The Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022

Amendment to the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Small Ships) Regulations 1998

2.—(1) The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Small Ships) Regulations 1998(1) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 1 (citation, commencement, interpretation and application)—

(a)in paragraph (2), in the definition of “approved”, after “arrangement”, insert “, other than the equipment and arrangements to which regulations 5A and 8A apply,”;

(b)after paragraph (8), insert—

“(9) The amendments made to these Regulations by regulation 2(3) to (10) of the Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022(2) do not apply to a ship until the date of that ship’s first survey after the second anniversary of the date on which those Regulations came into force.

(10) For the purposes of paragraph (9), “survey” means the ship’s renewal survey as required by regulation 6(3)(b) of the Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2015(3).”.

(3) After regulation 5 (machinery spaces of Category A and spaces containing oil fuel settling tanks) insert—

“Ships of Classes III, IV, V, VI and VI(A)

Fire detection

5A.—(1) Subject to regulation 1(9) (application), this regulation applies to every ship in Classes III, IV, V, VI and VI(A).

(2) Any unmanned machinery space which is located underdeck, or which is not situated at the control position, shall be fitted with a fixed fully addressable fire detection system comprising smoke or heat detectors which will, when activated, give an audible and visual alarm at the control position.

(3) Any passenger sleeping accommodation shall be fitted with a fixed fully addressable fire detection system comprising smoke or heat detectors which will, when activated, give an audible and visual alarm at the control position, installed and arranged to detect the presence of fire in that space and in the corridors, stairways and escape routes associated with such space.

(4) The fire detection systems required by paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of State.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (2), “control position” means the area from which the command and navigation of the ship is carried out.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (3), “fully addressable fire detection system” means a system with the capability to identify the exact location of the fire and the type of the detector.”.

(4) In regulation 8(1) (machinery spaces of category A)—

(a)at the beginning, insert “Subject to regulation 1(9) (application),”;

(b)omit “of 21.34 metres in length or over”.

(5) After regulation 8 insert—

“Machinery spaces other than Category A

8A.—(1) Subject to regulation 1(9) (application) and paragraph (2), in every passenger ship to which regulation 8 does not apply there shall be provided for the protection of any machinery space at least one of the following fixed fire-extinguishing systems—

(a)a fixed pressure water-spraying system;

(b)a fixed gas fire-extinguishing system;

(c)a high expansion foam system;

(d)for ships built before 25th May 1980, a foam fire-extinguishing system; or

(e)any other type of fixed fire-extinguishing system approved by the Secretary of State.

(2) In a ship of less than 24 metres in length where machinery spaces consist of machinery covered by a boxed housing, the requirement in paragraph (1) may be satisfied by the provision of a fixed fire-extinguishing system that may comprise an approved portable extinguisher (of a suitable size and type for the space being protected) permanently attached to that housing and available to discharge into that space.

(3) Where paragraph (2) applies, the arrangement for fire-extinguishing shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of State.”.

(6) In regulation 10 (ships of class III of less than 21.34 metres in length), for “Regulations 3, 4 and 5” substitute “Subject to regulation 1(9) (application), regulations 3 and 4”.

(7) In regulation 11 (ships of class IV of 21.34 metres in length or over)—

(a)for “Regulations 6, 7 and 8” substitute “Subject to regulation 1(9) (application), regulations 6, 7, 8 and 8A”;

(b)omit “, except that for ships constructed before 25th May 1980 the requirements in regulation 8(1) shall not apply”.

(8) In regulation 12 (ships of class IV of less than 21.34 metres in length), for “Regulations 3, 4 and 5” substitute “Subject to regulation 1(9) (application), regulations 4, 8 and 8A”.

(9) In regulation 13 (fully-decked ships)—

(a)in paragraph (1), for “Regulations 6, 7 and 8” substitute “Subject to regulation 1(9) (application), regulations 6, 7, 8 and 8A”;

(b)in paragraph (2), for “Regulations 3, 4 and 5” substitute “Subject to regulation 1(9) (application), regulations 3, 4, 8 and 8A”.

(10) In regulation 15 (fully-decked ships)—

(a)in paragraph (1), for “Regulations 6, 7 and 8” substitute “Subject to regulation 1(9) (application), regulations 6, 7, 8 and 8A”;

(b)in paragraph (2), for “Regulations 3, 4 and 5” substitute “Subject to regulation 1(9) (application), regulations 3, 4, 8 and 8A”.