1.2 Definitions
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.981 – Guidelines for the Design, Construction and Operation of Passenger Submersible Craft – (29 January 2001)Amended by MSC/Circ.1125 - Annex - Guidelines for the Design, Construction and Operation of Passenger Submersible Craft - Chapter 1 - General - 1.2 Definitions

1.2 Definitions

 For the purpose of these Guidelines the following definitions are adopted:

  1.2.1 Administration is the Government of the State whose flag a passenger submersible craft is entitled to fly or in which the passenger submersible craft is registered.

  1.2.2 Autonomous craft is a passenger submersible craft which, although requiring surface support, is not physically connected to support facilities during operation.

  1.2.3 Ballast tank refers to a compartment/tank used to control the buoyancy of a passenger submersible craft.

  1.2.4 Exostructure means all structure appendages, fairings and fendering outside of the pressure hull, including propeller guards.

  1.2.5 Gas container is a pressure container for the storage and transport of gases under pressure.

  1.2.6 Life-support system is the equipment and systems required to maintain the passenger submersible craft in a habitable condition in all anticipated operating conditions.

  1.2.7 The design depth is the maximum depth to which the passenger submersible craft is designed to operate.

  1.2.8 Organization is the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

  1.2.9 Payload is the weight the passenger submersible craft is capable of carrying in addition to its permanently fitted equipment.

  1.2.10 Passenger is every person other than the pilot and the members of the crew or other persons employed or engaged in any capacity on board a passenger submersible craft on the business of the craft.

  1.2.11 Passenger compartment is a space intended to accommodate passengers.

  1.2.12 Passenger submersible craft is a passenger-carrying mobile vessel, which primarily operates under water and relies on surface support, e.g. a surface ship or shore-based facilities, for monitoring and for one or more of the following:

  • .1 recharging of power supply;

  • .2 recharging high pressure air; and

  • .3 recharging life-support.

  1.2.13 Pilot is a person appointed to command the passenger submersible craft.

  1.2.14 Pressure container is a pressure vessel for the storage of fluids under pressure.

  1.2.15 Recognized organization is a classification society authorized by a flag State to perform statutory services on its behalf under certain conditions determined by the flag Statefootnote.

  1.2.16 Rated depth is the maximum depth to which the passenger submersible craft is certified to operate.

  1.2.17 Support facility is a surface craft or shore-based facility providing support to passenger submersible craft.

  1.2.18 Viewport is a penetration in the pressure boundary including the window, flange, retaining ring and seals.

  1.2.19 Window is a transparent, impermeable and pressure resistant insert in the viewport.


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