the south by the parallel of latitude 13°N.

Seasonal periods:

TROPICAL:	1st March to 30th June and 1st November to 30th November.
SUMMER:	1st July to 31st October and 1st December to 28th/29th February.

• (f) In the South Pacific

• (i) The Gulf of Carpentaria south of latitude 11°S

Seasonal periods:

TROPICAL:	1st April to 30th November.
SUMMER:	1st December to 31st March.

• (ii) An area bounded

on the north and east by the southern boundary of the Tropical Zone;

on the south by the parallel of latitude of 24°S to longitudinal 154°E, thence by the meridian of longitude 154°E to the Tropic of Capricorn and thence by the tropic of Capricorn to longitude 150°W, thence by the meridian of longitude 150°W to latitude 20°S and thence by the parallel of latitude 20°S to the point where it intersects the southern boundary of the Tropical Zone;

on the west by the boundaries of the area within the Great Barrier Reef included in the Tropical Zone and by the east coast of Australia.

Seasonal periods:

TROPICAL:	1st April to 30th November.
SUMMER:	1st December to 31st March.

SUMMER ZONES

12. The remaining sea areas constitute the Summer Zones.

However, for ships of 100 metres or less in length, the area bounded on the north and west by the east coast of the United States;

on the east by the meridian of longitude 68°30'S from the coast of the United States to latitude 40°N and thence by the rhumb line to the point latitude 36°N longitude 73°W;

on the south by the parallel of latitude 36°N;

is a Winter Seasonal Area.

Seasonal periods:

WINTER:	1st November to 31st March.
SUMMER:	1st April to 31st October.

ENCLOSED SEAS

13. Baltic Sea

This sea bounded by the parallel of latitude of The Skaw in the Skagerrak is included in the Summer Zones.

However, for ships of 100 metres or less in length, it is a Winter Seasonal Area.

Seasonal periods:

WINTER:	1st November to 31st March.
SUMMER:	1st April to 31st October.

14. Black Sea

This sea is included in the Summer Zones.

However, for ships of 100 metres or less in length, the area north of latitude 44°N is a Winter Seasonal Area.

Seasonal periods:

WINTER:	1st December to 28th/29th February.
SUMMER:	1st March to 30th November.

15. Mediterranean

This sea is included in the Summer Zones.

However, for ships of 100 metres or less in length, the area bounded

on the north and west by the coasts of France and Spain and the meridian of longitude 3°E from the coast of Spain to latitude 40°N;

on the south by the parallel of latitude 40°N from longitude 3°E to the west coast of Sardinia; on the east by the west and north coasts of Sardinia from latitude 40°N to latitude 9°E to the south coast of Corsica, hence by the west and north coasts of Corsica to longitude 9°E and thence by the rhumb line to Cape Sicié is a Winter Seasonal Area.

Seasonal periods:

WINTER:	16th December to 15th March.
SUMMER:	16th March to 15th December.

16. Sea of Japan

This sea south of latitude 50°N is included in the Summer Zones.

However, for ships of 100 metres or less in length, the area between the parallel of latitude 50°N and the rhumb line from the east coast of Korea at latitude 38°N to the west coast of Hokkaido, Japan, at latitude 43°12'N is a Winter Seasonal Area.

Seasonal periods:

WINTER:	1st December to 28th/29th February.
SUMMER:	1st March to 30th November.

SCHEDULE 2

Rule 22

CONDITIONS OF ASSIGNMENT

Interpretation

1. In this Schedule, except where the context otherwise requires

“breadth (B)” means the maximum breadth of the ship measured amidships to the moulded line of the frame in the case of a ship having a metal shell, or to the outer surface of the hull in the case of a ship having a shell of any other material;

“enclosed superstructure” means a superstructure -

• (a) which has enclosing bulkheads of efficient construction in which all access openings are fitted with sills and weathertight doors; and

• (b) in which all other openings in sides or ends are fitted with efficient weathertight means of closing;

but shall not include a bridge or poop fulfilling these requirements unless access to machinery and other working spaces within the bridge or poop is provided by alternative means which are available at all times when access openings in the bulkheads of the bridge or poop are closed;

“exposed position” means a position which is either -

• (a) exposed to weather and sea; or

• (b) within a structure so exposed other than an enclosed superstructure;

“forward perpendicular” means the perpendicular taken at the forward end of the ship's length (L), coinciding with the foreside of the stem on the waterline on which such length is measured; and “after perpendicular” means the perpendicular taken at the after end of such length;

“freeing port area (A)” means the sum of the areas of the openings of freeing ports on each side of the ship for each well;

“height” in relation to a superstructure means the least vertical height measured at side from the top of the superstructure deck beams to the top of the freeboard deck beams; and the “standard height” of a superstructure means the height ascertained in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 9 of Schedule 4;

