5.66 Are Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on board for all the cargo, bunkers and other products being handled, and are all officers familiar with their use?
MSDS data sheets should be on board for the following:-
All grades of cargo being carried
All grades of fuel used on board
All chemicals used on board
paints, protective coatings and all other corrosive or toxic materials that are carried on board?
Ships carrying MARPOL Annex I cargoes, as defined in Appendix I to Annex I of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, and marine fuel oils shall be provided with a material safety data sheet prior to the loading of such cargoes. (SOLAS 2007 Amendments VI 5-1)
On ships carrying MARPOL Annex II cargoes, Prior to loading, the shipper should provide both to the Master and the Company, as defined in the ISM Code, a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), formatted in accordance with resolution MSC.286(86), for cargoes containing benzene. (IBC Appendix 8 Annex).
Note: Boiler treatment chemicals and other chemicals carried in packaged form shall be properly stowed to prevent uncontrolled movement and must be provided with MSDS. Protective equipment including a face shield, apron, gloves and an eye-wash should be provided at the place where chemicals are stored.
Personnel who handle the materials in question must be aware as to the purpose of the MSDS and be able to demonstrate familiarity with it.
Paints, protective coatings and all other corrosive or toxic materials that are carried on board shall be properly stowed to prevent uncontrolled movement and must be provided with MSDS. Protective equipment including a face shield, apron, gloves and an eye-wash should be provided at the place where paints, protective coatings and all other corrosive or toxic materialsare stored. The MSDS may be printed on the container. If it is not, then the MSDS data must be prominently posted or readily available to the user.
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Personnel who handle the materials in question must be aware as to the purpose of the MSDS and be able to demonstrate familiarity with it.
MSDS data sheets for Annex I cargoes and fuel oil are recommended to comply with the format in MSC 286 (86). MSDS for other products carried on board such as Chemicals for use on board, paint thinners etc.
should be fit for purpose and should be in a format broadly based on the format laid out in MSC 286(86).
Access
5.67 Is a gangway provided?
A ship’s gangway consists of a straight, lightweight bridging structure provided with side stanchions and handrails. The walking surface has a non-slip surface or transverse bars to provide foot grips for when it is inclined. It is rigged perpendicular to the ship's side and spans between the ship's rail and the working deck
of the berth. (ISGOTT 16.4.3.2)
5.68 Are accommodation ladders, gangways, pilot ladders where fitted, in good order?
Means of embarkation on and disembarkation from ships.
1. Ships constructed on or after 1 January 2010 shall be provided with means of embarkation on and disembarkation from ships for use in port and in port related operations, such as gangways and accommodation ladders, in accordance with paragraph 2.
2 .The means of embarkation and disembarkation required in paragraph 1 shall be constructed and installed based on the guidelines developed by the Organization (MSC.1/Circ 1196) (SOLAS II-1/3-9) Marking
Each accommodation ladder or gangway should be clearly marked at each end with a plate showing the restrictions on the safe operation and loading, including the maximum and minimum permitted design angles of inclination, design load, maximum load on bottom end plate, etc. Where the maximum
operational load is less than the design load, it should also be shown on the marking plate.
(MSC.1/Circ.1331/3.5)
5.69 Are all means of access satisfactory, including the provision of a safety net, lifebuoy and line?
Safety nets are not required if the gangway is fixed to the shore and provided with a permanent system of handrails made of structural members. For other types of gangways, and those fitted with rope or chain handrails or removable posts, correctly rigged safety nets should be provided. (ISGOTT 16.4.5)
Notes: Safety nets should be provided wherever there is a possibility of a person falling over or through the side rails of the gangway and should be rigged to prevent anyone falling between the ship and quay. Where the rails provide adequate protection, a safety net might not be necessary.
Regardless of whether the gangway is supplied by ship or shore, it is the ship’s responsibility to ensure that a safety net is rigged.
If the means of access are considered to be unsafe, then the inspector must not put him/herself at risk by going on board.
When a gangway is rigged a notice should be posted, preferably at the shore end. The notice should state that:-
Unauthorised persons are not allowed to board;
Visitors are required to show identification;
Mobile phones and other electronic equipment must be switched off;
Smoking and naked lights are prohibited;
Lighters and matches are prohibited to be carried on board.
