12 Marine Evacuation Systems

 Materials used in the construction of marine evacuation systems are to be tested to the standards laid down in paragraph 5.17.13 where applicable.

  12.2.1 It should be demonstrated that the passage and platform if fitted, or liferafts in any other case, can be deployed from the container by one person in a sequence prescribed in the manufacturer's instruction. If more than one action is necessary to operate the system means should be provided to prevent incorrect operation.

  12.2.2 A static load of 2.2 times the maximum load on the system should be applied to its structural attachment to the ship for a period of 30 min. This static load is to be equivalent to the calculated load imposed by the maximum number and size of fully loaded liferafts for which the system is designed, attached to the loaded platform with the ship moving through the water at 3 knots against a head wind of force 10 on the Beaufort scale. There should be no evidence of significant deformation or other damage as a result of this factory test.

  12.2.3 The exterior of the container as installed should be hose tested in a similar manner to the canopy closure test in paragraph 5.12 to ensure that it is reasonably weathertight to prevent the ingress of water. Alternatively, when hose testing is required to verify the tightness of the structures the minimum pressure in the hose, at least equal to 2 bar, is to be applied at a maximum distance of 1.5 m. The nozzle diameter is not to be less than 12 mm.

  12.2.4 The release and securing arrangements for any internal or external doors are to be satisfactorily tested by 5 dry release operations carried out consecutively.

  12.2.5 It should be demonstrated by 2 dry deployments of the system, with the container angled back to simulate an unfavourable trim of up to 10° and list of up to 20° either way, that the outer door, the passage and platform (if fitted), will not suffer damage which will render it unusable for its intended purpose.

  12.3.1 For an inclined inflated passage the following requirements are to be complied with:

• .1 a fully inflated passage should be arranged on solid base at the height at which it is to be stowed on board. When loaded at mid length with a weight of 150 kg for each single slide path the passage must not become unduly distorted;

• .2 a fully inflated passage should be subjected to individual sliding operations twice the number for which it is to be certificated. For this test actual persons of varied physique and weight should be used. On completion the slide path must remain in a serviceable condition;

• .3 it should be demonstrated using actual persons that the loss of pressure in any one section of the passage will not limit its use as a means of evacuation;

• .4 a static load of 2.2 times the maximum to which the system is to be designed, in accordance with paragraph 12.2.2, should be applied for a period of 30 minutes to the connection between the passage and the container. On completion there must be no signs of any fracture or stranding of its connections;

• .5 the uninflated passage with its gas cylinders should be placed in a cold chamber at a temperature of -30°C. After a period of not less than 24 h at this temperature the chute should reach its working pressure within 5 min. The components must show no sign of cracking, seam slippage or other defects;

• .6 the uninflated passage with its gas cylinders should be placed in a hot chamber at a temperature of +65°C for not less than 7 h. On inflation the pressure relief valves on the passage should be of sufficient capacity to prevent pressure in excess of twice the designed working pressure;

• .7 it should be demonstrated with at least 10 sliding operations on a slide path thoroughly wetted with water to simulate wet weather conditions, that the speed of descent is not excessive or dangerous; and

• .8 a pressure test is to be carried out in accordance with paragraphs 5.17.7 and 5.17.8.

  12.3.2 For vertical passage systems the following requirements are to be complied with:

• .1 the passage(s) should be subjected to individual descent operations twice the number for which it is to be certificated. For this test actual persons of varied physique and weight should be used. On completion the passage path should remain in a serviceable condition;

• .2 a load of 2.2 times the maximum to which the system is to be designed, in accordance with paragraph 12.2.2, should be applied for a period of 30 min to the connection between the passage and the container. On completion there must be no signs of any fracture or stranding of its connections;

• .3 the stowed passage should be placed in a cold chamber at a temperature of -30°C. After a period of 24 h at this temperature the passage should show no signs of cracking or other defects; and

• .4 it should be demonstrated with at least 10 descent operations, in the case of open vertical passages with the path thoroughly wetted with water to simulate wet weather conditions, that the speed of descent is not excessive or dangerous.

  12.4.1 The platform should be inflated and loaded with the number of persons carried in accordance with the number specified by paragraph 6.2.1.3.3 of the Code, all wearing an approved lifejacket. Freeboards are to be measured all round, and should not be less than 300 mm.

