Resolution MSC.158(78)

ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE TECHNICAL PROVISIONS FOR MEANS OF ACCESS FOR INSPECTIONS

(adopted on 20 May 2004)

 

 

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

 

RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,

 

NOTING the Technical provisions for means of access for inspections (hereinafter referred to as the Technical provisions ), adopted by resolution MSC.133(76), which are mandatory under SOLAS regulation II-1/3-6 on Access to and within spaces in the cargo area of oil tankers and bulk carriers adopted by resolution MSC.134(76),

 

ACKNOWLEDGING concerns expressed with regard to perceived problems which might be encountered when implementing the requirements of the Technical provisions,

 

NOTING ALSO the amendments to the aforementioned SOLAS regulation II-1/3-6 adopted by resolution MSC.151(78) to address the above concerns,

 

HAVING CONSIDERED, at its seventy-eighth session, amendments to the Technical provisions, prepared and circulated in accordance with article VIII and regulation II-1/3-6 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention,

 

1. ADOPTS amendments to the Technical provisions for means of access for inspections, the text of which is set out in the Annex to the present resolution;

 

2. DETERMINES, in accordance with article VIII(b)(vi)(2)(bb) of the Convention, that the said amendments shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 July 2005, unless, prior to that date, more than one third of the Contracting Governments to the Convention or Contracting Governments the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world s merchant fleet, have notified their objections to the amendments;

 

3. INVITES SOLAS Contracting Governments to note that, in accordance with article VIII(b)(vii)(2) of the Convention, the amendments shall enter into force on 1 January 2006 upon their acceptance in accordance with paragraph 2 above;

 

4. REQUESTS the Secretary-General to transmit certified copies of this resolution and the text of the Technical provisions contained in the Annex to all Contracting Governments to the Convention;

 

5. FURTHER REQUESTS the Secretary-General to transmit copies of this resolution and the Annex to all Members of the Organization, which are not Contracting Governments to the Convention.

 

ANNEX.

AMENDMENTS TO THE TECHNICAL PROVISIONS FOR MEANS OF ACCESS FOR INSPECTIONS (RESOLUTION MSC.133(76))

 

1. The existing text of the Technical provisions for means of access for inspections is replaced with the following:

 

"1. Preamble

 

1.1 It has long been recognized that the only way of ensuring that the condition of a ship s structure is maintained to conform with the applicable requirements is for all its components to be surveyed on a regular basis throughout their operational life. This will ensure that they are free from damage such as cracks, buckling or deformation due to corrosion, overloading, or contact damage and that thickness diminution is within established limits. The provision of suitable means of access to the hull structure for the purpose of carrying out overall and close-up surveys and inspections is essential and such means should be considered and provided for at the ship design stage.

 

1.2 Ships should be designed and built with due consideration as to how they will be surveyed by flag State inspectors and classification society surveyors during their in-service life and how the crew will be able to monitor the condition of the ship. Without adequate access, the structural condition of the ship can deteriorate undetected and major structural failure can arise. A comprehensive approach to design and maintenance is required to cover the whole projected life of the ship.

 

1.3 In order to address this issue, the Organization has developed these Technical provisions for means of access for inspections (hereinafter called the Technical provisions ), intended to facilitate close-up inspections and thickness measurements of the ship s structure referred to in SOLAS regulation II-1/3-6 on Access to and within spaces in, and forward of, the cargo area of oil tankers and bulk carriers. The Technical provisions do not apply to the cargo tanks of combined chemical/oil tankers complying with the provisions of the IBC Code.

 

1.4 Permanent means of access which are designed to be integral parts of the structure itself are preferred and Administrations may allow reasonable deviations to facilitate such designs.

 

2. Definitions

 

For the purpose of these Technical provisions, the following definitions apply in addition to those provided in the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended, and in resolution A.744(18), as amended:

 

.1 Rung means the step of a vertical ladder or step on the vertical surface.

 

.2 Tread means the step of an inclined ladder or step for the vertical access opening.

 

.3 Flight of an inclined ladder means the actual stringer length of an inclined ladder. For vertical ladders, it is the distance between the platforms.

