Decision No. 59/2005/QD-BGTVT dated November 21, 2005 of the Ministry of Transport promulgating regulations on equipment for maritime safety and prevention of marine environmental pollution installed on Vietnamese seagoing ships operating on domestic routes

DECISION

Promulgating regulations on equipment for maritime safety and prevention of marine environmental pollution installed on Vietnamese seagoing ships operating on domestic routes

MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

Pursuant to the Viet Nam Maritime Code dated June 14, 2005;

Pursuant to Government’s Decree No. 34/2003/ND-CP dated April 04, 2003 defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

At the request of the Director of the Department of Science and Technology and the Director of the Vietnam Register,

DECIDES:

Article 1. Issue together with this Decision “Regulations on equipment for maritime safety and prevention of marine environmental pollution installed on Vietnamese seagoing ships operating on domestic routes”.

Article 2. This Decision shall take effect from January 01, 2006. All previous regulations contrary to this Decision shall be annulled.

Article 3. The Chief of Office, Chief Inspector of the Ministry, the Directors of Departments under the Ministry, the Director of the Vietnam Registry, Heads of relevant agencies, organizations and individuals shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision./.

          The Minister

          Dao Dinh Binh

REGULATIONS

On equipment for maritime safety and prevention of marine environmental pollution installed on Vietnamese seagoing ships operating on domestic routes

 (Issued together with the Decision No. 59/2005/QD-BGTVT
dated November 21, 2005 of the Minister of Transport)

Chapter 1:

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application

1. This Regulation shall prescribe regulations on equipment for maritime safety and prevention of marine environmental pollution installed on Vietnamese seagoing ships operating on domestic routes (hereinafter referred to as equipment).

2. This Regulation shall apply to agencies, organizations and individuals involved in the management and operation of seagoing ships in one of the following cases:

a) Seagoing ships with length of 20 m or more;

b) Seagoing ships with the total main engine capacity of 37 kilowatts (kW) or more;

c) Passenger ships, tugboats, liquid cargo ships, liquefied bulk carriers, ships carrying hazardous chemicals and ships with other special uses regardless of the length of such ships and the total main engine capacity.

Article 2. Technical requirements and requirements for equipment arrangement and installation

1. Technical requirements and requirements for arrangement and installation of equipment shall comply with this Regulation.

2. If not mentioned in this Regulation, the requirements of TCVN 6259-5:2003 - Regulations on fire prevention, detection and fighting, TCVN 6276:2003 - Regulations on ship’s systems for preventing marine environmental pollution and TCVN 6278:2003 - Regulations on safety equipment for seagoing ships shall prevail.

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

The terms used in this Regulation shall be interpreted in accordance with TCVN 6259-5:2003 - Regulations on fire prevention, detection and fighting, TCVN 6276:2003 - Regulation on ship’s systems for preventing marine environmental pollution and TCVN 6278:2003 - Regulations on safety equipment for seagoing ships.

Chapter 2:

LIFE-SAVING DEVICES

Article 4. Requirements for life-saving devices of cargo ships

Cargo ships must have the following life-saving devices:

1. Life-saving devices of cargo ships with a length of less than 85m, except for oil tankers, chemical bulk carriers and ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk must meet the following requirements:

a) Ships of under 500 GT must arrange sufficient flotation devices on each boat side to accommodate the total number of people on board;

b) Ships of between 500 GT and less than 1,600 GT must arrange sufficient rafts on each boat side to accommodate the total number of people on board;

c) Ships of 1,600 GT or more, in addition to the provisions at Point b, Clause 1 of this Article, must be equipped with at least one rescue boat on board.

2. Life-saving devices for cargo ships with a length of 85m or more, except for oil tankers, chemical bulk carriers and ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk must meet the following requirements:

a) One or more lifeboats (which may be open) arranged on each boat side sufficient to carry the total number of persons on board, of which there must be at least one lifeboat satisfying the requirements of the rescue boat on board;

b) One or more life rafts arranged on each boat side sufficient to carry the total number of people on board. If life rafts are to be arranged on an open deck and can easily be moved to any boat side, the number of life rafts to be arranged on board shall be sufficient to carry the total number of people on board.

3. The number of lifebuoys and the regulations for lifebuoys must satisfy regulations at Section 2.4.2-1 and Section 2.2.2-1, Chapter 2 of TCVN 6278:2003 - Regulations on safety equipment for seagoing ships.

4. In addition to the specified number of life jackets for each person on board, life jackets must be provided for those on watch and stored at the cockpit, in the engine control room or at other manned stations.

