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Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)

Regulations

Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations, 2007

Part 2 : Vessel safety requirements

4. Submission and approval of plans, etc., in respect of commercial vessel for first issue of local safety certificate

[Regulation 4 heading substituted by regulation 7 of Notice No. R. 731 dated 11 July 2008]

 

(1)
(a) Subject to subregulation (5), for the purposes of the first issue of a local general safety certificate in respect of a commercial vessel, the builder or owner of a vessel must submit in duplicate to the Authority the following particulars by means of plans, fully dimensional and including detailed specifications of the vessel, for approval by the Authority:
(i) longitudinal elevation showing the position of bulkheads or built-in non-flooding compartments, hatchways, deck houses and crew spaces;
(ii) midship section showing hull scantlings, deck, bulwarks, frames, doors, stringers and beams;
(iii) any deck openings, ventilators and air pipes, and tanks;
(iv) engineroom layout and pumping arrangements;
(v) steering and propeller shaft arrangements;
(vi) electrical circuit diagram; and
(vii) lines plan of scale 1:25.
(b) The specifications contemplated in paragraph (a) shall also reflect details of—
(i) anchors and cables;
(ii) lifesaving and firefighting equipment; and
(iii) navigation lights and sound signals.
(c) Any subsequent modification or addition to the scantlings, arrangements or equipment shown on approved plans must be approved by the Authority.
(d) The Authority may require such further plans and specifications as it thinks fit, and may dispense with the requirement to submit certain plans or specifications.

 

(2) The Authority may, after approving the plans and the specifications submitted in respect of a vessel, direct a surveyor to conduct inspections and tests to ensure that the vessel is constructed in accordance with the approved plans, specifications and the other requirements of these regulations.

[Regulation 4(2) substituted by regulation 8(a) of Notice No. R. 731 dated 11 July 2008]

 

(3) The builder or owner of a vessel being built must in writing notify the Authority at least seven days before—
(a) commencing building;
(b) commencing planking, plating or laminating;
(c) completing the fitting of all underwater fittings and rudder gear and propeller shafts;
(d) launching the vessel; and
(e) undertaking trials.

 

(4) No person may undertake trials without the prior approval of the Authority and, if the Authority thinks fit, the prior inspection of the vessel by a surveyor.

 

(5) The Authority may dispense with all or any of the requirements of subregulations (1), (2), (3) and (4) if―
(a) in the case of a vessel being built, the work is carried out by an approved builder, in accordance with the relevant construction standards specified by the Authority; and
(b) in the case of an existing vessel, it is satisfied that the vessel complies with the relevant construction standards specified by the Authority.

[Regulation 4(5) substituted by regulation 8(b) of Notice No. R. 731 dated 11 July 2008]

 

(6) The Authority may by way of a marine notice give direction from time to time regarding the precise information required for any particular type of vessel.