The Laws of Fiji
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9.24
Means shall be provided for readily ascertaining the quantity of liquid within any tank or watertight compartment.
For the purpose of this National Standard, the means for draining of spaces within the ship shall be deemed to have satisfied the Required Outcomes in subparagraph 9.24.1 and 9.23.2 if it complies with subparagraph 9.24.3 to 9.24.10.
- 9.24.3.1Capability of bilge pumping system
Unless otherwise provided for in subparagraph 9.24.3.2 or 9.24.3.3, a ship shall be fitted with a pumping system capable of pumping from and draining any bilge or watertight compartment in the ship.
NOTE:
Fiji is a party to MARPOL Annex 1. The discharge of oil or other pollutants (including oily bilge water) overboard may be subject to the Marine (Pollution Prevention) Regulations 2014. For bilge systems, this may necessitate the fitting of oily bilge water holding tanks or oil separation equipment.
- 9.24.3.2Alternative arrangements for small open ships
Open ships of measured length less than 10m may be provided with bailing buckets in lieu of a bilge system, provided there is ready access to the bilge for bailing.
- 9.24.3.3Alternative arrangements for small compartments
A watertight compartment less than 7% of the total under deck volume may be drained into an adjacent compartment by means of a self-closing valve or cock. The adjacent compartment shall itself be served by the bilge system. The valve or cock shall be fitted outside the compartment to be drained, and shall be operable from a readily accessible position.
Other bilge pumping arrangements for small compartments are possible but would need to be considered as equivalent solutions. For example, bilge pumping arrangements may not be needed on small ships having numerous small compartments where it can be shown that the safety of the ship is not materially reduced by the flooding of adjacent compartments. Key factors would include: the effectiveness of watertight boundaries; the flooded characteristics of the ship; the effect on systems essential to the safety of the ship; means for monitoring water levels within compartments; and arrangements to remove accumulated water in the bilge.
- 9.24.3.4Location of bilge suctions
Bilge suctions shall be located to facilitate the drainage of water from within each compartment over a range of list not less than 5. Limber holes or other arrangements shall be provided to allow water to drain past structural members to the bilge suctions.
Bilge suctions are normally located at the lowest point of a compartment or, where no lowest point can be identified, at the after end of the compartment. More than one suction is normally provided in long compartments and on ships with a flat bottom (rise of floor less than 5), arranged so as to ensure the bilge pump will not lose suction in the event of one suction drawing air.
- 9.24.3.5Back-flooding
The bilge system shall be arranged to prevent water back-flooding from the sea into watertight compartments or machinery. The bilge connection to any pump that also draws from the sea shall be either a screw down non-return valve, or a cock that cannot be opened at the same time to the bilge and to the sea.
- 9.24.3.6Watertight integrity of compartments
The bilge system shall also be arranged to prevent water passing from a flooded watertight compartment into other compartments. Bilge pipes should be located at a distance of at least 20% of the breadth of the ship inboard of the ship sides to avoid damage in the event of a collision. Alternatively, bilge suction pipes may be provided with non-return valves or foot valves fitted within the space they serve.
- 9.24.3.7Bilge distribution manifold
The bilge system in ships of 15m measured length and over shall be provided with a bilge distribution manifold located in an accessible position. Valves in bilge distribution manifolds shall be of non-return type.
Various configurations may be used for bilge systems. A bilge system may have branch suction pipes from each compartment running to a centrally located bilge distribution manifold. Alternatively the branch suction lines may run into a main bilge line, which in turn passes through compartments to connect with the bilge pumps. In general, the former is recommended, and is required on larger ships, because it allows for better control and monitoring of the bilge system.
- 9.24.3.8Class 3A ships of 25m and over
In Class 3A ships of 25m in measured length and over, the bilge system shall permit pumping and draining from every space in the ship while any one watertight compartment is flooded. This provision need not apply to flooding of the machinery space.
This may necessitate the fitting of a bilge distribution manifold on ships less than 25m in measured length or the remote operation of bilge valves within compartments from a level above the bulkhead deck. While not mandatory, the locating of the 2 bilge pumps in 2 separate compartments is recommended.
- 9.24.4.1Number and capacity of pumps
Ships shall be provided with bilge pumps in accordance with Table 5.