5. A line thrower with at least two launchers.

6. Swimsuits and immersion suits shall not be required.

Article 5. Requirements for life-saving devices for passenger ships

Passenger ships must have the following life-saving devices:

1. Life-saving devices for passenger ships of under 300 GT must satisfy the following requirements:

a) For ships operating in restricted sea areas III, sufficient flotation devices must be arranged on each boat side to carry 75% of the total number of people on board. When a flotation device is lost or damaged, the remaining number of flotation devices must still be able to carry 100% of the total number of people on board;

b) For ships operating in restricted sea areas II, sufficient life rafts must be arranged on each boat side to carry 75% of the total number of people on board. When a life raft is lost or damaged, the remaining life rafts must still be able to carry 100% of the total number of people on board;

c) For ships operating in restricted sea areas I, in addition to the provisions at Point b, Clause 1 of this Article, such ships must additionally equip at least one rescue boat on board.

2. Life-saving devices for passenger ships from 300 GT to under 500 GT must satisfy the following requirements:

a) For ships operating in restricted sea areas III, flotation devices must be arranged in accordance with provisions at Point a, Clause 1 of this Article;

b) For ships operating in restricted sea areas I and II, in addition to the arrangement of life rafts on each boat side sufficient to carry 75% of the total number of people on board, at least one lifeboat shall be added on board. When one life raft is lost or damaged, the remaining life rafts must be able to carry 100% of the total number of people on board.

3. Passenger ships of 500 GT or more must comply with the provisions at 2.3 and Table 2/1, Chapter 2 of TCVN 6278:2003 – Regulations on safety equipment for seagoing ships.

4. The number of lifebuoys and the regulations for lifebuoys must satisfy the provisions of Section 2.3.2-1 and Section 2.2.2-2, Chapter 2 of TCVN 6278:2003 – Regulations on safety equipment for seagoing ships.

5. In addition to the number of life jackets equipped for each person on board, 5% life jackets and 10% child life jackets must be added to the total number of people on board.

6. A line thrower with at least two launchers.

7. Swimsuits and immersion suits shall not be required.

Article 6. Requirements for flammable liquid cargo ships, ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk, ships carrying dangerous chemicals in bulk

1. Flammable liquid cargo ships of under 500 GT must be equipped in accordance with provisions at Point a, Clause 1, Clause 3, Clause 4, Clause 5 and Clause 6 of Article 4.

2. Flammable liquid cargo ships of 500 GT or more, ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk, ships carrying dangerous chemicals in bulk must satisfy the requirements specified in section 2.4.1-1 (6), (7), (8) Chapter 2 – TCVN 6278:2003 - Regulations on safety equipment for seagoing ships.

Chapter 3:

FIRE PREVENTION, DETECTION AND FIGHTING

Article 7. Firefighting outcomes

1. For cargo ships of under 1,600 GT; flammable liquid cargo ships of under 500 GT; passenger ships of under 300 GT: service spaces with high fire risk, engine room and control station areas adjacent to accommodation areas must be separated by watertight bulkheads, decks and floors made of hull-manufactured materials and, if wrapped, such areas should be covered with non-combustible material.

2. Ships not specified in Clause 1 of this Article must comply with TCVN 6259-5:2003 - Regulations on fire prevention, detection and fighting.

Article 8. Engine room doors

Engine room doors must have a fireproof structure compatible with the fireproof structure of the door wall. For engine room doors of type A, it must be self-closing and airtight.

Article 9. Fire pumps

Fire pumps must be equipped in accordance with the following regulations:

1. Ships of 150 GT or more must have at least 01 motorized fire pumps.

2. Ships of between 150 GT and less than 1,000 GT must have at least 02 motorized fire pumps, of which 01 independent motorized pump.

3. Ships of 1,000 GT or more, must have at least 03 fire pumps, including 01 emergency fire pumps and 02 main motorized fire pumps, of which 01 is an independent motorized pump. For ships of under 2,000 GT, portable emergency fire pumps can be used.

Article 10. Fire nozzles, hoses and hydrants

Fire nozzles, hoses and hydrants on ships must be arranged in accordance with the following regulations:

1. Fire nozzles

a) Standard nozzles’ diameters shall be 12mm, 16mm, 19mm or close to the above diameter. If necessary, a nozzle with a larger diameter can be used.

b) For living rooms, service spaces, nozzles with a diameter of 12mm are required.

c) For engine room using nozzles, there must be two effects of misting and jetting.

2. Fire hoses

a) Fire hoses must have a length from 10m to 15m for engine rooms and from 10m to 20m for other rooms and open deck.

b) The ship must be equipped with fire hoses in accordance with provisions in Section 10.2.3 of TCVN 6259-5:2003 - Regulations on fire prevention and detection, but it shall not be required to be equipped with reserve fire hoses.

3. Fire hydrants

a) The number and location of fire hydrants must ensure that at least one jet of water from the fire hydrant connected to a hose can reach all parts of the ship.

b) Fire hydrants must be located near the entrance of the compartments protected by such fire hydrants.

Article 11. Portable fire extinguisher

1. The types of portable fire extinguishers shall be specified in Chapter 24 of TCVN 6259-5:2003 - Regulations on fire prevention, detection and fighting.

2. The number and arrangement of portable fire extinguishers shall conform to the requirements specified in Section 10.3.2 of TCVN 6259-5: 2003 - Regulations on fire prevention, detection and fighting, but the reserve shall not be required.

