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Means of access for cargo ships - general arrangement and construction
Safety guideline
The means of access to cargo vessel should be checked to ensure that it is safe to
use after rigging. There should be further checks to ensure that adjustments
are made when necessary due to tidal movements or change of trim and
freeboard. Guard ropes, chains etc. should be kept taut at all times and
stanchions should be rigidly secured.
Each end of a gangway or accommodation or other ladder should
provide safe access to a safe place or to an auxiliary safe access.
Gangways must be carried on ships of 30 metres in length or over and
accommodation ladders must be carried on ships of 120 metres in length or
over, complying with the specifications below. Access equipment must be of
good construction, sound material and adequate strength, free from patent
defect and properly maintained.
Gangways and accommodation ladders must be clearly marked with the
manufacturer's name, the model number, the maximum designed angle of use
and the maximum safe loading both by numbers of persons and by total
weight.
Gangways must comply with the specifications
and must be fitted with suitable fencing along
their entire length.
Accomodation ladders
Accommodation ladders should be designed such that :
i)it rests firmly against the side of the ship;
ii) the angle of slope is no more than 55º. Treads and steps should provide
a safe foothold at the angle at which the ladder is used;
iii) it is fitted with suitable fencing (preferably rigid handrails) along its entire
length, except that fencing at the bottom platform may allow access
from the outboard side;
iv) the bottom platform is horizontal, and any intermediate platforms are
self-levelling.
When the inboard end of the gangway or accommodation ladder rests
on or is flush with the top of the bulwark, a bulwark ladder should be provided.
Any gap between the bulwark ladder and the gangway or accommodation ladder
should be adequately fenced to a height of at least 1 metre.
Rope Ladders
A rope ladder must be of adequate width and length and so constructed
that it can be efficiently secured to the ship.
i) The steps must provide a slip-resistant foothold of not less than 400 mm
x 115 mm x 25 mm and must be so secured that they are firmly held
against twist, turnover or tilt.
ii) The steps must be horizontal and equally spaced at intervals of 310 mm
(± 5mm).
iii) The side ropes, which should be a minimum of 18mm in diameter,
should be equally spaced.
iv) There should be no shackles, knots or splices between rungs.
v) Ladders of more than 1.5 metres in length must be fitted with spreaders
not less than 1.8 metres long. The lowest spreader must be on the fifth
step from the bottom and the interval between spreaders must not
exceed nine steps. The spreaders should not be lashed between steps.
Access for Pilots
In addition to the standards above, every pilot ladder should be
positioned and secured so that:
i) it is clear of any possible discharges from the ship;
ii) it is, where practicable, within the mid-ship half-section of the ship
iii) it is firmly secured to the ship's side; and
iv) the person climbing it can safely and conveniently board the ship after
climbing no more than 9 metres.
Where replacement steps are fitted, they should be secured in position
by the method used in the original construction of the ladder. No pilot ladder
should have more than two replacement steps secured in position by a
different method. Where a replacement step is secured by means of grooves
in the sides of the step, such grooves should be in the longer sides of the step.
Two man-ropes of not less than 28 mm in diameter, properly secured to
the ship should be provided.
Safe, convenient and unobstructed access should be provided to anyone
embarking or disembarking between the ship and the head of the pilot ladder.
Where access to the ship is by a gateway in the rails or bulkhead,
adequate handholds should be provided. Shipside doors used for this
purpose should not open outwards.
Where access is by bulwark ladder, the ladder should be securely
attached to the bulwark rail or landing platform. Two handhold stanchions
should be provided, between 700mm and 800mm apart, each of which
should be rigidly secured to the ship's structure at or near its base and at
another higher point. The stanchions should be at least 40mm in diameter
and extend no less than 1.20 metres above the top of the bulwarks.
Where the freeboard of the ship is more than 9 metres,
accommodation ladders must be provided on each side of the ship.
Such accommodation ladders should comply with the standards in
paragraph 5 above, and in addition:
i) the pilot ladder should extend at least 2 metres above the
accommodation ladder's bottom platform;
ii) if a trap door is fitted in the bottom platform to allow access to the pilot
ladder, the opening should be no less than 750mm square, and the after
part of the bottom platform should be fenced as the rest of the ladder.
In this case, the pilot ladder should extend above the lower platform to
the height of the handrail.
