Navigation (Collision, Boat and Fire Drills) Regulations (Cth)

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STATUTORY RULES.

1923. No. 89.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVIGATION ACT 1912-1920.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Navigation Act 1912-20, to come into operation on and from the first day of October, 1923.

Dated this fourth day of July, 1923.

FORSTER,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

AUSTIN CHAPMAN,

Minister of State for Trade and Customs.

NAVIGATION (COLLISION, BOAT AND FIRE DRILLS) REGULATIONS.

Part I.—Preliminary.

Short title.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Navigation (Collision, Boat and Fire Drills) Regulations.

Parts.

2. These Regulations are divided into Parts as follows:—

Part

I.—

Preliminary.

Part

II.—

General.

Part

III.—

Boat Drills.

Part

IV.—

Fire Drills.

Part

V.—

Collision Drills.

Part

VI.—

Rocket Drill.

Application of regulations.

3. (1) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, these Regulations shall apply to—

(a) Ships registered in Australia;

(b) British ships regularly employed in trading from a Commonwealth port as head-quarters; and

(c) Ships licensed to engage in the coasting trade.

(2) These Regulations shall not apply to—

(a) River and bay ships;

(b) Sailing vessels under 500 tons net register;

(c) Limited coast-trade steam-ships under 100 tons net register; and

(d) Ships trading exclusively within the limits of a single State.

Signal for boat or fire muster.

4. The alarm signal for a muster at collision, boat or fire stations shall be the continuous ringing, for approximately ten seconds, of the ship’s bell.

C.7911.—Price 5d.

Entry in official log-book.

5. (1) At the conclusion of every boat muster, and boat, fire or collision drill, an entry shall be made in the official log-book containing the following particulars:—

(a) In regard to a boat muster—

(i) The total number of the crew attending and taking part;

(ii) The number of boats prepared for swinging out with their distinguishing letters and numbers and

(iii) The number of boats, if any, swung out, with their distinguishing letters and numbers:

(b) In regard to a boat drill—

(i) The total number of the crew attending and taking part;

(ii) The number of boats lowered into the water, with their distinguishing letters and numbers;

(iii) The total number of the crew exercised in pulling the oars and boat-handling; and

(c) In regard to a collision or fire drill—

(i) The total number of the crew taking part or observing the drill;

(ii) Particulars as to the hoses and other fire appliances tested;

(iii) The watertight bulkhead doors worked.

(2) At the conclusion of every rocket drill an entry shall be made in the official log-book stating the nature of the drill, and whether the members of the crew allotted duties in connexion therewith were, at the conclusion of the drill, familiar with the practical use of the apparatus.

(3) An entry shall be made in the official log-book on every occasion on which a boat muster, or boat, fire, collision or rocket drill falls due, but is not held, stating the reason why it was not held.

Inspection of equipment to be made.

6. (1) On every ship to which these Regulations apply, a fortnightly inspection shall be made by a responsible officer of all life-saving and fire appliances and bulkhead doors, including—

(a) Life boats and rafts, with their equipment and launching apparatus;

(b) Lifebuoys, lifebuoy lines, and lifebuoy lights;

(c) Life jackets and their storage accommodation;

(d) Fire appliances;

(e) Watertight bulkhead doors and closing gear;

(f) Deck flares and emergency lighting lamps, &c.

(2) At the conclusion of every inspection an entry shall be made in the official log-book stating the condition in which the equipment was found. The entry shall be signed by the master and countersigned by the officer who made the inspection.

Part III.—Boat Drills.

Boat station muster book.

7. (1) In every ship to which these Regulations apply there shall be kept a Boat Station Muster Book in accordance with Form C.B.F.D.—1 of these Regulations.

(2) As soon as practicable after the opening of a new agreement with the crew, and before the ship first leaves port after the opening of such agreement, the master shall enter or cause to be entered in the

Boat Station Muster Book the following particulars in respect of each member of the crew:—

(a) the name and rating of the seaman;

(b) the distinguishing number of the life-boat to which allotted;

(c) the station duty assigned to him; and

(d) the badge number allotted to him in accordance with the next succeeding regulation.

