Preamble
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - DSC Code - Code of Safety for Dynamically Supported Craft – Resolution A.373(X) - Preamble

Preamble

 The International Conventions ratified in respect of conventional ships and the regulations applied as a consequence of such Conventions have largely been developed having in mind the manner in which ships are constructed and operated. Traditionally, ships have been built of steel and have been expected to operate on a world-wide basis with a minimum of operational controls. The requirements for passenger ships engaged on long international voyages are therefore framed in such a way that, providing the ship is presented for survey and a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate is issued, the ship may go anywhere in the world without any operational restrictions being imposed. Providing the ship is not involved in a casualty, all that is needed is that it is made available to the Administration for the purpose of a satisfactory re-survey before the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate expires and the certificate will be re-issued.

 The traditional method of regulating passenger ships should not be accepted as being the only possible way of providing an appropriate level of safety. Nor should it be assumed that another approach, using different criteria, could not be applied. Over a period of some 30 years, new designs of marine vehicles, some of which are amphibious, have been developed, and while these cannot fully comply with the provisions of the international conventions relating to passenger ships, they have demonstrated an ability to operate at an acceptable level of safety when engaged on restricted voyages under restricted operational weather conditions and with approved maintenance and supervision schedules.

 This Code has been prepared in order that the research and development of dynamically supported craft may be facilitated and in order that they may be accepted internationally. Such craft could take a number of forms, but are essentially within the spectrum which exists between ships and aircraft, for both of which regulations presently apply. The essential elements within the Code should permit any new type of such craft to be considered by an Administration and their application should produce an acceptable level of safety.

 The Code takes into account dynamically supported craft essentially engaged in high-speed, high-passenger-density operations and sets out minimum requirements for craft carrying up to 300 passengers and operating within a distance of 100 nautical miles from a place of refuge. At the time the Code was being developed and reviewed this number represented the scope of substantial experience. Present technology indicates that the Code as formulated may be applied to designs carrying up to a maximum of 450 passengers without additional requirements. Should craft carrying more passengers or operating further from a place of refuge be envisaged, the Administration should consider what additional requirements or variations in the Code are required. Additional attention to life-saving appliances, evacuation arrangements, fire protection and extinguishing arrangements and the duplication of radiocommunication facilities might be required.

 The Code could be extended to craft of similar technical concept but adapted to cargo operations, accommodation of passengers in sleeping berths, etc.; this might require additional provisions applicable only to such cases.

 The Code has been developed as a unified document on the principle that an equivalent level of safety to that normally expected on ships complying with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea can be achieved in dynamically supported craft of differing design and constructional arrangements, providing all aspects of the construction, operation, maintenance and supervision are specified by the Administration and appropriate restrictions are placed on the length of the service, the sea state suitable for operation taking into account the communication facilities and the rapid availability of rescue craft.

 It has therefore been based on the premise that:

  • (a) the distance covered and the worst sea state for which operations will be permitted will be restricted;

  • (b) there will at all times be reasonable proximity to a place of refuge;

  • (c) adequate provision will be made for communication so that any accident to the craft will be quickly known to the base port;

  • (d) facilities are provided for rapid evacuation into suitable survival craft;

  • (e) rescue services will be rapidly available throughout the voyage;

  • (f) reliable weather forecast for the area concerned will be available;

  • (g) acceptable maintenance and inspection facilities together with adequate control arrangements are available;

  • (h) strict control over operations will be enforced;

  • (i) all passengers are provided with a seat and that no sleeping berths are provided.

 Where any of the above do not apply, the Administration should consider whether equivalent safety can be achieved in another way.

 It is important that an Administration, in considering the suitability of a dynamically supported craft under this Code, should apply all sections of the Code because non-compliance with any part could result in an imbalance which would adversely affect the safety of passengers and crew. For a similar reason, modifications to existing craft which may have an effect on safety, should be approved by the Administration.

 In deriving the Code it has been considered desirable to ensure that such craft do not impose unreasonable demands on existing users of the environment or suffer unnecessarily through lack of reasonable accommodation by existing users. Whatever burden of compatibility there is should not necessarily be laid wholly on the dynamically supported craft, and in considering amphibious vehicles, Administrations should take appropriate cognisance of their amphibious capabilities.


Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.