1.3 Definitions:

(1) For the purpose of this Code, unless expressly provided otherwise, the terms used therein have the meanings defined in this section- (Note: where a definition is not contained within this Code, guidance should be taken from definitions within the applicable International conventions)-

““A” Class divisions” means those divisions formed by bulkheads and decks which comply with the following criteria-

(a) they are constructed of steel or other equivalent material;
(b) they are suitably stiffened;
(c) they are insulated with approved non-combustible materials such that the average temperature of the unexposed side will not rise more than 140°C above the original temperature, nor will the temperature, at any one point, including any joint, rise more than 180°C above the original temperature, within the time listed below;
- class "A-60" 60 min
- class "A-30" 30 min
- class "A-15" 15 min
- class "A-0" 0 min
(d) they are constructed as to be capable of preventing the passage of smoke and flame to the end of the one-hour standard fire test; and
(e) the Administration has required a test of a prototype bulkhead or deck in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code to ensure that it meets the above requirements for integrity and temperature rise;

“accommodation spaces” means those spaces used for public spaces, corridors, lavatories, cabins, offices, hospitals, cinemas, game and hobby rooms, barber shops, pantries containing no cooking appliances and similar spaces.

“aft terminal” means the aft limit of the subdivision length;

“aft perpendicular” means the perpendicular taken at the after end of length (L);

“amidship” means at the middle of the length (L);

“anti-exposure suit” means a protective suit designed for use by rescue boat crews and marine evacuation system parties;

“atrium” means a public spaces within a single main vertical zone spanning three or more open decks;

““B” class divisions” means those divisions, referred to as “B-15” or “B-0”, formed by bulkheads, decks, ceilings or linings which comply with the following criteria-

(a) they are constructed of approved non-combustible materials and all materials used in the construction and erection of "B" class divisions are non-combustible, with the exception that combustible veneers may be permitted provided they meet other appropriate requirements of this Chapter;

(b) they have an insulation value such that the average temperature of the unexposed side will not rise more than 140°C above the original temperature, nor will the temperature at any one point, including any joint, rise more than 225°C above the original temperature, within the time listed below-

Type of "B Class" Division	Minimum time for which unexposed side has to remain below specified limits
class "B-15"	15 minutes
class "B-0"	0 minutes

(c) they are so constructed as to be capable of preventing the passage of flame to the end of the first half hour of the standard fire test; and
(d) the Administration has required a test of a prototype division in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code to ensure that it meets the above requirements for integrity and temperature rise;

“breadth” or “B” means the maximum breadth of the ship, measured amidships to the moulded line of the frame in a ship with a metal shell and to the outer surface of the hull in a ship with a shell of any other material, unless expressly provided otherwise;

“bulkhead deck” means the uppermost deck up to which the transverse watertight bulkheads are carried;

“Bunkers Convention” means the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001, as may be amended from time to time;

“cabin balcony” means an open deck space which is provided for the exclusive use of the occupants of a single cabin and has direct access from such a cabin;

““C” class division” means a division constructed of approved non-combustible materials which may not meet either requirements relative to the passage of smoke and flame nor limitations relative to the temperature rise and includes combustible veneers are provided they meet the requirements of this Chapter;

“cargo ship” means, for the purposes of this Code, any ship which is not a passenger ship or a pleasure yacht;

“central control station” means a control station in which the following control and indicator functions are centralised-

(a) fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems;
(b) automatic sprinkler, fire detection and fire alarm systems;
(c) fire door indicator panels;
(d) fire door closure;
(e) watertight door indicator panels;
(f) watertight door closures;
(g) ventilation fans;
(h) general/fire alarms;
(i) communication systems including telephones; and
(j) microphones to public address systems;

“certificated person” means a person who holds a certificate of proficiency in survival craft issued under the authority of, or recognised as valid by, the Administration in accordance with the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, in force; or a person who holds a certificate issued or recognised by the Administration of a State not a Party to that Convention for the same purpose as the convention certificate;

“Code” means Code of Practice for Pleasure Yachts Carrying 13 to 36 Passengers (i.e. this Code);

“combustible material” means any material other than a non-combustible material;

“continuous "B" class ceilings or linings” means those "B" class ceilings or linings which terminate at an "A" or "B" class division;