 

.4 Stringer means:

 

.1 the frame of a ladder; or

 

.2 the stiffened horizontal plating structure fitted on the side shell, transverse bulkheads and/or longitudinal bulkheads in the space. For the purpose of ballast tanks of less than 5 m width forming double side spaces, the horizontal plating structure is credited as a stringer and a longitudinal permanent means of access, if it provides a continuous passage of 600 mm or more in width past frames or stiffeners on the side shell or longitudinal bulkhead. Openings in stringer plating utilized as permanent means of access shall be arranged with guard rails or grid covers to provide safe passage on the stringer or safe access to each transverse web.

 

.5 Vertical ladder means a ladder of which the inclined angle is 70 and over up to 90 . A vertical ladder shall not be skewed by more than 2.

 

.6 Overhead obstructions mean the deck or stringer structure including stiffeners above the means of access.

 

.7 Distance below deck head means the distance below the plating.

 

.8 Cross deck means the transverse area of the main deck which is located inboard and between hatch coamings.

 

3. Technical provisions

 

3.1 Structural members subject to the close-up inspections and thickness measurements of the ship s structure referred to in SOLAS regulation II-1/3-6, except those in double bottom spaces, shall be provided with a permanent means of access to the extent as specified in table 1 and table 2, as applicable. For oil tankers and wing ballast tanks of ore carriers, approved alternative methods may be used in combination with the fitted permanent means of access, provided that the structure allows for its safe and effective use.

 

3.2 Permanent means of access should as far as possible be integral to the structure of the ships, thus ensuring that they are robust and at the same time contributing to the overall strength of the structure of the ship.

 

3.3 Elevated passageways forming sections of a permanent means of access, where fitted, shall have a minimum clear width of 600 mm, except for going around vertical webs where the minimum clear width may be reduced to 450 mm, and have guard rails over the open side of their entire length. Sloping structures providing part of the access shall be of a non-skid construction. Guard rails shall be 1,000 mm in height and consist of a rail and an intermediate bar 500 mm in height and of substantial construction. Stanchions shall be not more than 3 m apart.

 

3.4 Access to permanent means of access and vertical openings from the ship s bottom shall be provided by means of easily accessible passageways, ladders or treads. Treads shall be provided with lateral support for the foot. Where the rungs of ladders are fitted against a vertical surface, the distance from the centre of the rungs to the surface shall be at least 150 mm. Where vertical manholes are fitted higher than 600 mm above the walking level, access shall be facilitated by means of treads and hand grips with platform landings on both sides.

 

3.5 Permanent inclined ladders shall be inclined at an angle of less than 70 . There shall be no obstructions within 750 mm of the face of the inclined ladder, except that in way of an opening this clearance may be reduced to 600 mm. Resting platforms of adequate dimensions shall be provided, normally at a maximum of 6 m vertical height. Ladders and handrails shall be constructed of steel or equivalent material of adequate strength and stiffness and securely attached to the structure by stays. The method of support and length of stay shall be such that vibration is reduced to a practical minimum. In cargo holds, ladders shall be designed and arranged so that cargo handling difficulties are not increased and the risk of damage from cargo handling gear is minimized.

 

3.6 The width of inclined ladders between stringers shall not be less than 400 mm. The treads shall be equally spaced at a distance apart, measured vertically, of between 200 mm and 300 mm. When steel is used, the treads shall be formed of two square bars of not less than 22 mm by 22 mm in section, fitted to form a horizontal step with the edges pointing upward. The treads shall be carried through the side stringers and attached thereto by double continuous welding. All inclined ladders shall be provided with handrails of substantial construction on both sides, fitted at a convenient distance above the treads.

 

3.7 For vertical ladders or spiral ladders, the width and construction should be in accordance with international or national standards accepted by the Administration.

 

3.8 No free-standing portable ladder shall be more than 5 m long.

 

3.9 Alternative means of access include, but are not limited to, such devices as:

 

.1 hydraulic arm fitted with a stable base;

 

.2 wire lift platform;

 

.3 staging;

 

.4 rafting;

 

.5 robot arm or remotely operated vehicle (ROV);

 

.6 portable ladders more than 5 m long shall only be utilized if fitted with a mechanical device to secure the upper end of the ladder;

 

.7 other means of access, approved by and acceptable to the Administration.

 

Means for safe operation and rigging of such equipment to and from and within the spaces shall be clearly described in the Ship Structure Access Manual.

