Resolution MEPC.91(45)

AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF SHIPS CARRYING DANGEROUS CHEMICALS IN BULK
(BCH CODE)

(adopted on 5 October 2000)

 

 

THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE,

 

RECALLING Article 38(a) of the Convention on the Inter­national Maritime Organization concerning the function of the Committee conferred upon it by international conven­tions for the prevention and control of marine pollution,

 

RECALLING ALSO resolution MEPC.20(22) by which it adopted the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code),

 

NOTING article 16 of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the "1973 Convention") and article VI of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the "1978 Protocol") which together specify the amendment procedure of the 1978 Protocol and confer upon the appropriate body of the Organization the function of considering and adopting amend­ments to the 1973 Convention, as modified by the 1978 Protocol (MARPOL 73/78),

 

NOTING that the Maritime Safety Committee, at its sev­enty-second session, considered and approved the proposed amendments to the BCH Code,

 

NOTING FURTHER resolution MEPC.90(45), by which the Committee adopted relevant amendments to the Interna­tional Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code),

 

RECOGNIZING the need to bring the amendments to the BCH Code into force on the date on which the relevant amend­ments to the IBC Code enter into force,

 

HAVING CONSIDERED the proposed amendments to the BCH Code circulated in accordance with article 16(2)(a) of the 1973 Convention,

 

1. ADOPTS, in accordance with article 16(2)(d) of the 1973 Convention, amendments to the BCH Code, the text of which is set out at Annex to the present resolution;

 

2. DETERMINES, in accordance with article 16(2)(f)(iii) of the 1973 Convention, that the amendments shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 January 2002, unless prior to the date, not less than one-third of the Parties or the Parties, the combined mer­chant fleets of which constitute not less than 50 per cent of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant fleet, having communicated to the Organization their objections to the amendments;

 

3. INVITES the Parties to note that, in accordance with article 16(2)(g)(ii) of the 1973 Convention, the amendments shall enter into force on 1 July 2002 upon their acceptance in accordance with paragraph 2 above;

 

4. REQUESTS the Secretary-General, in conformity with ar­ticle 16(2)(e) of the 1973 Convention, to transmit to all Parties to the 1978 Protocol certified copies of the present resolution and the text of the amendments contained in the annex; and

 

5. REQUESTS FURTHER the Secretary-General to transmit to the Members of the Organization which are not Parties to the 1978 Protocol copies of the resolution and its Annex.

 

 

Annex.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF SHIPS CARRYING DANGEROUS CHEMICALS IN BULK (BCH CODE)

 

 

CHAPTER II.
CARGO CONTAINMENT

 

2.12 Cargo hoses carried aboard the ship.

 

1. Existing section 2.12 is replaced by the following:

 

"2.12 Ship's cargo hoses.

 

2.12.1 Paragraphs 2.12.2 to 2.12.4 apply to cargo hoses in­stalled on board ships on or after 1 July 2002.

 

2.12.2 Liquid and vapour hoses used for cargo transfer should be compatible with the cargo carried and suitable for the cargo temperature.

 

2.12.3 Hoses subject to tank pressure or the discharge pressure of pumps should be designed for a bursting pres­sure not ess than 5 times the maximum pressure the hose will be subject to during cargo transfer.

 

2.12.4 Each new type of cargo hose, complete with end-fittings, should be prototype-tested at a normal ambi­ent temperature with 200 pressure cycles from zero to at least twice the specified maximum working pressure. After this cycle pressure test has been carried out, the prototype test should demonstrate a bursting pressure of at least 5 times its specified maximum working pressure at the ex­treme service temperature. Hoses used for prototype testing should not be used for cargo service. Thereafter, before be­ing placed in service, each new length of cargo hose pro­duced should be hydrostatically tested at ambient tempera­ture to a pressure not less than 1.5 times its specified maxi­mum working pressure but not more than two-fifths of its bursting pressure. The hose should be stenciled or other-

 

wise marked with the date of testing, its specified maximum working pressure and, if used in services other than the ambient temperature services, its maximum and minimum service temperature, as applicable. The specified maximum working pressure should not be less than 10 bar gauge."

 

CHAPTER III.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND RELATED CONSIDERATION

 

2. Existing paragraph 3.16.11 is replaced by the following:

 

"3.16.11 The ship should have on board medical first-aid equipment, including oxygen resuscitation equipment and antidotes for cargoes to be carried, based on the guidelines developed by the Organization*.

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* Refer to the Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents Involving Danger­ous Goods (MFAG), which provides advice on the treatment of casualties in accordance with the symptoms exhibited as well as equipment and antidotes that may be appropriate for treating the casualty and the relevant chapters of Part A and Part B of the STCW Code."

 

 

CHAPTER IV.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

 

3. The existing text of section 4.1 is replaced by the following:

 

"4.1 Carbon disulphide

 

Carbon disulphide may be carried either under wa­ter pad or under suitable inert gas pad as specified in the following paragraphs.

 

Carriage under water pad.

 

4.1.1 Provision should be made to maintain a water pad in the cargo tank during loading, unloading and transit In addition, a suitable inert gas pad should be maintained in the ullage space during transit.

 

4.1.2 All openings should be in the top of the tank, above the deck.

 

4.1.3 Loading lines should terminate near the bottom of the tank.

 

4.1.4 A standard ullage opening should be provided for emergency sounding.

 

4.1.5 Cargo piping and vent lines should be independent of piping and vent lines used for other cargo.

 

4.1.6 Pumps may be used for discharging cargo, provided they are of the deepwell or hydraulically driven submersible types. The means of driving a deepwell pump should not present a source of ignition for carbon disulphide and should not employ equipment that may exceed a tempera­ture of 80°C.

 

4.1.7 If a cargo discharge pump is used, it should be in­serted through a cylindrical well extending from the tank top to a point near the tank bottom. A water pad should be formed in this well before attempting pump removal unless the tank has been certified as gas-free.

 

4.1.8 Water or inert gas displacement may be used for dis­charging cargo, provided the cargo system is designed for the expected pressure and temperature.

 

4.1.9 Safety relief valves should be of stainless steel con­struction.

 

4.1.10 Because of its low ignition temperature and close clearances