Maintenance requirement for means of access to cargo ships- Safety guideline
Means of access, if any, to the area under inspection (particularly
ladders and stairs), to be in a safe condition, well lit and unobstructed.
If any means of access is in a dangerous condition, for instance when a
ladder has been removed, is the danger suitably blocked off and warning
notices posted.
Access thorough the area of inspection both for transit and working
purposes clearly marked, well lit, unobstructed and safe.
Fixtures and fittings over which seamen might trip or which project,
particularly overhead, thereby causing potential hazards, suitably painted
or marked.
Any gear, which has to be stowed within the area, suitably secured.
All guard-rails in place, secure and in good condition.
All openings through which a person could fall, to be suitably fenced.
Portable ladders in use, to be properly secured and at a safe
angle.
Merchant Shipping Regulations require the owner to provide pilot
ladders, accommodation ladders and hoists which comply with the construction
and testing requirements laid out in the Regulations.
In addition, the Regulations require the master to ensure that:
i) each pilot ladder, accommodation ladder, hoist and associated equipment is
properly maintained and stowed, and regularly inspected to ensure that, so
far as is reasonably practicable, each is safe to use.
ii) each pilot ladder and hoist is used only for the embarkation and
disembarkation of pilots and by officials and other persons while a ship is
arriving at or leaving a port.
iii) the rigging of the pilot ladder, accommodation ladder, hoist and associated
equipment is supervised by a responsible officer who is in communication
with the navigating bridge.This officer's duties will include arranging for the
pilot to be escorted by a safe route to and from the bridge.
iv) personnel engaged in rigging or operating any mechanical equipment are
instructed in the safe procedures to be adopted and that the equipment is to
be tested prior to each use.
vi) A safety-line and harness, a life-buoy with a self-igniting light, and a
heaving line should be kept at hand ready for use.
vii) The pilot ladder or hoist overside and its controls, and also the position
where the person embarks and disembarks on the ship should be adequately lit.
viii) The owner and the master must ensure that there is on board a copy of
the approved manfacturer's maintenance manual for the hoist, containing a
maintenance log book.The hoist must be maintained in accordance with the
maintenance manual, and a record kept by the responsible officer in the
maintenance log book.
ix) The master is required to ensure that the hoist is subject to regular test
rigging and inspection. Such tests should be carried out by designated ship's
personnel at regular intervals. All tests should be logged.
Safe Movement
Merchant Shipping Regulations place an obligation on both the master of a
ship and the employer of the master to ensure that a safe means of access is
provided and maintained to any place on the ship to which a person may be
expected to go.
Places on the ship where people may be expected to be include
accommodation areas as well as normal places of work. "Persons" in this
context include passengers, dock-workers, and other visitors to the ship on
business but exclude persons who have no right to be on the ship.
All deck surfaces used for transit about the ship and all passageways,
walkways and stairs must be properly maintained and kept free from substances
liable to cause a person to slip or fall.
Areas used for the loading or unloading of cargo or for other work
processes or for transit should be adequately and appropriately illuminated.
For areas used for loading or unloading of cargo or for other work
processes a lighting level of at least 20 lux should be provided and for transit
areas a level of at least 8 lux should be provided (measured at a height of 1
metre above the surface level) unless:-
(a) a higher level is required by other Regulations, eg the Crew
Accommodation Regulations; or,
(b) provision of such levels of lighting would contravene other Regulations,
eg the Collision Regulations and the Distress Signals Order.
The employer and master are also responsible for ensuring that any
permanent safety signs displayed on board the ship comply with the Regulations
and Merchant Shipping Notice.
Any opening, open hatchway or dangerous edge into, through or over which
a person may fall shall be fitted with secure guards or fencing of adequate design
and construction. These requirements do not apply where the opening is a permanent
access way, or where work is in progress which could not be carried out with
the guards in place.
All ship's ladders must be of good construction and sound material, strong
enough for the purpose for which they are used, free from patent defect and
properly maintained.
Suitable hand-holds should be provided at the top and at any
intermediate landing place of all fixed ladders.
The Regulations also require the employer and master to ensure that
ship's powered vehicles (which includes mobile lifting plant) are only driven by a
competent person who is authorised to do so, and to ensure that they are used
safely. Such vehicles must be properly maintained.