Table 5 — Bilge pump requirements
Measured length of ship (m) Manual pumps Powered pumps Qty Capacity per pump, as installed, in kL/h Qty Capacity per pump, as installed, in kL/h Less than 7.5 1 4.0 N/A N/A 7.5 and over but less than 10 2 4.0 N/A N/A 10 and over but less than 12.5 1 5.5 1 5.5 12.5 and over but less than 17.5 1 5.5 1 11.0 17.5 and over but less than 20 1 8.0 1 11.0 20 and over but less than 25 N/A N/A 2 11.0 25 and over but less than 35 N/A N/A 2 15.0 The installed capacity of a bilge pump is normally less than the nominal figure specified by the manufacturer due to the head of the discharge above the suction and losses through valves and piping.
- 9.24.4.2Bilge pumping arrangements-general
The following bilge pumping arrangements apply to ships fitted with pumps in accordance with subparagraph 9.24.4.1 —
- (a)A powered bilge pump may be substituted for a manually operated pump.
- (b)A bilge pump shall be self-priming or shall be provided with a priming device.
- (c)A powered bilge pump shall be driven by a main engine, an auxiliary engine or a low or medium-voltage electric motor.
- (d)Bilge pumps may be fitted additional to those specified in Table 5 provided the pump together with its piping and electrical systems are arranged to ensure that the safety of the ship is maintained.
subparagraph 9.24.4.2 (d) above applies to any extra-low voltage bilge pumps (under 50 V d.c) that may be fitted on a ship.
- 9.24.4.3Bilge pumping arrangements-ships required to have 2 pumps. Where 2 pumps are required, the following shall apply—
- (a)Each power pump shall not be dependent on the same source of power.
- (b)The pumps and piping systems shall be arranged to enable simultaneous pumping of each machinery space bilge by both pumps on all ships of 20m and more in measured length.
- (c)If both pumps are powered, the capacity of one pump may be less than that specified in subparagraph 9.24.4.1 by up to 20% provided the total required pumping capacity is achieved.
- (d)For ships other than Class 1 and 2 ships, 1 of the 2 pumps may be a portable pump provided it can be operated at full capacity within 5 minutes of flooding becoming known. Where a portable pump is fitted, the portable pump and its attachments shall be of a type suitable for connection and operation over the range of conditions likely to be encountered by the ship in normal and abnormal conditions. A means (eg lanyards) shall be provided for securing the portable pump when operating or when being relocated on ships of Classes 3A, 3B or 3D.
- 9.24.5.1Materials
Bilge piping shall comply with the requirements of subparagraph 9.23.5.
- 9.24.5.2Protection from mechanical damage
Bilge piping shall be protected from mechanical damage arising from the stowage or working of cargo and stores or from other causes.
- 9.24.5.3Rigid plastic bilge piping-application
Rigid plastic bilge piping may only be used as follows—
- (a)Ships less than 12.5m in measured length
In any location except where rigid plastic bilge piping passes through spaces which are high fire risk on ships relying on subdivision unless the watertight integrity of adjacent bulkheads can be maintained by fitting the affected bilge suction pipes with non-return valves.
- (b)Ships 12.5m and more in measured length
In low fire risk spaces such as voids, cofferdams and water tanks, the application of rigid plastic bilge piping in other locations shall be subject to meeting the fire endurance requirements contained in IMO Resolution A 753(18) or the requirements of a Classification Society.
Alternative arrangements may be acceptable where part of the bilge system is duplicated.
- 9.24.5.4Flexible suction hose bilge systems (wandering hoses).
- 9.24.5.4.1A flexible suction hose bilge pumping system may be fitted to service compartments in Class 3B, 3D and 3E ships of measured length less than 12.5 metres. Subject to subparagraph 9.24.4.3 (d), the pump or pumps shall be permanently mounted. The hose shall be of sufficient strength not to kink or collapse under suction. Compartments that are not void shall be fitted with a deck-mounted camlock fitting connected to a permanent bilge suction pipe within the compartment.
- 9.24.5.4.2Where there is a risk of down flooding if hatches or other weathertight or watertight covers leading to a void compartment are opened, void compartments should also be provided with a deck-mounted camlock fitting connected to a suction pipe permanently mounted within the compartment.