(3) On any seaman ceasing to be a member of the crew of the ship his name shall be struck through and a fresh entry made in respect of the seaman engaged in his place, who shall be allotted the badge number of the seaman whose place he fills.

Muster badges.

8. (1) The master shall supply to each seaman, on his joining the ship, a muster badge, in accordance with Form C.B.F.D.—2 of these Regulations.

(2) The muster badge shall consist of a stout card, tinted red for port life-boat stations, and tinted green for starboard life-boat stations, held in a metal holder of a type and material approved by the Director and having a pin clasp capable of securely fastening it to the seaman’s tunic or coat when worn.

(3) The badge shall bear, in large and legible characters—

(a) the number of the badge;

(b) the distinguishing number of the life-boat to which the seaman is allotted; and

(c) the seaman’s name and date of issue.

(4) The badge may also bear, at the discretion of the master, a statement of the station duty assigned to the seaman.

(5) A badge and holder shall be issued to the seaman free of charge, but the seaman shall be personally responsible for their safe-keeping and at the end of his engagement shall return them to the master, in default of which the sum of One shilling may, at the discretion of the master, be deducted from his wages.

Boat station lists.

9. (1) The master shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, from the Boat Station Muster Book, a Boat Station List, in accordance with Form C.B.F.D.—3 of these Regulations.

(2) The Boat Station List shall assign definite duties to the various members of the crew in connexion with—

(a) the launching of the boats attached to davits;

(b) the preparation of the other boats;

(c) the equipment of the boats generally;

(d) the closing of bulkhead doors;

(e) the mustering of the passengers;

(f) fire stations; and

(g) any other matter which special circumstances may require.

(3) Efficient boat-hands shall be assigned to each boat, capable, if necessary, of recovering the falls after the lowering of a boat and of lowering second and subsequent boats from the same davits.

(4) The other duties shall be apportioned amongst the other members of the crew, but so that sufficient members of the steward’s department are told off for the effective mustering of the passengers.

Copy of boat station list to be posted up.

(5) The master shall, before the first departure of the ship from port after the opening of a new agreement with the crew, cause a legible copy of the Boat Station List to be posted up in some prominent part or parts of the ship readily accessible to the crew, and shall use all reasonable precautions to keep it so posted during the currency of the agreement.

“Officers in charge” of boats.

(6) The person whose name appears first in the Boat Station List for any boat, and in his absence the person whose name appears second in that List, shall be regarded as the “officer in charge” of that boat.

(7) In assigning persons to be “officer in charge” of boats it shall be arranged, as far as practicable, that where an engineer, junior deck officer, or petty officer is assigned to be in charge of a boat, one of the senior deck officers shall be assigned to the boat of the corresponding number on the opposite side of the deck.

(8) The “officer in charge” of each boat shall be supplied with a copy of the Boat Station List in so far as it applies to the boat under his charge.

When boat is disabled.

10. If on any occasion a life-boat is disabled, or for any other reason cannot be launched, the crew assigned to her shall, at the direction of the “officer in charge,” cross over to the life-boat of the corresponding number on the opposite side of the deck, whereupon the senior deck officer present shall be the “officer in charge” of the combined crew;

Provided that the master, or in his absence the senior officer in charge of the boat-deck, may distribute the crew of the disabled or useless boat among the other boats as he thinks fit.

Numbering of life-boats.

11. (1) The life-boats on every ship to which these Regulations apply shall be numbered consecutively on each side of the ship, from forward, and shall be distinguished by an initial letter indicating the port or starboard side, as the case may be, as, P1, P2, P3, &c., S1, S2, S3, &c.

(2) Where two or more life-boats are served by the one set of davits, the second and subsequent boats shall, in addition to the letter and number required under the preceding sub-regulation, be distinguished, in the order of launching, with an additional letter; as P1a, P1b, &c.

(3) The distinguishing letter and number of each life-boat shall be painted in a conspicuous manner on the bluff of each bow and on the inboard quarter of the boat as stowed.

Boat musters and boat drills to be held.