“Moulded depth” and “(D)” mean the vertical distance measured from the top of the keel to the top of the freeboard deck beam at side, except that -

• (a) in the case of a wood or composite ship, it shall be measured from the lower edge of the keel rabbet;

• (b) if the form at the lower part of the midship section of the ship is of a hollow character or if thick garboards are fitted, it shall be measured from the point where the line of the flat of the bottom continued inwards cuts the side of the keel;

• (c) in the case of a ship having rounded gunwales it shall be measured to the point of intersection of the moulded lines of the deck and sides, the lines extending as though the gunwale were of angular design; and

• (d) if the freeboard deck is stepped and the raised part of the deck extends over the point at which the moulded depth is determined, it shall be measured to a line of reference extending from the lower part of the deck along a line parallel to the raised part of the deck;

“Position 1” or “Position 2” means those positions in which structure, openings or fittings are situated -

• (a) in the case of Position 1, 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; and

• (b) in the case of Position 2, upon exposed superstructure decks situated abaft a quarter of the ship's length from the forward perpendicular;

“Summer load waterline” means the waterline which corresponds to the Summer load line of the ship;

“superstructure” means a decked structure (including a raised quarter deck) situated on the freeboard deck which either extends from side to side of the ship or is such that its side plating is not inboard of the shell plating by more than 4 per cent of the breadth of the ship; and where the freeboard deck consists of a lower deck as described in subparagraph (b) of the definition of “freeboard deck”, includes that part of the hull which extends above the freeboard deck;

“superstructure deck” means a deck forming the top of a superstructure;

“Type “A” ship” means a ship which is designed to carry only liquid cargoes in bulk and has the characteristics set out below -

• (a) the cargo tanks of the ship have only small access openings closed by watertight gasketed covers of steel or equivalent material;

• (b) the ship has high integrity of the exposed deck and has a high degree of safety against flooding in consequence of the low permeability of loaded cargo spaces and the degree of subdivision provided;

• (c) if over 150 metres in length and designed to have empty compartments when loaded to the Summer load waterline, the ship shall be capable of remaining afloat after the flooding of any one of these empty compartments, at an assumed permeability of 0.95 in a condition of equilibrium; if over 225 metres in length its machinery space shall be treated as floodable compartment, but with an assumed permeability of 0.85;

• (d) the condition of equilibrium referred to in subparagraph (c) above is as follows:-

• (i) the final water line after the flooding is below the top of any ventilator coaming, the lower edge of any air pipe opening, the upper edge of the sill of any access opening fitted with a weathertight door, and the lower edge of any other opening through which progressive flooding may take place;

• (ii) the angle of heel due to unsymmetrical flooding does not exceed 15 degrees or, if no part of the deck is immersed, an angle of heel up to 17 degrees may be accepted;

• (iii) the metacentric height calculated using the constant displacement method has a positive value in the upright condition after the flooding;

• (iv) the ship has adequate residual stability; and

• (v) the ship has sufficient stability during intermediate stages of flooding to the satisfaction of the Assigning Authority;

“Type “B” ship” means a ship other than a Type “A” ship;

“unattended machinery space” means a machinery space which during the normal operation of the ship at sea is unattended for any period, and “attended machinery space” means a machinery space other than an unattended machinery space;

“watertight” in relation to any part of a ship means capable of preventing the passage of water in any direction;

“weathertight” in relation to any part of a ship other than a door in a bulkhead means that water will not penetrate it and so enter the hull of the ship in the worst sea and weather conditions likely to be encountered by the ship in service; and in relation to a door in a bulkhead it means a door which -

• (a) is constructed of steel or other equivalent material, is permanently and strongly attached to the bulkhead, and is framed, stiffened and fitted so that the whole structure in which it is set is of equivalent strength to the unpierced bulkhead;

• (b) is closed by means of gaskets, clamping devices or other equivalent means permanently attached to the bulkhead or to the door itself;

• (c) when closed, is weathertight as above defined; and

• (d) it can be operated from either side of the bulkhead.

PART 1 - SHIPS IN GENERAL

Structural strength and stability

2. (1) The construction of the ship shall be such that its general structural strength is sufficient for the freeboards assigned

• (2) The design and construction of the ship will be such as to ensure that its stability in all probable loading conditions shall be sufficient for the freeboards assigned, and for this purpose due consideration shall be given to the intended service of the ship and to the following criteria:

• (a) The area under the curve of righting levers (GZ curve) shall not be less than -

• (i) 0.055 metre-radians up to an angle of 30 degrees;

• (ii) 0.09 metre-radians up to an angle of 40 degrees or the angle at which the lower edge of any openings in the hull, superstructures or deckhouses which cannot be closed weathertight, are immersed if that angle is less; and