Section 2 Safe return to port
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022 - Part 5 Main and Auxiliary Machinery - Chapter 23 Additional Requirements for Passenger Ships - Section 2 Safe return to port

Section 2 Safe return to port

2.1 General

2.1.1 Consistent with the requirements of the relevant SOLAS Regulations, this Section provides design criteria for machinery and equipment described in Pt 5, Ch 23, 1.1 Scope and application 1.1.2 to remain operational for the ship’s safe return to port under its own propulsion, in the event of:

  1. a fire casualty that does not exceed the casualty threshold; or

  2. flooding of any single watertight compartment.

2.1.2 When fire damage from a casualty does not exceed the casualty threshold or when the ship is subject to flooding of any single watertight compartment, machinery and equipment essential for the following services are to remain operational in the remaining part of the ship not affected by fire or flooding:

  1. propulsion systems and their necessary auxiliaries and control systems. Propulsion machinery and auxiliary machinery essential for the propulsion of the ship at a service speed and range/distance acceptable to the National Administration for return to port under its own propulsion, see Pt 5, Ch 23, 3 Qualitative failure analysis for propulsion, steering and essential services;

  2. steering systems and steering-control systems. Steering systems and steering-control systems sufficient to provide manoeuvring capability acceptable to the National Administration for return to port under its own propulsion, see Pt 5, Ch 23, 3 Qualitative failure analysis for propulsion, steering and essential services;

  3. systems for transfer and service of fuel oil. Systems for internal transfer and service of fuel oil capable of fuel supply to active propulsion and power generation equipment;

  4. bilge and ballast system. The bilge pumping systems, and all associated equipment essential for its operation, in all spaces not directly affected by the casualty, see also Pt 5, Ch 13 Ship Piping Systems and Pt 6, Ch 1, 2.7 Valve control systems;

  5. flooding detection systems. See also Pt 5, Ch 13, 14 Water ingress detection arrangements;

  6. internal communications. The means of communication required by:

    1. Pt 5, Ch 1, 4.8 Communications, Pt 6, Ch 1, 2.2 Control stations for machinery 2.2.2 and/or Pt 6, Ch 1, 2.6 Bridge control for main propulsion machinery 2.6.3 between the bridge and machinery main and subsidiary control stations and engineer’s accommodation; and

    2. Pt 5, Ch 19, 2.1 General 2.1.5 between the navigating bridge and the steering gear compartment;

    necessary for operation of machinery and equipment, or otherwise identified by the National Administration to be required, during a ship’s return to port under its own propulsion; and

  7. navigation lights. Electric circuit protection, controls and failure alarms for lights specified by the National Administration to be capable of operation, see also Pt 6, Ch 2, 15.6 Navigation lights.

2.1.3 In addition to the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.16 Operation under fire conditions and Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.17 Operation under flooding conditions, when fire damage from a casualty does not exceed the casualty threshold or when the ship is subject to flooding of any single watertight compartment, machinery and equipment essential for the following services are to remain operational in the remaining part of the ship not affected by fire or flooding:

  1. for internal communication:

    1. general emergency alarm system. This is in addition to the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2, 18.2 General emergency alarm system;

    2. public address system. This is in addition to the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2, 18.3 Public address system; and

    3. from the safety centre as required by Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.9 Safety centre on passenger ships 17.9.1;

    where identified by the National Administration to be required to satisfy the relevant SOLAS Regulations for communication between the bridge, engineering spaces, safety centre, fire-fighting and damage control teams, and for passenger and crew notification and mustering;

  2. for fire main systems where supplied by electrically driven fire pumps, the pumps (and electrical equipment essential for their operation) are to be located and arranged such that operating capability will be available in the event of any main vertical zones being directly affected by the casualty. This is in addition to the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.4 Fire pumps;

  3. for fixed fire-extinguishing systems:

    1. for automatic sprinkler systems where supplied by electrically driven pumps, the pumps are to be located and arranged such that operating capability will be available in all spaces not directly affected by the casualty. This is in addition to the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.2 Automatic Sprinkler, fire detection and fire alarm systems;

    2. for electrically driven refrigeration units for carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing systems, the units are to be located and arranged such that operating capability will be available in all spaces not directly affected by the casualty. This is in addition to the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.5 Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems; and

    3. electrically operated fire-extinguishing media release alarms in spaces not directly affected by the casualty. This is in addition to the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.5 Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems.