 

3.10 For access through horizontal openings, hatches or manholes, the minimum clear opening shall not be less than 600 mm x 600 mm. When access to a cargo hold is arranged through the cargo hatch, the top of the ladder shall be placed as close as possible to the hatch coaming. Access hatch coamings having a height greater than 900 mm shall also have steps on the outside in conjunction with the ladder.

 

3.11 For access through vertical openings, or manholes, in swash bulkheads, floors, girders and web frames providing passage through the length and breadth of the space, the minimum opening shall be not less than 600 mm x 800 mm at a height of not more than 600 mm from the passage unless gratings or other foot holds are provided.

 

3.12 For oil tankers of less than 5,000 tonnes deadweight, the Administration may approve, in special circumstances, smaller dimensions for the openings referred to in paragraphs 3.10 and 3.11, if the ability to traverse such openings or to remove an injured person can be proved to the satisfaction of the Administration.

 

3.13 For bulk carriers, access ladders to cargo holds and other spaces shall be:

 

.1 Where the vertical distance between the upper surface of adjacent decks or between deck and the bottom of the cargo space is not more than 6 m, either a vertical ladder or an inclined ladder.

 

.2 Where the vertical distance between the upper surface of adjacent decks or between deck and the bottom of the cargo space is more than 6 m, an inclined ladder or series of inclined ladders at one end of the cargo hold, except the uppermost 2.5 m of a cargo space measured clear of overhead obstructions and the lowest 6 m may have vertical ladders, provided that the vertical extent of the inclined ladder or ladders connecting the vertical ladders is not less than 2.5 m.

 

The second means of access at the other end of the cargo hold may be formed of a series of staggered vertical ladders, which should comprise of one or more ladder linking platforms spaced not more than 6 m apart vertically and displaced to one side of the ladder. Adjacent sections of ladder should be laterally offset from each other by at least the width of the ladder. The uppermost entrance section of the ladder directly exposed to a cargo hold should be vertical for a distance of 2.5 m measured clear of overhead obstructions and connected to a ladder-linking platform.

 

.3 A vertical ladder may be used as a means of access to topside tanks, where the vertical distance is 6 m or less between the deck and the longitudinal means of access in the tank or the stringer or the bottom of the space immediately below the entrance. The uppermost entrance section from deck of the vertical ladder of the tank should be vertical for a distance of 2.5 m measured clear of overhead obstructions and comprise a ladder linking platform, unless landing on the longitudinal means of access, the stringer or the bottom within the vertical distance, displaced to one side of a vertical ladder.

 

.4 Unless allowed in .3 above, an inclined ladder or combination of ladders should be used for access to a tank or a space where the vertical distance is greater than 6 m between the deck and a stringer immediately below the entrance, between stringers, or between the deck or a stringer and the bottom of the space immediately below the entrance.

 

.5 In case of .4 above, the uppermost entrance section from deck of the ladder should be vertical for a distance of 2.5 m clear of overhead obstructions and connected to a landing platform and continued with an inclined ladder. The flights of inclined ladders should not be more than 9 m in actual length and the vertical height should not normally be more than 6 m. The lowermost section of the ladders may be vertical for a distance of not less than 2.5 m.

 

.6 In double-side skin spaces of less than 2.5 m width, the access to the space may be by means of vertical ladders that comprise of one or more ladder linking platforms spaced not more than 6 m apart vertically and displaced to one side of the ladder. Adjacent sections of ladder should be laterally offset from each other by at least the width of the ladder.

 

.7 A spiral ladder is considered acceptable as an alternative for inclined ladders. In this regard, the uppermost 2.5 m can continue to be comprised of the spiral ladder and need not change over to vertical ladders.

 

3.14 The uppermost entrance section from deck of the vertical ladder providing access to a tank should be vertical for a distance of 2.5 m measured clear of overhead obstructions and comprise a ladder linking platform, displaced to one side of a vertical ladder. The vertical ladder can be between 1.6 m and 3 m below deck structure if it lands on a longitudinal or athwartship permanent means of access fitted within that range.

 

Table 1
Means of access for ballast and cargo tanks of oil tankers^*

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^* For ore carriers, permanent means of access shall be provided in accordance with the applicable sections of table 1 and table 2.