12. (1) On every ship to which these Regulations apply, and which is in commission, boat musters and boat drills shall be held as provided in these Regulations:

Provided that when a boat-drill is held, it shall not be necessary to hold a boat muster within, in the case of a foreign-going passenger ship, one week, or, in the case of any other ship, two weeks, thereafter:

Provided further that when a ship is at sea when a boat-drill falls due, or is in port but her total stay in port does not exceed twenty-four

hours, it shall be a compliance with this regulation if the boat drill is held at the next port at which the ship calls and remains for more than twenty-four hours.

(2) In the case of a foreign-going passenger ship, a boat-drill shall, subject to sub-regulation (1) of this regulation, be held at intervals of not more than one month, and a boat muster at intervals of not more than one week.

(3) In the case of other ships a boat-drill shall, subject to sub-regulation (1) of this regulation, be held at intervals of not more than one month, and a boat muster at intervals of not more than two weeks.

(4) Before the first departure of a ship from port after the opening of a new agreement with the crew, there shall be held, in the case of a foreign-going passenger ship, a boat-drill, and in the case of any other ship, a boat muster, in accordance with these Regulations.

(5) In the case of ships whose agreements with the crew were opened before the commencement of these Regulations and are then current, the first boat-drill shall be held as soon as practicable after the commencement of these Regulations, and, subject to the first proviso to sub-regulation (1) of this regulation, a boat muster shall be held within one week of that commencement.

Boat musters.

13. (1) A boat muster, under these Regulations, shall be conducted as follows:—

(a) On the alarm signal being given, the whole of the crew (excepting only those who in the opinion of the master cannot be relieved from immediate duties) shall at once assemble at their stations;

(b) Each person shall be provided with a life-jacket and shall put on and properly secure the same;

(c) The “officer in charge” of each boat shall call the roll of the persons assigned to the boat, and shall satisfy himself that every member of his crew fully understands the nature of the duties assigned to him, and that his life-jacket is properly adjusted and secured;

(d) In the case of a foreign-going passenger ship, at least one-fourth of the total number of boats, selected by the officer in charge of the muster, shall, weather permitting, be prepared for swinging out, the covers and spreaders removed, the stores and equipment checked, the painters passed forward and made fast, life-lines, oars and boat-hooks cleared, plugs put in, and rudders cleared;

(e) The “officer in charge” of each boat shall report to the Chief Officer or other officer in charge of the muster the total number of persons (including himself) who attended at his boat;

(f) The crew may then, at the option of the master, be exercised in fire or collision drill.

(2) A boat muster shall not be regarded as in compliance with these Regulations unless at least three-quarters of the crew are present and take part.

14. (1) In the case of a passenger ship, the members of the Stewards’ Department shall be properly instructed in their duties as regards the mustering of passengers in time of emergency.

(2) These duties shall include—

(a) warning the passengers, instructing them to suitably clothe themselves, and seeing that their life-jackets are worn, properly adjusted, and secured;

(b) assembling the passengers at a suitable place or places (which may be indicated by painted notices) previously selected by the master as suitable for the particular type of ship and arrangement of the life-boats;

(c) keeping order in the passages and on the stairways, and generally controlling the movements of the passengers;

(d) the care and lighting of emergency lamps in saloons, passages, and stairways, &c.; and

(e) the collection of additional emergency provisions and blankets ready for placing in the life-boats.

Boat-drills.

15. (1) A boat-drill, under these Regulations, shall be conducted as follows:—

(a) On the alarm signal being given, the whole of the crew (excepting only those who in the opinion of the master cannot be relieved from immediate duty), shall at once assemble at their stations;

(b) Each person shall be provided with a life-jacket and shall put on and properly secure the same;

(c) The “officer in charge” of each boat shall call the roll of the persons assigned to the boat, and shall satisfy himself that the life-jacket of each is properly adjusted and secured;

(d) In the case of a ship with seven or more life-boats, at least one-third, and in the case of other ships at least one-half, of the boats carried shall then be manned with a full complement and lowered into the water, and their crews exercised for not less than twenty minutes in pulling the oars and boat-handling;

(e) The “officer in charge” of each boat shall report to the Chief Officer or other officer in charge of the boat-drill the names of each person (including himself) who attended at his boat and took part in the exercises on the water; and

(f) The crew may then, at the option of the master, be exercised in fire or collision drill.

