(a) The Administration may require that all reasonable
and practicable measures shall be taken to limit the entry and spread
of water above the relevant bulkhead deck. Such measures may include
partial bulkheads or webs. When partial watertight bulkheads and webs
are fitted on the relevant bulkhead deck, above or in the immediate
vicinity of main subdivision bulkheads, they shall have watertight
shell and relevant bulkhead deck connections so as to restrict the
flow of water along the deck when the ship is in a heeled damaged
condition. Where the partial watertight bulkhead does not line up
with the bulkhead below, the relevant bulkhead deck between shall
be made effectively watertight.
(b) The deck at the immersion limit line or a
deck above it shall be weathertight in the sense that in ordinary
sea conditions water will not penetrate in a downward direction. All
openings in the exposed weather deck shall have coamings of ample
height and strength and shall be provided with efficient means for
expeditiously closing them weathertight. Freeing ports, open rails
and/or scuppers shall be fitted as necessary for rapidly clearing
the weather deck of water under all weather conditions.
(c) Sidescuttles, gangway, cargo and other ports
and other means for closing openings in the shell plating above the
immersion limit line shall be of efficient design and construction
and of sufficient strength having regard to the spaces in which they
are fitted and their positions relative to the deepest subdivision
loadline.
(d) Efficient inside deadlights, arranged so that
they can be easily and effectively closed and secured watertight,
shall be provided for all sidescuttles to spaces below the first deck
above the immersion limit line.