“continuously manned central control station” means a central control station which is continuously manned by a responsible member of the crew;

“control stations” means those spaces in which the ship's radio or main navigating equipment or the emergency source of power is located or where the fire recording or fire control equipment is centralised; spaces where the fire recording or fire control equipment is centralised are also considered to be a fire control station;

“deepest subdivision draft” or “(ds)” means the waterline which corresponds to the summer load line draft of the ship;

“design pressure” means the hydrostatic pressure for which each structure or appliance assumed watertight in the intact and damage stability calculations is designed to withstand;

“detection” means the determination of the location of survivors or survival craft;

“draft” or”(d)” means the vertical distance from the keel line at mid-length to the waterline in question;

“embarkation ladder” means the ladder provided at survival craft embarkation stations to permit safe access to survival craft after launching;

“emergency source of electrical power” means the emergency source of electrical power required by SOLAS, Chapter II-1; regulation 42;

“engaged in trade” means, for the purposes of the Code, the carriage by a yacht of more than 12 but not more than 36 passengers for reward or remuneration under a charter or hire agreement;

“Fire damper” means a device installed in a ventilation duct, which under normal conditions remains open allowing flow in the duct, and is closed during a fire, preventing the flow in the duct to restrict the passage of fire. In using the above definition the following terms may be associated:

(a) “automatic fire damper” is a fire damper that closes independently in response to exposure to fire products;
(b) “manual fire damper” is a fire damper that is intended to be opened or closed by the crew by hand at the damper itself; and
(c) “remotely operated fire damper” is a fire damper that is closed by the crew through a control located at a distance away from the controlled damper.

“Fire Safety Systems Code” means the International Code for Fire Safety Systems as adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO by resolution MSC.98 (73), as may be amended by the IMO, provided that such amendments are adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures applicable to the Annex to the Convention other than Chapter I thereof;

“Fire Test Procedures Code” means the International Code for Application of Fire Test Procedures as adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO by resolution MSC.61(67), as may be amended by the IMO, provided that such amendments are adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures applicable to the Annex to the Convention other than Chapter I thereof;

“flashpoint” means the temperature in degrees Celsius (closed cup test) at which a product will give off enough flammable vapour to be ignited, as determined by an approved flashpoint apparatus;

“float-free launching” means that method of launching a survival craft whereby the craft is automatically released from a sinking ship and is ready for use;

“forward perpendicular” means the perpendicular taken at the forward end of the length (L) such that the perpendicular coincides with the fore side of the stem on the waterline on which the length is measured;

“forward terminal” means the forward limit of the subdivision length;

“freeboard” in relation to a freeboard assigned to a ship means the distance measured vertically downwards amidships from the upper edge of the deck line to the upper edge of the related load line;

“freeboard deck” means, subject to paragraphs (a) to (d) below, the uppermost complete deck exposed to weather and sea, which has permanent means of closing all openings in the weather part thereof, and below which all openings in the sides of the ship are fitted with permanent means of watertight closing-

(a) in a ship having a discontinuous freeboard deck, the lowest line of the exposed deck and the continuation of that line parallel to the upper part of the deck is taken as the freeboard deck; and
(b) at the option of the owner and subject to the approval of the Administration, a lower deck may be designated as the freeboard deck provided it is a complete and permanent deck continuous in a fore and aft direction at least between the machinery space and peak bulkheads and continuous athwartships, provided that-
(c) when this lower deck is stepped the lowest line of the deck and the continuation of that line parallel to the upper part of the deck is taken as the freeboard deck;
(d) when a lower deck is designated as the freeboard deck, that part of the hull which extends above the freeboard deck is treated as a superstructure so far as concerns the application of the conditions of assignment and the calculation of freeboard and it is from this deck that the freeboard is calculated.

“garage spaces” means those enclosed spaces above and below the bulkhead deck used for the storage of pleasure craft, vehicles, jet skis or any other such engine driven units;

“general emergency alarm system” means the general emergency alarm system complying with the requirements of Chapter VII, 7.2.1 the LSA Code;

“Hazardous area” means those areas which may contain flammable or explosive gases, dusts or vapours, the use without proper consideration of machinery or electrical equipment may lead to fire hazard or explosion.