(2) A boat-drill shall not be regarded as in compliance with these Regulations unless at least one-half of the crew of the ship are present and take part.

(3) The selection of the boats to be manned and lowered in connexion with a boat drill shall be so arranged that at least once in every three months every life-boat carried shall have been manned and lowered and its crew exercised in accordance with this regulation.

Report as to seaman’s ability.

16. On the discharge of a seaman before a Superintendent, the master shall report as to his ability to pull an oar and handle a boat.

Charges for forms.

17. The following charges shall be made for forms prescribed by these Regulations:—

Boat Station Muster Book (Form C.B.F.D.—1; reg. 7), per copy of—

s.

d.

3 folios (90 entries)..................................................................................................................

0

6

9 folios (270 entries)................................................................................................................

0

9

17 folios (510 entries)................................................................................................................

1

3

Muster Badges (Form C.B.F.D.—2; reg. 8), red or green-coloured cardboard, with metal holder and clasp, per doz. 

5

0

Muster Badges—Cards only, per 100..................................................................................................

3

6

Boat Station List (Form C.B.F.D.—3; reg. 9), on cardboard, per copy—

For 4 Life-boats........................................................................................................................

0

3

8

.....................................................................................................................

0

6

12

.....................................................................................................................

0

9

16

.....................................................................................................................

1

0

Part IV.—Fire Drills.

Fire drill to be held.

18. (1) On every ship to which these Regulations apply, and which is in commission, fire drills shall be held as provided in these Regulations.

(2) In the case of foreign-going passenger ships, a fire drill shall be held at intervals of not more than two weeks, and, in the case of other ships, at intervals of not more than one month.

(3) The first fire drill shall be held within one week after the opening of a new agreement with the crew.

Drill may be held either in port or at sea.

(4) A fire drill may be held either in port or at sea, and, at the option of the master, either on the same day that a boat muster or boat or collision drill is held, or on a separate day.

At least one-half of the crew to attend.

19. A fire drill shall not be regarded as in compliance with these Regulations unless at least half the crew are present, so that those not actually taking part may observe and be instructed in the carrying out of the operations.

Fire station duties to be allotted and shown on boat station lists.

20. The master shall allot to various members of the crew the important duties necessary to be performed in order to deal effectively with an outbreak of fire on board ship and shall enter in the Boat Station List all the more important of these duties against the badge numbers of the members of the crew to which they have been respectively allotted.

Conduct of fire drill.

21. A fire drill under these Regulations shall be conducted as follows:—

(a) On the alarm signal being given, the crew shall at once assemble at their stations, and, in connexion with:

Fire hoses and water supply.

(b) (i) Fire Hoses and Water Supply.—A release valve or valves of the water service pipe shall be opened and a notification sent to the engineer on duty to set the fire pumps away at full power.

At least two fire hoses to be tested.

(ii) At least two fire hoses complete with nozzles shall be coupled to the water service pipe connexions, the release valves then closed and the hoses tested under full pressure.

(iii) The distance of “throw” both when one and when two or more hoses are in action should occasionally be ascertained by the nozzle being held at an angle of, say 30° from, and about 3 feet above, the horizontal line along which the distance is measured, and the distance so found may be recorded as a guide to the additional force of water to be gained by using one instead of more hoses.

Fire buckets.

(c) Fire buckets filled with water shall be passed hand to hand, or as otherwise directed, from the water supply to a position selected by the master or officer in charge of the drill.

(d) Fluid Fire Extinguishers.—(i) The “officer-in-charge” of each life-boat shall make himself familiar with the use of the various types of chemical extinguishers on the ship, and shall instruct the members of his life-boat’s crew at the musters of the crew at fire drill in the care and use of the apparatus: Provided that the master or officer-in-charge of the drill may make such other effective arrangements for the instruction of the crew as he thinks fit.

Practical test of fire extinguishers.