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- 9.24.6.1Ships under 10m in measured length
The minimum diameter of bilge piping in ships less than 10m in measured length shall not be less than 25mm.
- 9.24.6.2Ships of 10m measured length and over
The minimum diameters of bilge suction pipes in ships of 10m and over in measured length, which shall in no case be less than 32mm, shall be determined by the following formulas:
- (a)For main bilge suction pipes (pipes serving more than one compartment)—
- (b)For branch suction pipes (pipes serving just a single compartment)—
Where—
- d m = internal diameter of the main bilge suction pipe, in millimetres;
- d b = internal diameter of branch suction pipes, in millimetres, but not greater than dm;
- L = the measured length of the ship, in metres;
- B H = the applicable breadth, in metres, as follows—
- (a)for mono-hulled ships, the breadth of the ship; or
- (b)for multi hulled ship—
- (i)for the main bilge suction pipe in the case of multi-hulled ships having only a single main bilge line, the sum of the breadths of the hulls;
- (ii)for the main bilge suction pipe in the case of multi-hulled ships having a dedicated main bilge line in each hull, the breadth of the applicable hull; or
- (iii)for branch section lines, the breadth of the applicable hull.
- D = depth of ship, in metres; and
- C = length of compartment, in metres.
- 9.24.7.1Ships of 20m in measured length and over
All bilge suctions shall be fitted with a mudbox, strum box or strainer that is accessible for cleaning. Each bilge suction in a machinery space shall be fitted with mud box and metallic tail pipe.
- 9.24.7.2Strainer holes
Strainer holes shall not be greater than 10mm in diameter, and the aggregate area of the holes shall not be less than twice the area of the suction pipe.
On decked ships, a bilge level alarm shall be fitted—
- (a)in the propulsion machinery space; and
- (b)in all other compartments that contain seawater pumping systems.
The alarm shall be clearly audible at a continuously manned control position with the machinery operating under full power conditions.
Additional bilge alarms may be required on certain ships, see subparagraph 9.10.12.6 and 9.23.6.1.
- 9.24.8.1Power Supply
The power supply for the bilge level alarm shall be available at all times there is a person on board.
Where a pipe pierces a collision bulkhead, it shall be fitted with a suitable valve or cock at the bulkhead. The control mechanism for the valve or cock shall incorporate a means to indicate clearly whether the valve or cock is open or closed.
- 9.24.9.1Means of control
Unless otherwise provided for in subparagraph 9.24.9.2, the valve or cock shall be controllable from the bulkhead deck.
- 9.24.9.2Location and accessibility of collision bulkhead valve
Where the valve or cock is fitted on the after side of the bulkhead and is readily accessible at all times, it need not be controllable from the bulkhead deck.
See paragraph 9.24.3.3.
- 9.24.10.1Means of sounding required
Sounding pipes or other means of readily determining the amount of liquid shall be provided for—
- (a)any tank or watertight compartment that is not part of a machinery space, including a cofferdam and a double bottom tank; and
- (b)any cofferdam or double bottom tank that is located in a machinery space.
- 9.24.10.2Sounding pipes
Where a sounding pipe is fitted it shall comply with the following—
- (a)If located outside of a machinery space, extend to a readily accessible position on deck.
- (b)If located in a machinery space, extend either—
- (i)to a readily accessible position on deck; or
- (ii)to a lesser height provided the pipe is fitted with a cock (or ball valve) arranged for automatic closure when released. Cocks for such applications shall be of parallel plug type to provide ready movement. Handles shall be weighted or spring loaded and permanently secured.
- (c)Terminate in such a position that there is no risk of overflow spillage onto hot surfaces or electrical equipment.
- (d)Incorporate a means of closing to prevent the free entry of water.
- (e)Wherever possible be straight, but if curved to suit the shape of the ship, the curvature shall be sufficient to permit the passage of a sounding rod or a sounding chain.
- (f)Be protected against mechanical damage and, where it passes through refrigerated space, shall be thermally insulated.
- (g)Be fitted with a striking plate under the lower end of a sounding pipe.
- (h)Be of thickness not less than that determined in accordance with subparagraph 9.23.5.2.2.
- (i)Be not less than 32mm internal diameter.