“helicopter facility” means a helideck including any refuelling and hangar facilities;

“helideck” means a purpose-built helicopter landing area located on a ship including all structure, fire-fighting appliances and other equipment necessary for the safe operation of helicopters;

“IGF Code” means the International Code of safety for ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels as adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO by resolution MSC.391(95), as may be amended

“ILO” means the International Labour Organisation;

“immersion suit” means a protective suit which reduces the body heat loss of a person wearing it in cold water;

“IMO” means the International Maritime Organization;

“inflatable appliance” means an appliance which depends upon non-rigid, gas-filled chambers for buoyancy and which is normally kept uninflated until ready for use;

“inflated appliance” means an appliance which depends upon non-rigid, gas-filled chambers for buoyancy and which is kept inflated and ready for use at all times;

“Intact Stability Code, 2008” means the International Code on Intact Stability, 2008 (2008 IS Code)^footnote;

“keel line” means a line parallel to the slope of the keel passing amidships through-

(a) the top of the keel at centreline or line of intersection of the inside of shell plating with the keel if a bar keel extends below that line, on a ship with a metal shell; or
(b) in wood and composite ships, the distance is measured from the lower edge of the keel rabbet and when the form at the lower part of the midship section is of a hollow character, or where thick garboards are fitted, the distance is measured from the point where the line of the flat of the bottom continued inward intersects the centreline amidships;

“launching appliance or arrangement” means an arrangement for transferring a survival craft or rescue boat from its stowed position safely to the water;

“Length” or “(L)” in relation to a ship means 96% of the total length on a waterline at 85% of the least moulded depth measured from the top of the keel, or the length from the fore-side of the stem to the axis of the rudder stock on that waterline, if that

be greater. In ships designed with a rake of keel the waterline on which this is measured shall be parallel to the designed waterline;

“light service draft” or “(dl)” means the service draft corresponding to the lightest anticipated loading and associated tankage, including such ballast as may be necessary for stability and/or propeller immersion and the full complement of passengers and crew on board;

“lightest seagoing condition” means the loading condition with the ship on even keel, with 10% stores and fuel remaining and with the full number of passengers and crew and their luggage;

“lightweight” means the displacement of a ship in tonnes without, fuel, lubricating oil, ballast water, fresh water and feedwater in tanks, consumable stores, and passengers and crew and their effects;

“Load Line Convention” means the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, as amended by the Protocol of 1988 relating thereto and as otherwise be amended by the IMO;

“low flame-spread” means that the surface thus described will adequately restrict the spread of flame, this being determined in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code;

“Low-flashpoint fuel” means gaseous or liquid fuel having a flashpoint lower than otherwise permitted under SOLAS regulation II-2/4.2.1.1.

“LSA Code” means the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO by resolution MSC.48(66), as it may be amended by the IMO;

“machinery rooms” means spaces between the watertight boundaries of a room containing the main and auxiliary propulsion machinery, including boilers, generators and electric motors primarily intended for propulsion; provided that in the case of unusual arrangements, the Administration may define the limits of the machinery rooms;

“machinery spaces of category A” means those spaces and trunks to such spaces which contain either-

(a) internal combustion machinery used for main propulsion;
(b) internal combustion machinery used for purposes other than main propulsion where such machinery has in the aggregate a total power output of not less than 375 kW; or
(c) any oil-fired boiler or oil fuel unit, or any oil-fired equipment other than boilers, such as inert gas generators, incinerators, etc.;

“machinery spaces” means machinery spaces of category A and other spaces containing propulsion machinery, boilers, oil fuel units, steam and internal combustion engines, generators and major electrical machinery, oil filling stations, refrigerating, stabilising, ventilation and air conditioning machinery, and similar spaces, and trunks to such spaces;

“main vertical zones” means those sections into which the hull, superstructure and deckhouses are divided by "A" class divisions, the mean length and width of which, on any deck, does not in general exceed 40 metres;

“margin line” is a line drawn at least 76 mm below the upper surface of the bulkhead deck at side

“marine evacuation system” means an appliance for the rapid transfer of persons from the embarkation deck of a ship to a floating survival craft;

“master” includes every person (except a pilot) having command or charge of a ship and, in relation to a passenger yacht, include the captain or skipper;

“mid-length” means the mid-point of the subdivision length of the ship;