(ii) At least once in every three months, while the crew are mustered at fire drill, a practical demonstration shall be given of the use of the portable fire extinguishers by expending at least one charge.

Smoke helmets and safety lamps.

(e) Smoke Helmets and Safety Lamps.The smoke helmets and safety lamps required by regulations under the Act to be carried by certain ships shall at a fire drill early in the voyage be brought on deck and their use explained to the members of the crew allotted to smoke helmet duty, and a demonstration made of the adjustment and wearing of a smoke helmet and the method of using the safety lamp.

Steam hoses to be tested.

(f) Equipment for the Use of Steam.(i) The equipment for the use of steam as a fire-extinguishing medium, required by regulation under the Act to be installed on certain steam-ships shall be tested at a fire drill in a manner approved by the master. An engineer officer shall be instructed to control any movement of the steam stop valves. At least one set of such equipment shall, if practicable, be tested periodically.

(ii) When testing steam fire-extinguishing appliances, special precaution shall be taken to guard against accident by scalding through a hose, where fitted, bursting, or recoiling, or through the inadvertent admission of steam to any compartment in which men may be working or to which passengers have access. Suitable provision shall be made for locking the stop valves against interference by unauthorized persons.

Steam fire appliances to be tested in rotation.

(iii) Different sections of the steam fire-extinguishing equipment required by these Regulations shall be tested at different fire drills so that at least once in every six months the whole of the equipment shall, if possible, have been tested.

Ventilators and openings of holds to be closed.

(iv) The requirements of this regulation in regard to the testing of steam fire-extinguishing equipment shall include the closing of all openings into at least one cargo compartment, including hatches, ventilators, &c., in the manner that they would require to be closed in case of an outbreak of fire in that compartment.

Master’s discretion may be used.

22. The system of carrying out the practical requirements of the last preceding regulation may, at the master’s discretion, be varied when not expressly required therein, provided that, as regards the requirements of paragraph (b), at not greater intervals than on alternate fire-drills at least two hoses are simultaneously tested under full pressure from the pumps, and that all the hoses shall have been tested once at least in every six months.

Continuous patrol system to be organized on passenger ships.

23. In order to detect, and to take prompt measures to deal with outbreaks of fire, the master of every passenger ship to which these Regulations apply shall cause to be instituted on his ship a night patrol system with provision for a report to be made by the patrol at regular intervals to the officer on watch.

Part V.—Collision Drills.

Definition of “Collision drill.’’

24. In every ship to which these Regulations apply collision drills shall be held for the purpose of training the crews in all matters necessary to insure prompt action in case of emergency in connexion with serious collision or stranding.

Allotment of collision drill duties.

25. The master shall allot specified duties to so many of the crew as is in his opinion necessary in connexion with:—

(a) Closing watertight doors;

(b) Soundings of the holds and various compartments;

(c) Getting the pumps away; and

(d) Any other immediate requirement in addition to the preparation and launching of the life-boats.

Collision duties of crew to be shown on boat station lists.

26. The duties of the selected members of the crew in regard to the requirements of the last preceding regulation shall be shown against their respective badge numbers on the Boat Station List referred to in Regulation 9 of these Regulations.

Watertight bulkhead door gear to be tested.

27. Before any ship to which these Regulations apply first leaves port after the opening of a new agreement with the crew, it shall be ascertained from actual trial that every watertight bulkhead door is capable of being closed, and when closed is effective for the purpose intended. An entry shall be made in the official log to this effect.

Restrictions in regard to bulkhead doors.

28. The master of a ship required by regulations under the Act to be fitted with water-tight bulkhead doors shall not take the ship to sea from any port at any time with—

(a)an open watertight bulkhead door that cannot be closed owing to defective closing gear; or

(b)any open watertight bulkhead door between two compartments below the main deck that cannot be closed owing to those spaces being filled with coal or cargo.

Entries to be made in ship’s and engine-room log-books.

29. (1) An entry shall be made in the ship’s log and engine-room log, and continued from day to day, in regard to any watertight bulkhead doors that have been opened, and left open, for the purpose of working the ship.