5.70 Are pilot boarding and access arrangements satisfactory?
In all ships where the distance from sea level to the point of access to, or egress from, the ship exceeds 9 metres and where it is intended to embark and disembark pilots by means of the accommodation ladder, or by means of mechanical pilot hoists or other equally safe and convenient means in conjunction with a pilot ladder, the ship shall carry such equipment on each side, unless the equipment is capable of being
transferred for use on either side. (SOLAS V/23.3.2)
Where the distance from the surface of the water to the point of access to the ship is more than 9m, the accommodation ladder in conjunction with a pilot ladder shall be used. The accommodation ladder shall
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lead aft and the lower end shall rest firmly against the ship’s side within the parallel body length of the ship
and clear of all discharges. (SOLAS V/23.3.3.2)
Means shall be provided to ensure safe, convenient and unobstructed passage for any person embarking on, or disembarking from, the ship between the head of the pilot or accommodation ladder and the deck.
(SOLAS V/23.4) Adequate lighting shall be provided to illuminate the transfer arrangements overside, the position on deck where a person embarks or disembarks and the controls of the mechanical pilot hoist. (SOLAS V/23.8) 5.71 Are safe access to the bow arrangements satisfactory?
Every petroleum, chemical and gas tanker shall be provided with the means to enable the crew to gain safe access to the bow even in severe weather conditions. (SOLAS II-1/3-3) Note: The requirements for safe access to the bow are contained in MSC.62 (67).
5.72 If a helicopter landing or winching area is provided, does it meet ICS guidelines?
Landing Area: defined as an operating area suitable for landing helicopters. The landing area may consist of a purpose built structure located above the ship's deck (referred to as a "purpose built landing area") or a non-purpose built area located on the ship's deck (referred to as a "non purpose built landing area"). The landing area may also be used for winching operations provided that the winching criteria described below can be satisfied. However, where a landing area with adequate size and obstacle clearance for the helicopter in question is provided, landing is always the preferred option.
Winching Area: defined as an operating area which may only be used for winching operations. The optimum position for a landing or winching area will normally be determined by the availability of a suitable space on the ship. However, where there is more than one area identified and capable of accommodating the type of helicopter(s) expected to be used, the ship's Master, in consultation with the helicopter operator, should assess the merits of each location, taking particular account of the size and position of obstacles and expected aerodynamic and ship motion effects.
(ICS Guide to Helicopter/Ship Operations 4.1.1) Generally, it is not recommended to locate the winching area near the bow of the ship. In addition, it should not be located on the bridge wing in the absence of a thorough risk assessment acceptable to the ship's Master and the helicopter operator. The winching area should, if possible, be clear of accommodation spaces and provide adequate deck area adjacent to the manoeuvring zone where personnel can muster, and provide for safe access to the area from different directions. In selecting a winching area, the desirability of keeping the winching height to a minimum should also be borne in mind.
(ICS Guide to Helicopter/Ship Operations 4.4.1) Notes: Landing Area at the Ship's Side: A non-purpose built landing area located on a ship's side should consist of a "clear zone" and a "manoeuvring zone" A diagram showing the general arrangements is set out in the ICS Guide Figure 4.1, page 22, while the details of the landing area markings are described more fully in Section 4.3.2 of the Guide.
Winching Area at the Ship’s Side: Where it is impractical to provide a landing area for helicopters it may be possible to provide an operating area capable of supporting winching operations only. A winching area should consist of a “clear zone” and a “manoeuvring zone”. A diagram showing the general arrangements are set out in the ICS Guide Figure 4.4, page 25, while the details of the winching area are described more fully in Section 4.4.3 of the Guide.
5.73 If the bridge wing is used as a winching area, is a thorough risk assessment conducted?
The bridge wing will never be the ideal location for a winching area. However, there may be circumstances where there is no practical alternative to use of the bridge wing, and in such cases a thorough risk assessment of the operation must be conducted. Only if the results are acceptable to, and approved by, both the ship's Master and the helicopter operator should winching to the ship's bridge wing be permitted.
(ICS Guide to Helicopter/Ship Operations 4.2.2)
Note: The ICS Guide, Appendix H contains guidance to the conduct of a bridge wing risk assessment.
Additional comments:
If the Inspector has comments in respect of the subject matter covered by the Chapter additional to those which the Inspector may make in response to the specific questions in the Chapter, the Inspector should include such additional comments in this section.
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