“MLC” means the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006;

“moulded depth” means, subject to paragraphs (a) to (c) below, the vertical distance measured from the top of the keel to the top of the freeboard deck beam at side, provided that-

(a) in wood and composite ships the distance is measured from the lower edge of the keel rabbet and where the form at the lower part of the midship section is of a hollow character, or where thick garboards are fitted, the distance is measured from the point where the line of the flat of the bottom continued inwards cuts the side of the keel;
(b) in ships having rounded gunwales, the moulded depth shall be measured to the point of intersection of the moulded lines of the deck and side shell plating, the lines extending as though the gunwale were of angular design; and
(c) where the freeboard deck is stepped and the raised part of the deck extends over the point at which the moulded depth is to be determined, the moulded depth shall be measured to a line of reference extending from the lower part of the deck along a line parallel with the raised part;

“non-combustible material” means a material which neither burns nor gives off flammable vapours in sufficient quantity for self-ignition when heated to approximately 750°C, this being determined in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code;

“novel life-saving appliance or arrangement” means a life-saving appliance or arrangement which embodies new features not fully covered by the provisions of this Chapter or the Code but which provides an equal or higher standard of safety;

“oil fuel unit” means the equipment used for the preparation of oil fuel for delivery to an oil-fired boiler, or equipment used for the preparation for delivery of heated oil to an internal combustion engine, and includes any oil pressure pumps, filters and heaters dealing with oil at a pressure of more than 0.18 N/mm²;

“partial subdivision draft” or “(dp)” means the light service draft plus 60% of the difference between the light service draft and the deepest subdivision draft;

“passenger” means a person carried on a ship except-

(a) a person employed or engaged in any capacity on the business of the ship;
(b) a person on board the ship either in pursuance of the obligation laid upon the master to carry shipwrecked, distressed or other persons, or by reason of any circumstance that neither the master, owner nor charterer, if any, could have prevented or forestalled; or
(c) a child under one year of age;

“passenger pleasure yacht” means a pleasure vessel carrying more than 12 but not more than 36 passengers;

“passenger spaces” means those spaces which are provided for the accommodation and use of passengers, excluding baggage store, provision and mail rooms and for the purposes of purposes of sections 4.26(3) and 4.27(5), spaces provided below the margin line for the accommodation and use of the crew shall be regarded as passenger spaces;

“passenger yacht” means a yacht engaged in trade carrying more than 12 but not more than 36 passengers;

“Passenger Yacht 1” means a passenger yacht engaged on a prescribed international voyage;

“Passenger Yacht 2” means a passenger yacht engaged on voyages in wind and weather conditions not exceeding Wind Scale 6 and Sea State 5 on the Beaufort scale and during which the ship is-

(a) not more than 20 nautical miles from land; and
(b) not more than 60 nautical miles from a port or place in which the passengers and crew could be placed in safety;

“permeability” or “(μ)” of a space means the proportion of the immersed volume of that space which can be occupied by water;

“pleasure vessel” shall have the meaning assigned to the term as defined in the national legislation of the REG Member State implementing the provisions of the Code;

“pleasure yacht” includes a yacht not engaged in trade and a yacht engaged in trade;

“positive stability” means the ability of a ship to return to its original position after the removal of a heeling moment;

“prescribed international voyage” means an international voyage during the course of which a ship is not more than 200 nautical miles from a port or place in which the passengers and crew could be placed in safety and within a geographical area which limits the length of the voyage to a maximum of 1000 nautical miles from the initial point of departure, as specified in any Certificate issued in accordance with the Code with respect to the ship;

“prescriptive requirements” means the construction characteristics, limiting dimensions or fire safety systems specified in this Code or in applicable international Conventions or national laws and regulations;

“public spaces” means those portions of the accommodation which are used for halls, dining rooms, lounges and includes similar permanently enclosed spaces;

“Recognised Organization” or “RO” means a Classification Society or other body which has been authorised by the Administration under a written agreement to undertake statutory surveys and issue statutory Certificates on the Administration’s behalf;

“recovery time for a rescue boat” means the time required to raise the boat to a position where persons on board can disembark to the deck of the ship and includes the time required to make preparations for recovery on board the rescue boat such as passing and securing a painter, connecting the rescue boat to the launching appliance, and the time to raise the rescue boat provided that recovery time does not include the time needed to lower the launching appliance into position to recover the rescue boat;

“rescue boat” means a boat designed to rescue persons in distress and to marshal survival craft;

“retrieval of survivors” means the safe recovery of survivors;

"Sailing vessel" means a vessel designed to carry sail, whether as a sole means of propulsion or as a supplementary means.