(2)The officers keeping watch on deck and in the engine-room, shall be instructed in the system arranged by the master for the immediate closing of the watertight bulkhead doors in case of emergency.

Members of steward’s department to close side scuttles, &c.,in passenger accommodation.

(3)In passenger ships, members of the Steward’s Department shall have allotted duties in connexion with the closing of ship side doors, side scuttles, &c., in the passenger accommodation.

Collision drill to be held.

30. On every ship to which these Regulations apply, collision drill shall be held at least once every month either in port or at sea, and, at the option of the master, either on the same day that a boat muster or fire-drill is held, or on a separate day, and shall be conducted as follows:—

Watertight bulkhead doors to be closed.

(a)On the signal being given the bulkhead doors in the various sections of the ship shall immediately be closed by the members of the crew allotted to that duty, and a messenger attached to each party that has been allotted to a section of the ship shall report to the master or officer in charge of the drill that all the bulkhead doors in that section are closed. Doors that were already closed at the commencement of the drill shall, if practicable, also be opened and then closed.

Tanks and bilges to be sounded.

(b)Members of the crew allotted to sounding duty shall immediately sound tanks, bilges, &c., in the section of the ship directed by the officer in charge of the drill. A messenger shall be allotted to the sounding party for communication with the officer and chief engineer.

Pumps to be connected.

(c)As many pumps as possible operated from the engine-rooms, and, at the master’s option, deck pumps, shall be connected to the section of the ship directed by the officer in charge of the drill and a report made to the bridge by messenger or other means when the pumps are ready for action.

Side doors, scuttles, &c., to be closed.

(d)Ship side doors, side scuttles, &c., in the passenger accommodation shall be closed as directed and a report sent to the bridge.

Hand pumps to be rigged and tested.

(e)At least once in every six months during one or more collision drills, all the portable bilge pumps shall be rigged ready for action and their valves and gear tested.

Part VI.—Rocket Drill.

31. (1) In the case of ships required by regulations under the Act to be equipped with a rocket line-throwing apparatus, the master shall, within one week of the opening of a new agreement with the crew, assign to selected members of the crew definite duties in connexion with the handling and operation of the apparatus.

(2)The members of the crew to whom duties have been so assigned shall thereupon be assembled and instructed and drilled in the use of the apparatus.

(3)A drill in accordance with this regulation shall be held at least once every two months.

(4)For the purpose of the drill all the gear shall be taken on deck and a practical demonstration given.

(5)The master may, at his option, order one or more rockets to be fired for the purpose of the drill, and, if practicable while the ship is at a suitable port, some members of the crew sent to recover the shore end of the rocket line, and to haul the bight of the endless whip ashore.

Repeal.

32. The Navigation (Boat Drills) Regulations, being Statutory Rules 1923, No. 20, as amended by Statutory Rules 1923, No. 54, are hereby repealed.

 

SCHEDULE.

 

Issued under the

Navigation Act s. 235

and Nav. (C.B.F.D.) Reg. 6.

Form C.B.F.D.—1

BOAT STATION MUSTER BOOK.

Date.

Name of Seaman.

Rating.

Badge No.

Life-boat.

Station.

Signature of Seaman.

Badge No.

 

Reg. 7.

Form C.B.B.D.—2.

Badge No.

Name..................................................

BOAT.

Station..................................................

Date / /19

[FORM C.B.F.D.—2]

 

Commonwealth of Australia.

 

Issued under the

Navigation Act s. 235

and Nav. (C.B.F.D.) Reg. 8.

Form C.B.F.D.—3.

BOAT STATION LIST.

S.S.................

Life-boats on Port Side.

Life-boats on Starboard Side.

Index.

Life-boats on Port Side—(con.)

Life-boats on Starboard Side—(con.)

P...............................

S................................

Badge No.

P.................................

S..............................

Position...................

Position....................

Boat No.

Position.....................

Position...................

Badge No.

Rating.

Station.

Badge No.

Rating.

Station.

1....................

2....................

3....................

&c.

Badge No.

Rating.

Station.

Badge No.

Rating.

Station.

Date / /19

....................................................

Commander.

 

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

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