Regulation 11 - Bilge pumping arrangements
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Conventions - SFV - International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels (The Torremolinos Convention)Regulations for the Construction and Equipment of Fishing Vessels - Chapter IV - Machinery and Electrical Installations and Periodically Unattended Machinery Spaces - Part B - Machinery Installations (See also regulation 3) - Regulation 11 - Bilge pumping arrangements

Regulation 11 - Bilge pumping arrangements

  (1) An efficient bilge pumping plant shall be provided which under all practical conditions shall be capable of pumping from and draining any watertight compartment which is neither a permanent oil tank nor a permanent water tank whether the vessel is upright or listed. Wing suctions shall be provided if necessary for that purpose. Arrangements shall be provided for easy flow of water to the suction pipes. Provided the Administration is satisfied that the safety of the vessel is not impaired the bilge pumping arrangements may be dispensed with in particular compartments.

  (2)

  • (a) At least two independently driven power bilge pumps shall be provided, one of which may be driven by the main engine. A ballast pump or other general service pump of sufficient capacity may be used as a power driven bilge pump.

  • (b) Power bilge pumps shall be capable of giving a speed of water of at least 2 m/s through the main bilge pipe which shall have an internal diameter of at least:

    • where:d is the internal diameter in millimeters, and L, B and D are in metres.

  • However, the actual internal diameter of the bilge main may be rounded off to the nearest standard size acceptable to the Administration.

  • (c) Each of the bilge pumps provided in accordance with this regulation shall be provided with a direct bilge suction, one of these suctions drawing from the port side of the machinery spaces and the other from the starboard side, except that in the case of a vessel of less than 75 m in length only one bilge pump need be provided with a direct bilge suction.

  • (d) No bilge suction shall have an inside diameter of less than 50 mm. The arrangement and sizing of the bilge system shall be such that the full rated capacity of the pump specified above can be applied to each of the watertight compartments located between the collision and afterpeak bulkheads.

  (3) A bilge ejector in combination with an independently driven high pressure seawater pump may be installed as a substitute for one independently driven bilge pump required by paragraph (2)(a), provided this arrangement is to the satisfaction of the Administration.

  (4) In vessels where fish handling or processing may cause quantities of water to accumulate in enclosed spaces, adequate drainage shall be provided.

  (5) Bilge pipes shall not be led through fuel oil, ballast or double bottom tanks, unless these pipes are of heavy gauge steel construction.

  (6) Bilge and ballast pumping systems shall be arranged so as to prevent water passing from the sea or from water ballast spaces into holds or into machinery spaces or from one watertight compartment to another. The bilge connection to any pump which draws from the sea or from water ballast spaces shall be fitted with either a nonreturn valve or a cock which cannot be opened simultaneously either to the bilges and to the sea or to the bilges and water ballast spaces. Valves in bilge distribution boxes shall be of a nonreturn type.

  (7) Any bilge pipe piercing a collision bulkhead shall be fitted with a positive means of closing at the bulkhead with remote control from the working deck with an indicator showing the position of the valve provided that, if the valve is fitted on the after side of the bulkhead and is readily accessible under all service conditions, the remote control may be dispensed with.

Parent topic: Part B - Machinery Installations (See also regulation 3 )
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