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

Schedules

Second Schedule

Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974

Annex

Chapter II–1 : Construction — Structure, Subdivision and Stability, Machinery and Electrical Installations

Part A-1 — Structure of Ships

Regulation 3-12 : Protection against noise

Purchase

1.	This regulation shall apply to ships of 1,600 gross tonnage and above:

1.1	for which the building contract is placed on or after 1 July 2014; or

1.2	in the absence of a building contract, the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 January 2015; or

1.3	the delivery of which is on or after 1 July 2018,

unless the Administration deems that compliance with a particular provision is unreasonable or impractical.

2.	On ships delivered before 1 July 2018 and:

2.1	contracted for construction before 1 July 2014 and the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 January 2009; or

2.2	in the absence of a building contract, the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 January 2009 but before 1 January 2015,

measures 42 shall be taken to reduce machinery noise in machinery spaces to acceptable levels as determined by the Administration 43. If this noise cannot be sufficiently reduced the source of excessive noise shall be suitably insulated or isolated or a refuge from noise shall be provided if the space is required to be manned. Ear protectors shall be provided for personnel required to enter such spaces, if necessary.

Ships shall be constructed to reduce on-board noise and to protect personnel from the noise in accordance with the Code on noise levels on board ships, adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.337(91), as may be amended by the Organization, provided that such amendments are adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures applicable to the annex other than chapter I. For the purpose of this regulation, although the Code on noise levels on board ships is treated as a mandatory instrument, recommendatory parts as specified in chapter I of the Code shall be treated as non-mandatory, provided that amendments to such recommendatory parts are adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee in accordance with its Rules of Procedure.

4.	Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph 1, this regulation does not apply to types of ships listed in paragraph 1.3.4 of the Code on noise levels on board ships.

[Regulation 3-12 Part A-1 of Chapter II-1 of the Annex to the Second Schedule (Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974) inserted by Notice No. 4133, GG55299, dated 4 September 2026]

________________________________________

42	Refer to the Code on Noise levels on board ships (resolution A.468(XII)).

43	Refer to Revised guidelines for the reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life (MEPC.1/Circ.906).