Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Rules may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) (Non-United Kingdom) (Non-SOLAS Ships) (Amendment) Rules 1993 and shall come into force on 31st January 1994.

(2) In these Rules-

"the 1986 Rules" means the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) (Non-United Kingdom) (Non-SOLAS Ships) Rules 1986(3).

Amendment of rule 4 of the 1986 Rules

2. The table in rule 4 of the 1986 Rules shall be amended as follows-

(a)in the second column, after the reference to regulation 34 (Machinery spaces containing steam engines) of the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) (Ships Built Before 25th May 1980) Regulations 1985(4), by the insertion of the following words-

(b)after the reference to Schedule 1 (Inert gas systems) to those Regulations, by the insertion of the following words-

Amendment of rule 5 of the 1986 Rules

3. The table in rule 5 of the 1986 Rules shall be amended as follows-

(a)in the second column, after the reference to regulation 36 (Fire extinguishing appliances in other machinery spaces) of the Merchant Shipping (Fire Appliances) Regulations 1980(5), by the insertion of the following words-

(b)in the second column, after the reference to regulation 51 (Fixed inert gas systems) of those Regulations, by the insertion of the following words-

Amendment of rule 6 of the 1986 Rules

4. The table in rule 6 of the 1986 Rules shall be amended as follows-

(a)in the second column-

(i)after the reference to regulation 35 (Fire extinguishing appliances in other machinery spaces) of the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Regulations 1984(6), by the insertion of the following words-

(ii)after the reference to regulation 72 (Fire control plans) of those Regulations, by the insertion of the following words-

(iii)after the reference to regulation 112 (Structure) of those Regulations, by the insertion of the following words-

(iv)after the reference to regulation 128 (Structure) of those Regulations, by the insertion of the following words-

(b)after the reference to regulation 142 (Means of escape) of those Regulations-

(i)in the first column, by the insertion of the following words-

• "Ships of Classes VII, VII(A), VIII and IX under 500 tons"; and

(ii)in the second column, by the insertion of the following words-

(c)after the reference to Schedule 14 (Inert gas systems) to those Regulations, by the insertion of the following words-

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules ("the 1993 Rules") amend the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) (Non-United Kingdom) (Non-SOLAS Ships) Rules 1986 ("the 1986 Rules").

The 1986 Rules apply to certain non-United Kingdom ships when in ports in the United Kingdom certain provisions of-

(a)the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) (Ships Built Before 25th May 1980) Regulations 1985;

(b)the Merchant Shipping (Fire Appliances) Regulations 1980; and

(c)the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Regulations 1984.

The 1993 Rules amend the 1986 Rules by adding to the applied provisions certain provisions which Regulations made in 1993 have inserted into the stated Regulations in order to give effect to certain amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974.

The provisions added to the 1993 Rules-

(i)apply the alternative requirements inserted into the 1985, 1980 and 1984 Regulations for inert gas systems on chemical tankers and gas carriers (the existing (standard) requirements are applied by the 1986 Rules);

(ii)apply certain of the requirements for fire-extinguishing systems for paint lockers and flammable liquid lockers;

(iii)apply provisions inserted into the 1984 Regulations in respect of helicopter decks on ships constructed on or after 1st February 1992;

(iv)apply the provisions inserted into the 1984 Regulations extending to ships of less than 500 gross tons constructed on or after 1st February 1992 the special requirements for ships carrying dangerous goods.

A compliance cost assessment has been prepared and copies may be obtained from the Department of Transport, Room 2/27B, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton, SO1 0ZD. A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.