“sauna” means a hot room with temperatures normally varying between 80°C and 120°C where the heat is provided by a hot surface (e.g., by an electrically heated oven) and may include the space where the oven is located and adjacent bathrooms;

“seafarer” includes every person (except masters and pilots) employed or engaged in any capacity on board a ship;

“service spaces” means those spaces used for galleys, pantries containing cooking appliances, lockers, store-rooms, workshops other than those forming part of the machinery spaces, and similar spaces and trunks to such spaces;

“ships constructed” means ships the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction;

“similar stage of construction” means the stage at which-

(a) construction identifiable with a specific ship begins; and
(b) assembly of that ship has commenced comprising at least 50 tonnes or 1% of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is less;

“SOLAS” means the International Convention for the safety of Life at Sea, 1974 as amended by the IMO;

“Smoke damper” means a device installed in a ventilation duct, which under normal conditions remains open allowing flow in the duct, and is closed during a fire, preventing the flow in the duct to restrict the passage of smoke and hot gases. A smoke damper is not expected to contribute to the integrity of a fire rated division penetrated by a ventilation duct. In using the above definition the following terms may be associated:

(a) “automatic smoke damper” is a smoke damper that closes independently in response to exposure to smoke or hot gases;
(b) “manual smoke damper” is a smoke damper intended to be opened or closed by the crew by hand at the damper itself; and
(c) “remotely operated smoke damper” is a smoke damper that is closed by the crew through a control located at a distance away from the controlled damper.

“STCW Convention” means the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended by the IMO;

“standard fire test” means a test in which specimens of the relevant bulkheads or decks are exposed in a test furnace to temperatures corresponding approximately to the standard time-temperature curve in accordance with the test method specified in the Fire Test Procedures Code;

“steel or other equivalent material” means any non-combustible material which, by itself or due to insulation provided, has structural and integrity properties equivalent to steel at the end of the applicable exposure to the standard fire test (e.g., aluminium alloy with appropriate insulation);

“sub-division length” or “(Ls)” of a ship means the greatest projected moulded length of that part of the ship at or below deck or decks limiting the vertical extent of flooding with the ship at the deepest subdivision draft;

“superstructure” means a decked structure on the freeboard deck, extending from side to side of the ship or with the side plating not being inboard of the shell plating more than 4% of the breadth (B);

“survival craft” means a craft capable of sustaining the lives of persons in distress from the time of abandoning the ship;

“trim” means the difference between the draft forward and the draft aft, where the drafts are measured at the forward and aft terminals respectively, disregarding any rake of keel;

“vehicle space” means a space intended for carriage of motor vehicles with fuel in their tanks for their own propulsion.

“watertight” means having scantlings and arrangements capable of preventing the passage of water in any direction under the head of water likely to occur in intact and damaged conditions and in the damaged condition the head of water is to be considered in the worst situation at equilibrium, including intermediate stages of flooding;

“weather deck” means a deck which is completely exposed to the weather from above and from at least two sides;

“weathertight” means capable of withstanding the penetration of water into a space in the ship situated above the water line in any sea conditions in which the vessel is permitted to operate;

“well” means any area on the deck exposed to the weather, where water may be entrapped and includes deck areas bounded on two or more sides by deck structures; and

“yacht” means a vessel which is designed, modified or adapted for the pursuit of sea-borne leisure activities by those on board either under the direct control of the person or persons on board or under the control of a crew provided for the purpose and includes a pleasure vessel and a pleasure yacht and may include commercial passenger ships carrying not more than 36 passengers on international voyages of a limited extent, on point to point trade or otherwise, at the discretion of the Administration providing such vessels meet all the relevant provisions of the Code;

(2) Except where the context otherwise requires, throughout the Code the terms “yacht’, “ship” and “vessel” are synonymous.

(3) Statements that are expressed in the conditional “should” are to mean “shall” in the context of the code.