  12.4.2 It should be demonstrated that in the event of the loss of 50% of the buoyancy in the tubes the platform should be capable of supporting, with a positive freeboard all round, the number of persons specified in paragraph 6.2.1.3.3 of the Code.

  12.4.3 It should be demonstrated that the platform is self draining with no possibility of a build up of water.

  12.4.4 The platform with its inflation system should be placed in a cold chamber at a temperature of -30°C. After a period of not less than 24 h at this temperature the platform on being inflated should achieve its normal working pressure in not more than 5 min. There should be no seam slippage, cracking or other defects on the platform, and it should be ready for use on completion of the test.

  12.4.5 The platform with its inflation system should be placed in a hot chamber at a temperature of +65°C for not less than 7 h. On being inflated the pressure relief valves should be of sufficient capacity to prevent pressure in excess of twice the designed working pressure.

  12.4.6 A pressure test is to be carried out in accordance with paragraphs 5.17.7 and 5.17.8 of the Code.

  12.5.1 Liferafts used in conjunction with the marine evacuation system should conform and be prototype tested to the requirements of paragraph 5.

  12.5.2 It should be demonstrated that the liferafts can be deployed from their stowage position, and moored alongside the platform, if fitted, before being inflated, and bowsed in ready for boarding.

  12.5.3 It should be demonstrated that the liferafts can be deployed from their stowage positions independently of the marine evacuation system.

  12.5.4 It should be demonstrated that the liferafts will float free from their stowage positions, inflate and then break free in the event of the ship sinking.

  12.5.5 If the passage is to give direct access to the liferaft(s), it should be demonstrated that it can be easily and quickly detached.

  12.6.1 It should be demonstrated in harbour by a full deployment of a system, including the launching and inflation of all the associated liferafts, that the system will provide a satisfactory means of evacuation. For this trial the number of persons to be used should be that for which the system is to be certificated. The various stages of this trial should be timed so as to permit the calculation of the number of persons that can be evacuated in any specified period.

  12.6.2 It should be demonstrated at sea by a full deployment of a system, including the launching and inflation of the associated liferafts, that the system will provide a satisfactory means of evacuation in a sea state associated with a wind of force 6 on the Beaufort scale, and in association with a significant wave height of at least 3 m. During the sea trial, a spectrum analysis of the recorded wave height shall be performed. The signal shall be high-pass filtered at 0.08 Hz to exclude any contributions from swell. The significant wave height shall be calculated based on filtered spectrum and shall not be less than 3.0 m. The demonstration should be carried out in accordance with the following procedures:

• .1 Phase 1 - Initial deployment of system

  • .1 with the ship in a simulated "dead ship" condition, and the bow into the wind the system (passage and platform or any other configuration) should be deployed in its normal design manner, and

  • .2 the platform and passage are to be observed from the ship to verify in this condition that it forms a stable evacuation system for the platform crew to descend and carry out their initial duties in preparation for evacuation;

• .2 Phase 2 - Lee side trial

  • .1 the ship to be manoeuvred to place the system on the lee side and then allowed to freely drift;

  • .2 where the system employs a platform, the nominated number of the platform crew are to descend via the passage and retrieve at least two liferafts which have been launched separately;

  • .3 where the system employs a passage giving direct access to the liferaft, the nominated number of liferaft boarding crew are to descend via the passage. If additional liferafts are employed with the system, then they should be launched separately and be retrieved by the liferaft crew; and

  • .4 after the liferafts have been satisfactorily deployed, dependant upon safety consideration 20 persons in suitable protective clothing are to evacuate to the liferafts through the passage;

• .3 Phase 3 - Loaded trial lee side

  • .1 the platform, if fitted, and the required number of liferafts are to be loaded to their certified capacity with weights representing 75 kg/person; and

  • .2 when loaded with the required weights the system is to be observed for a period of 30 min, with the ship free to drift, to confirm the system continues to provide a safe and stable evacuation system;

• .4 Phase 4 - Loaded trial weather side

  • .1 the trials in paragraphs 12.6.2.2 and 12.6.2.3 should be repeated with the system deployed on the weather side of the ship. The lee side trial and the weather side trial may be conducted in any convenient order;

  • .2 where ship manoeuvres are required to place the system on any one side, any damage or failure sustained during this manoeuvre should not constitute a failure of the system; and

  • .3 the system should be tested, as far as practicable, on a vessel having similar characteristics to the types of ships the equipment is to be fitted to.