8 Hold bilge dewatering system and freeing ports
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.608/Rev.1 – Interim Guidelines for Open-top Containerships – (Adopted on 5 July 1994) - Annex - Interim Guidelines for Open-Top Containerships - 8 Hold bilge dewatering system and freeing ports

8 Hold bilge dewatering system and freeing ports

  8.1 The bilge pumping system should have a required capacity to pump:

  • .1 the maximum hourly rate of green water shipped in seagoing conditions as established by the comprehensive model testing specified;

  • .2 an amount equal to rainfall of 100 mm/hour regardless of the installation of rain covers;

  • .3 the amount of shipped green water measured during the seakeeping model tests for the dead ship condition in beam seas, multiplied by safety factor 2;

  • .4 four-thirds of the amount of water required for fire-fighting purposes in the largest hold;

  • .5 an amount equal to the capacity required for ships with closed cargo holds,

whichever is the greater.

  8.2 The pumping of hold bilges should be possible by at least three bilge pumps.

  8.3 At least one of these pumps should have a capacity of not less than the required capacity as defined in 8.1 and should be dedicated to bilge and ballast service only. It should be located in such a way that it will not be affected by a fire or other casualty to the space containing the pumps required in 8.4 below or the space containing the main source of power and should be supplied from the emergency switchboard required by regulation II-1/43 of SOLAS 1974, as amended.

  8.4 The combined output of at least two further pumps should not be less than the required capacity as defined in 8.1. These pumps should be supplied from the main source of electrical power required by regulation II-1/41 of SOLAS 1974, as amended, or any other source of power independent of the emergency switchboard required by regulation II-1/43 of SOLAS 1974, as amended.

  8.5 The bilge pumping system, including the piping system, should incorporate sufficient redundancy features so that the system will be fully operational and capable of dewatering the hold spaces at the required capacity in the event of failure of any one system component.

  8.6 The bilge pumping system should be arranged to be effective within the limiting angles of inclination required for the emergency source of electrical power by SOLAS 1974, as amended, and bilge wells should be readily accessible for cleaning.

  8.7 All open cargo holds should be fitted with high bilge level alarms. The alarms should annunciate in the machinery spaces and the manned control location and be independent of bilge pump controls.

  8.8 If the loss of suction prevents the proper functioning of the bilge system, special measures to prevent this should be considered, as for instance, the installation of level indicators.

  8.9 Open cargo hold drain wells should be designed to ensure unobstructed discharge of water and easy access for cleaning under all conditions.

  8.10 If provided, freeing ports should be fitted on both sides of each open cargo hold, subject to the following:

  • .1 the number, size and location of the freeing ports on each side of each open hold should be sufficient to prevent the accumulation of water above the level defined in 5.12;

  • .2 efficient means of closure to prevent the accidental ingress of water should be provided. Such means should be operated from above the freeboard deck. In the case of a ship operating in areas where icing is likely to occur, these arrangements should be suitable to enable the ports to operate efficiently under such conditions.


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