  4. the fire detection and alarm system in all spaces not directly affected by the casualty. This is in addition to the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 1, 2.8 Fire detection and fire alarm systems and Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.1 Fire detection and fire alarm systems ;

  5. power-operated watertight doors in spaces not directly affected by the casualty. This is in addition to the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2, 19.1 Watertight doors;

  6. lighting of safe areas and escape route or electrically powered low location lighting. This is in addition to the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2 Electrical Engineering, Pt 6, Ch 2, 3 Emergency source of electrical power, Pt 6, Ch 2, 5.4 Insulated distribution systems, Pt 6, Ch 2, 5.7 Lighting circuits, Pt 6, Ch 2, 18.1 Emergency lighting and Pt 6, Ch 2, 18.4 Escape route or low location lighting (LLL); and

  7. other systems required by relevant engineering systems Rules that the National Administration has determined to be vital to damage control efforts.

2.1.4 When fire damage from a casualty does not exceed the casualty threshold or when the ship is subject to flooding of any single watertight compartment, electrical power, where required, is to be available and sustainable for the following services:

  1. those required by Pt 5, Ch 23, 2.1 General 2.1.2;

  2. navigational systems, including navigation lights, required by the National Administration to be capable of operation during return to port (see also Pt 7, Ch 9 Navigational Arrangements and Integrated Bridge Systems for relevant classification notations);

  3. internal communication required during a ship’s return to port under its own propulsion. Where applicable, charging power for portable means of communication is to be included;

  4. external communication (for communicating via the GMDSS or the VHF Marine and Air Band distress frequencies even if the main GMDSS equipment is lost);

  5. fire pumps for the fire main system not directly affected by the casualty;

  6. fixed fire-extinguishing systems (gaseous and water) designed to protect an entire space in all spaces not directly affected by the casualty;

  7. fire detection and alarm system in all spaces not directly affected by the casualty;

  8. power-operated watertight and semi-watertight doors;

  9. systems and equipment intended to support the provision of services to safe areas;

  10. other systems that the National Administration has determined to be vital to damage control efforts; and

  11. other fixed electrically powered loads intended to be operated during return to port.

The electrical power available is to be at least sufficient to supply the machinery and equipment specified by the National Administration as necessary and any additional loads identified in (l) during a ship’s return to port under its own propulsion with due regard to such services as may be operated simultaneously.

2.1.5 Auxiliary and support systems (e.g. engine-room ventilation, lighting of spaces outside safe areas not affected by the casualty, etc.) required for the operation and control of machinery and equipment required to operate in accordance with Pt 5, Ch 23, 2.1 General 2.1.2 and Pt 5, Ch 23, 2.1 General 2.1.3 and to provide electrical power in accordance with Pt 5, Ch 23, 2.1 General 2.1.4 are to remain operational.

2.1.6 Fuel oil stores, machinery and equipment are to have sufficient capacity to permit the services required by Pt 5, Ch 23, 2.1 General 2.1.2 to Pt 5, Ch 23, 2.1 General 2.1.5 to be provided for a time period of operation, ship range/distance and service speed acceptable to the National Administration for the ship’s return to port under its own propulsion.

2.1.7 To satisfy Pt 5, Ch 23, 2.1 General 2.1.2 to Pt 5, Ch 23, 2.1 General 2.1.6, machinery and equipment is to be provided, constructed, segregated and arranged such that the services specified may be provided safely and effectively in the event of potential damage to machinery and equipment as a result of a fire that does not exceed the casualty threshold or flooding of any single watertight compartment, including control, safety, alarm and monitoring equipment and control stations.

2.1.8 A description of the intended system function in the event of fire or flooding for the services referred to in this Section are to be submitted for consideration, see Pt 5, Ch 23, 1.4 Plans and information 1.4.2 and Pt 5, Ch 23, 1.4 Plans and information 1.4.3. A risk based analysis is to be conducted in accordance with standards acceptable to LR to assess the availability of services required by this Section (for propulsion and steering, see Pt 5, Ch 23, 3 Qualitative failure analysis for propulsion, steering and essential services; for other services, see Pt 5, Ch 23, 1.4 Plans and information 1.4.4 and Pt 5, Ch 23, 3.3 Analysis scope 3.3.4).


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