Gangways and accomodation ladders - Prevention of corrosion and maintenance requirement
Aluminium alloys are highly susceptible to galvanic corrosion in a marine
atmosphere if they are used in association with dissimilar metals. Great care
should be exercised when connecting mild steel fittings, whether or not they
are galvanised, to accommodation ladders and gangways constructed of
aluminium.
Plugs and joints of neoprene, or other suitable material, should be used
between mild steel fittings, washers, etc and aluminium. The plugs or joints
should be significantly larger than the fittings or washers.
Repairs using mild steel doublers or bolts made of mild steel or brass or
other unsuitable material should be considered as temporary. Permanent
repairs, or the replacement of the means of access, should be undertaken at
the earliest opportunity.
The manufacturer's instructions should give guidance on examination and
testing of the equipment. However, close examination of certain parts of
accommodation ladders and gangways is difficult due to their fittings and
attachments. It is essential, therefore, that the fittings are removed periodically
for a thorough examination of the parts most likely to be affected by
corrosion.
Accommodation ladders and gangways should be turned over to
allow for a thorough examination of the underside. Particular attention
should be paid to the immediate perimeter of the fittings; this area should be
tested for corrosion with a wire probe or scribe. Where the corrosion
appears to have reduced the thickness of the parent metal to 3 mm, back
plates should be fitted inside the stringers of the accommodation ladder or
gangways.
Other useful articles :
- Rope handling safe procedure
Ropes are made of short fibres that are spun into yarns,
which are then made into flat or twisted strands.
And the strands are spun or braided to make the finished
rope .
More .....
-
Synthetic man-made ropes and hawsers
Although natural fibre ropes are still widely used throughout the marine industry, they have been superseded by synthetic fibres for a great many
purposes. Not only do the majority of synthetic ropes have greater strength
than their natural fibre counterparts, but they are more easily obtainable
and at present considerably cheaper.
More .....
-
Natural fibre rope
All natural fibre rope is manufactured from manilla, sisal, hemp, coir, cotton
or flax fibres.The process of manufacture consists of twisting the fibres
into yarns and turning the yarns in an opposite direction to establish the
strands.
More .....
- Prepare cargo holds prior loading
Washing is always carried out after the compartment has been swept. Drying time for washed compartments must be allowed for, before loading the next cargo; this time will vary with the climate, but two to three days must be expected.
More .....
- Strength and stability of the Lifting appliances
The vessel's structure, crane, derrick or other lifting device and the supporting structure should be of sufficient strength to withstand the loads
that will be imposed when operating at its maximum load moment .
More .....
- Anchoring safe practice
Prior approaching an area for anchoring ships master should investigate fully a suitable anchoring position and conduct a planned approach including speed reduction in ample time and orienting the ships head prior anchoring to same as similar sized vessels around or stem the tide or wind whichever is stronger . Final decision to be made on method of anchoring to be used , the number of shackles , the depth of water, expected weather and holding ground. .
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- MacGregor single-pull weather-deck hatch cover
Hatch covers are used to close off the hatch opening and make it
watertight. Wooden hatch covers, consisting of beams and boards over
the opening and covered with tarpaulins, were once used but are no
longer fitted. Steel hatch covers, comprising a number of linked steel
covers, are now fitted universally. Various designs exist for particular
applications, but most offer simple and quick opening and closing,
which speed up the cargo handling operation..
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- Cargo holds access arrangement
The access shall be separate from the hatchway opening, and shall be by a stairway if possible. A fixed ladder, or a line of fixed rungs, shall have no point where they fill a reverse slope
.
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-
Lay of Ropes and hawsers - Small Stuff descriptions
The lay of rope is a term used to describe the nature of the twist that produces the complete rope .The most common form of rope at sea is known as ‘hawser laid rope’ comprising three strands laid up right- or lefthanded.
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- Stresses in ship structures and how to mitigate
Heavy weights tend to cause a downward deflection of the deck area supporting the load .This subsequently produces stresses, with
consequent inward and outward deflections of supporting bulkheads,
depending on the position of initial loading .
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- Lifting appliances - Maintenance, testing, controls & safety measures
When there is any suspicion that any appliance or item of
equipment may have been subjected to excessive loads, exceeding the Safe
Working Load (SWL), or subjected to treatment likely to cause damage, it
should be taken out of service until it can be subjected to a thorough
examination by a competent person.
More .....
- Safe operation of Lifting appliances and gears
All lifting operations must be properly planned, appropriately
supervised and carried out to protect the safety of workers.
More .....
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