1.1 These Interim Explanatory Notes are intended
to outline the process of verification and of approval of a ship's
design by the Administration, as well as describing the necessary
documentation required, when requirements relevant to safe return
to port (regulations II-1/8-1, II-2/21 and 22 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as
amended) are applied.
1.2 These Interim Explanatory Notes are also intended
to support safe engineering design with guidance on all three scenarios
to be considered in the light of the above mentioned regulations:
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.1 availability of essential systems after a flooding
casualty, according to SOLAS regulation
II-1/8-1;
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.2 availability of essential systems to support
a ship's safe return to port after a fire casualty, according to SOLAS regulation II-2/21; and
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.3 availability of essential systems to support
a ship's evacuation and abandonment after a fire casualty, according
to SOLAS regulation II-2/22.
In light of the above, general and specific interpretations
to regulations II-2/21 and 22 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as
amended are given in appendix 1.
1.3 The outcome of these assessments should confirm
that the ship is designed and constructed to provide the capabilities
required by SOLAS regulations II-1/8-1, II-2/21 and 22.
1.4 Within these Interim Explanatory Notes a system-based
approach is primarily intended to be performed. Where a system approach
will outline potential weaknesses, a compartment or space-by-space
based approach may also be applied. In the latter case, part of or
all the spaces subject to individual consideration may be subject
to operational restrictions on access, use and installations as one
element of the overall system of protection. All such spaces and their
restrictions should be identified on drawings or in manuals as appropriate
(see paragraphs 7.3 and 7.4). For the application of these Interim
Explanatory Notes to be successful, all relevant parties, including
the Administration or its designated representative, owners, operators,
designers and classification societies, should be in continuous communication
from the onset of a specific proposal to utilize these Interim Explanatory
Notes.
1.5 A pre-requisite and starting point for this
assessment is that the owner of the ship has defined the operating
pattern or patterns of the ship (for instance, worldwide liner/cruise
ship or point-to-point ferry operations, maximum number of passengers
and crew for required routes, foreseeable area of operation and routes,
etc.). The capabilities that will be needed to be built into the ship
will depend on the above.
1.6 The Administration may (as per SOLAS regulation II-2/21.4.14) determine
any system to remain operational after a casualty in addition to those
identified.