Deck Operations
14. Communications, Electrical and Radio Equipment 1 General Provisions
14. Communications, Electrical and Radio Equipment
14.1 General ProvisionsThe use of non-intrinsically safe electrical equipment is strictly prohibited in any gas hazardous area. Such equipment includes mobile telephones, torches, pagers, portable lamps, handheld computers, cameras and any other device which has an electrical source of power.
The entire main deck area and foc's’le head, forward of a line 3 metres aft of the accommodation front, should be considered a gas hazardous area. Any space which opens onto the main deck of a tanker such as a pump room or compartments either on deck or in the foc's’le space must also be considered gas hazardous areas.
In areas outside the accommodation block, engine room and other internal compartments, the use of electrical equipment can be considered provided that a risk assessment is undertaken and a Hot Work Permit completed. Such areas might include outside the accommodation aft of the 3 metre line and compartments in the foc's'le space which have double door protection from the main deck.
14.2 The Use of Cameras
If photography is to be undertaken in a gas hazardous area such as the main deck or foc’s’le -photographic equipment which does not have a flash or any battery or power operated parts, such as the non-flash plastic disposable type, must be used. These cameras can be considered safe for use in hazardous areas.
If photography requiring a flash or the use of other electrical equipment is to be undertaken in ballast tanks or other compartments which open onto the main deck:
• The compartment within which the equipment is to be used must be safe for hot work;
• The adjacent compartments must also be safe for hot work, or have been purged of hydrocarbon to less than 2% by volume and inerted, or are completely filled with ballast water, or any combination of these; and
• All tank openings to other compartments not safe for hot work or purged as above are closed and remain so.
14.3 Torches
All torches on board the tanker fleet, regardless of where they are to be used, must be certified safe for use in gas hazardous areas.
It is the responsibility of the Master or his delegated responsible person, to ensure that all torches which are received from ship chandlers are clearly stamped on the case that they are ‘Ex’
rated. If this is not so the torches must be returned to the provider.
14.4 Radio Equipment
Personnel should be aware that the use of radio equipment during cargo or ballast handling operations can be potentially dangerous.
14.5 Satellite Communications Equipment
This equipment normally operates at 1.6 gHz and the power levels generated are not sufficient to present an ignition hazard. Satellite communications equipment may therefore be used to transmit and receive messages as normal in port.
14.6 HF and MF Radio Equipment
Transmissions from HF and MF radio equipment (300 KHz to 30 MHz) can radiate significant energy and may induce an electrical potential in unearthed ‘receivers’ such as stays and rigging up to 500 metres from the transmitting antennae. This electrical potential may produce an incendive spark, even though insulators are fitted.
Such equipment should not therefore be used when alongside a terminal or other vessel where gas hazardous atmospheres might exist. The aerials of HF and MF equipment should be earthed where possible. Each vessel must determine the way in which the aerial can be earthed, and which may be one of the following:
• A keyboard command;
• A manually operated isolation switch;
• By manually disconnecting the aerial;
• By switching the equipment off.
14.7 VHF and UHF Radio Equipment
The use of permanently and correctly installed VHF and UHF equipment during cargo operations is considered safe. However, the transmission power of such equipment should be set to a low power of not more than 1 watt where possible.
14.8 Portable VHF and UHF Radios
The use of portable VHF/UHF radios within a terminal or on board ship presents no hazards as long as the equipment is certified and maintained to intrinsically safe standards. Each radio must have an identification label on the equipment stating that it is ‘Ex’ rated and must be individually identified.
It is of the utmost importance that portable radios are maintained in good condition. The Chief Officer must check portable radios regularly and if there is any evidence whatsoever of damage to a portable radio, the battery, or the aerial, then it must be withdrawn from service and either returned ashore for repair or replaced. It should be noted that a damaged aerial, even though it can be easily removed and is not part of the electrically powered part of the radio, is considered to affect the intrinsically safe rating of the radio and therefore radios must not be used with damaged aerials.
Portable radios must not be used without their protective cases. In order to avoid dropping the equipment, the harness must be secured to the wearer.
14.9 Radars
Radars present no radio ignition hazard due to induced currents, nor are there any significant health risks providing sensible precautions such as not looking directly into a scanner from close range are taken.
The only issue with radars is that the scanner motor will not be ‘Ex’ rated, but since it will always be sited well outside the gas-hazardous area, this does not, under normal circumstances, present a problem. The testing and servicing of radars in port is therefore considered safe unless there are accumulations of hydrocarbons present, such as might be experienced on calm, hot days.
However, it is good practice to either switch radars off or to standby whilst alongside, and to consult with the terminal before testing them.
14.10 Automatic Identification System (AIS)
The AIS operates on a VHF frequency and transmits and receives information automatically, and the output power ranges between 1 and 12 watts or more. Even when set to low power, automatic polling by another station may cause some types of equipment to reply at the highest wattage setting, even when initially set to low power.
When alongside a terminal or port area where hydrocarbon gases may be present, either the AIS should be switched off or the aerial isolated and the AIS given a dummy load. Isolating the aerial preserves manually input data that may be lost if the AIS is switched off. However, some port authorities may request that the AIS is kept on when a ship is alongside, and the Master should determine if this is the case.
When involved in STS operations, the AIS should remain in use at all times, including during cargo operations. The equipment need not be set to low power output.
14.11 Telephones and Pagers
The great majority of mobile phones and pagers are not intrinsically safe and are only considered safe for use in non-hazardous areas. The use of them should therefore be restricted to inside the accommodation. It is important that the deck watch intercepts all persons boarding the vessel and ensures that any mobile phones or pagers they are carrying are turned off.
When there is a direct telephone connection from the ship to the shore control room or elsewhere, telephone cables should preferably be routed outside the dangerous zone. Whenever this is not feasible, the cable should be routed and fixed in position by qualified shore personnel and should be protected against mechanical damage.
14.12 Communication with the Terminal
Communication must be maintained between the vessel and the terminal. Communication can be either by telephone, portable radio, or, in exceptional circumstances, by word of mouth.
Communications should be checked at regular intervals and the Master must be informed if there is a failure, at which time consideration should be given to stopping cargo operations until communication is restored.
In terminals where communication is solely by word of mouth between the jetty and the vessel, the deck watch must remain in contact with the jetty operator and must be able to adequately converse with them.