2 Definitions
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - Alarms and Indicators - Code on Alarms and Indicators, 1995 – Resolution A.830(19) - 2 Definitions

2 Definitions

  2.1 Alarm. An alarm or alarm system which announces by audible means, or audible visual means, a condition requiring attention.

  2.2 Emergency alarms. Alarms which indicate that immediate danger to human life or to the ship and its machinery exists and that immediate action must be taken. The following are classified as emergency alarms:

  • .1 General emergency alarm. An alarm given in the case of an emergency to all persons on board summoning passengers and crew to muster stations.

  • .2 Fire alarm. An alarm to summon the crew in the case of fire.

  • .3 Those alarms giving warning of immediate personnel hazard, including:

    • .3.1 Fire-extinguishing medium alarm. An alarm warning of the imminent release of fire-extinguishing medium into a space.

    • .3.2 Power-operated sliding watertight door closing alarm. An alarm required by SOLAS regulation II-1/15.9.1, or SOLAS regulation II-1/15.7.1.6 for ships constructed on or after 1 February 1992, warning of the closing of a power-operated sliding watertight door.

  • .4 For special ships (e.g. high-speed craft), additional alarms may be classified as emergency alarms in addition to the ones defined above.

  2.3 Primary alarms. Alarms which indicate a condition that requires prompt attention to prevent an emergency condition. The following are classified as primary alarms:

  • .1 Machinery alarm. An alarm which indicates a malfunction or other abnormal condition of the machinery and electrical installations.

  • .2 Steering gear alarm. An alarm which indicates a malfunction or other abnormal condition of the steering gear system, i.e. overload alarm, phase failure alarm, no-voltage alarm, and hydraulic oil tank low-level alarm.

  • .3 Control system fault alarm. An alarm which indicates a failure of an automatic or remote control system, e.g., the navigating bridge propulsion control failure alarm.

  • .4 Bilge alarm. An alarm which indicates an abnormally high level of bilge water.

  • .5 Engineers' alarm. An alarm to be operated from the engine control room or at the manoeuvering platform, as appropriate, to alert personnel in the engineers' accommodation that assistance is needed in the engine-room.

  • .6 Personnel alarm. An alarm to confirm the safety of the engineer on duty when alone in the machinery spaces.

  • .7 Fire detection alarm. An alarm to alert the crew on the navigating bridge, at the fire control station or elsewhere that a fire has been detected.

  • .8 Alarms indicating faults in emergency or primary alarm or detection systems or failure of their power supplies.

  • .9 Cargo alarm. An alarm which indicates abnormal conditions originating in cargo, or in systems for the preservation or safety of cargo.

  • .10 Gas detection alarm. An alarm which indicates that gas has been detected.

  • .11 Power-operated watertight door fault alarms. Alarms which indicate low level in hydraulic fluid reservoirs, low gas pressure or loss of stored energy in hydraulic accumulators, and loss of electrical power supply for power-operated sliding watertight doors.

  • .12 For special ships (e.g. high speed craft), additional alarms may be classified as primary alarms in addition to the ones defined above.

  2.4 Secondary alarms. Alarms which are not included in 2.2 and 2.3.

  2.5 Indicator. Visual indication giving information about the condition of a system or equipment.

  2.6 Required alarm or indicator. An alarm or indicator required by IMO instruments referred to in 1.1 and 1.2. Any other alarms and indicators are referred to in this Code as non-required alarms or indicators.

  2.7 Call. The request for contact, assistance and/or action from an individual to another person or group of persons, i.e. the complete procedure of signalling and indicating this request.

  2.8 Accept. Manually acknowledge receipt of an alarm or call.

  2.9 Cancel. Manual stopping of an alarm or call after the cause has been eliminated.

  2.10 Grouping. Grouping is a generic term meaning:

  • .1 the arrangement of individual alarms on alarm panels or individual indicators on indicating panels, e.g., steering gear alarms at the navigating bridge steering position, or door indicators on a watertight door position, or door indicators on a watertight door position indicating panel;

  • .2 the combining of individual alarms to provide one alarm at a remote position, e.g., the machinery alarm at the engineers' accommodation or at the navigating bridge; and

  • .3 the arrangement of alarms in terms of their priority, e.g. emergency alarms, primary alarms, secondary alarms.

  2.11 IBC Code . The International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (resolution MSC.4(48), as amended).

  2.12 BCH Code. The Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (resolution MSC.9(53), as amended).

  2.13 IGC Code . The International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (resolution MSC.5(48). as amended).

  2.14 Gas Carrier (GC) Code. The Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (resolution A.328(IX), as amended).

  2.15 1993 Torremolinos Protocol . The Protocol of 1993 relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977.

  2.16 IGS. The Guidelines for Inert Gas Systems (MSC/Circ.282, as amended by MSC/Circ.353 and MSC/Circ.387).

  2.17 HSC Code . The International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (resolution MSC.36(63)).

  2.18 VEC Systems. The Standards for Vapour Emission Control Systems (MSC/Circ.585).

  2.19 IMDG Code. The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.

  2.20 1995 Diving Code . The Code of Safety for Diving Systems, 1995 (resolution A.831(19)).

  2.21 1989 MODU Code. The Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (resolution A.649(16)).

  2.22 Nuclear Merchant Ship Code. The Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships (resolution A.491(XII)).


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