Interpretation
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1464/Rev.1 - Unified Interpretations of SOLAS Chapters II-1 and XII, of the Technical Provisions for Means of Access for Inspections (Resolution MSC.158(78)) and of the Performance Standards - Annex - 4 SOLAS Regulations II-1/40 – General – and II-1/41 – Main Source of Electrical Power and Lighting Systems - Interpretation

Interpretation

  Essential services and arrangements of sources of power, supply, control and monitoring to the different categories of essential services

  1 Classification of essential services

  1.1 Essential services are those services essential for propulsion and steering, and safety of the ship, which are made up of "Primary Essential Services" and "Secondary Essential Services". Definitions and examples of such services are given in 2 and 3 below.

  1.2 Services to ensure minimum comfortable conditions of habitability are those services defined in 4 below.

  2 Primary Essential Services

 Primary Essential Services are those services which need to be in continuous operation to maintain propulsion and steering. Examples of equipment for "Primary Essential Services" are as follows:

  • - steering gears;
  • - pumps for controllable pitch propellers;
  • - scavenging air blower, fuel oil supply pumps, fuel valve cooling pumps, lubricating oil pumps and cooling water pumps for main and auxiliary engines and turbines necessary for propulsion;
  • - forced draught fans, feed water pumps, water circulating pumps, vacuum pumps and condensate pumps for steam plants on steam turbine ships, and also for auxiliary boilers on ships where steam is used for equipment supplying primary essential services;
  • - oil burning installations for steam plants on steam turbine ships and for auxiliary boilers where steam is used for equipment supplying primary essential services;
  • - azimuth thrusters, which are the sole means for propulsion/steering with lubricating oil pumps, cooling water pumps;
  • - electrical equipment for electric propulsion plant with lubricating oil pumps and cooling water pumps;
  • - electric generators and associated power sources supplying the above equipment;
  • - hydraulic pumps supplying the above equipment;
  • - viscosity control equipment for heavy fuel oil;
  • - control, monitoring, and safety devices/systems for equipment to primary essential services;
  • - fire pumps and other fire extinguishing medium pumps;
  • - navigation lights, aids and signals;
  • - internal safety communication equipment;
  • - lighting system.

  3 Secondary Essential Services

 Secondary Essential Services are those services which need not necessarily be in continuous operation to maintain propulsion and steering but which are necessary for maintaining the vessel's safety. Examples of equipment for secondary essential services are as follows:

  • - windlass;
  • - fuel oil transfer pumps and fuel oil treatment equipment;
  • - lubrication oil transfer pumps and lubrication oil treatment equipment;
  • - pre-heaters for heavy fuel oil;
  • - starting air and control air compressors;
  • - bilge, ballast and heeling pumps;
  • - ventilating fans for engine and boiler rooms;
  • - services considered necessary to maintain dangerous spaces in a safe condition;
  • - fire detection and alarm system;
  • - electrical equipment for watertight closing appliances;
  • - electric generators and associated power sources supplying the above equipment;
  • - hydraulic pumps supplying the above equipment;
  • - control, monitoring, and safety systems for cargo containment systems;
  • - control, monitoring, and safety devices/systems for equipment to secondary essential services.

  4 Services for habitability

 Services for habitability are those services which need to be in operation for maintaining the ship's minimum comfort conditions for the crew and passengers. Examples of equipment for maintaining conditions of habitability are as follows:

  • - cooking;
  • - heating;
  • - domestic refrigeration;
  • - mechanical ventilation;
  • - sanitary and fresh water;
  • - electrical generators and associated power sources supplying the above equipment.

  5 Regulation II-1/40.1.1 and regulation II-1/41.1.1 – For the purposes of these regulations, the services as included in paragraphs 2 to 4 should be considered.

  6 Regulation II-1/40.1.2 – For the purposes of this regulation, the services as included in paragraphs 2 and 3 and the services in regulation II-1/42 or II-1/43, as applicable, should be considered.

  7 Regulation II-1/41.1.2 – For the purposes of this regulation, the services as included in paragraphs 2 to 4, except for those also listed in Interpretation 3 (SOLAS chapter II-1, regulation 41.1.2), should be considered.

  8 Regulation II-1/41.1.5 – For the purposes of this regulation, the services as included in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 should be consideredfootnote.

  9 Regulation II-1/41.5.1.2 – For the purposes of this regulation, the following interpretations are applicable:

  • .1 services in paragraph 2 should not be included in any automatic load shedding or other equivalent arrangements;

  • .2 services in paragraph 3 may be included in the automatic load shedding or other equivalent arrangement provided disconnection will not prevent services required for safety being immediately available when the power supply is restored to normal operating conditions; and

  • .3 services for habitability in paragraph 4 may be included in the load shedding or other equivalent arrangement.

Parent topic: 4 SOLAS Regulations II-1/40 – General – and II-1/41 – Main Source of Electrical Power and Lighting Systems
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