Article 12. Firefighting equipment in engine rooms

Engine rooms of type A containing internal combustion engines and oil-fired equipment must be equipped with a fire extinguishing system in accordance with the following regulations:

1. For ships of under 500 GT.

a) 01 foam fire extinguisher with a capacity of at least 45 liters or equivalent;

b) Portable fire extinguishers must be equipped to ensure that no point in the engine room is 10m away from the portable fire extinguisher, however, the minimum quantity for each engine room is 02;

c) 01 set of fire nozzles, hoses and hydrants using water in each engine room.

2. For ships from 500 GT to under 1,000 GT, in addition to satisfying the requirements specified in Clause 1 of this Article, the engine room must also be equipped with at least 01 additional set of fire nozzles, hoses and hydrants using water.

3. For ships of 1,000 GT or more, in addition to satisfying the requirements specified in Clause 2 of this Article, the engine room must be equipped with one of the fixed fire extinguishing systems specified in Section 10.4.1 of TCVN 6259-5:2003 – Regulations on fire prevention, detection and fighting.

Article 13. Fire control diagram

1. The language used in the fire control diagram must be Vietnamese.

2. The number of fire control diagrams

a) Ships of under 1,000 GT must be equipped with 01 fire control diagram hanging on each deck to guide officers and crewmen on board.

b) Ships of 1,000 GT or more must be equipped with 01 fire control diagram hanging on each deck to guide crewmen on board and 02 sets of fire control diagrams to be placed in a weatherproof box marked and permanently sealed outside the accommodation area to assist firefighters to get onboard.

Article 14. Emergency escape breathing devices

Emergency escape breathing devices shall not be required.

Article 15. Equipment for firefighters

Firefighters shall be equipped in accordance with the following regulations:

1. For cargo ships of under 500 GT, passenger ships of under 300 GT, sets of equipment for firefighters shall not be required.

2. For cargo ships of 500 GT or more, passenger ships of 300 GT or more, such ships must be equipped with at least 02 sets of equipment for firefighters.

Article 16. Requirements for equipment for fire prevention, detection and fighting of passenger ships

Passenger ships of 100 GT or more, in addition to complying with the provisions of from Article 7 to Article 15, must also satisfy the following regulations:

1. Fire pumps

a) Passenger ships of under 300 GT must be equipped with at least 02 motorized fire pumps, of which there must be 01 independently motorized pump.

b) Passenger ships of 300 GT or more must have at least 03 fire pumps, including 01 emergency fire pump and 02 main motorized fire pumps, of which there must be 01 independently motorized pump.

2. Portable fire extinguishers

Living areas must be equipped with portable fire extinguishers so that no point in the living area is more than 15m away from portable fire extinguishers, however, there must be at least 2 extinguishers on each deck.

Article 17. Fixed fire detection and alarm systems

1. Cargo ships of 1,000 GT or more, passenger ships of 300 GT or more must be equipped with a fire detection and alarm system that satisfies the provisions of Chapter 7 of TCVN 6259-5:2003 - Regulations on fire prevention, detection and fighting.

2. Cargo ships of under 1,000 GT, passenger ships of under 300 GT must be equipped with a manual fire alarm system. Manual fire alarm devices must be installed at the entrance to living areas, control stations and corridors. Manual fire alarm devices must be accessible at all times in the corridors of each deck such that no position of the corridor is more than 20m from the point where the fire alarm devices are located.

3. No automatic fire alarm system shall be required.

Article 18. Requirements for equipment for fire prevention, detection and fighting for flammable liquid cargo ships, ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk, ships carrying dangerous chemicals in bulk

Equipment for fire prevention, detection and fighting of ships must satisfy the requirements specified in TCVN 6259-5:2003 - Regulations on fire prevention, detection and fighting.

Chapter 4:

RADIO EQUIPMENT AND MARINE EQUIPMENT

Article 19. Equipment norms

1. Radio equipment

Ships must be equipped with radio equipment (RE) in accordance with the following regulations:

2. Marine equipment

Ships must be equipped with marine equipment (ME) in accordance with the following regulations:

Chapter 5:

EQUIPMENT FOR PREVENTION OF MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION OF SHIPS

Article 20. Equipment to prevent pollution of oil from engine rooms

Ships must be equipped with an oil filtration system in accordance with the following regulations:

1. Cargo ships, passenger ships of under 1,000 GT, oil tankers under 400 GT shall not be required to be equipped with an oil filtration system.

2. Cargo ships, passenger ships from 1,000 GT to under 10,000 GT, oil tankers from 400 GT to under 10,000 GT must be equipped with an oil filtration system to ensure that any oil-water mixture after passing through the filtration system must have oil content of not more than 15 ppm.

3. Ships of 10,000 GT or more must be equipped with an oil filtration system as prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article and such oil filtration system must have light and sound signals and automatically close when the oil content in the wastewater exceeds more than 15 ppm./.