3.5 Access to spaces in the cargo area
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Maritime Safety Committee - Resolution MSC.370(93) – Amendments to The International Code for The Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases In Bulk (IGC Code) – (Adopted on 22 May 2014) - Annex - Amendments to The International Code for The Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases In Bulk (IGC Code) - Chapter 3 — Ship Arrangements - 3.5 Access to spaces in the cargo area

3.5 Access to spaces in the cargo area

  3.5.1 Visual inspection of at least one side of the inner hull structure shall be possible without the removal of any fixed structure or fitting. If such a visual inspection, whether combined with those inspections required in 3.5.2, 4.6.2.4 or 4.20.3.7 or not, is only possible at the outer face of the inner hull, the inner hull shall not be a fuel-oil tank boundary wall.

  3.5.2 Inspection of one side of any insulation in hold spaces shall be possible. If the integrity of the insulation system can be verified by inspection of the outside of the hold space boundary when tanks are at service temperature, inspection of one side of the insulation in the hold space need not be required.

  3.5.3 Arrangements for hold spaces, void spaces, cargo tanks and other spaces classified as hazardous areas, shall be such as to allow entry and inspection of any such space by personnel wearing protective clothing and breathing apparatus and shall also allow for the evacuation of injured and/or unconscious personnel. Such arrangements shall comply with the following:

  • .1 Access shall be provided as follows:

    • .1 access to all cargo tanks. Access shall be direct from the weather deck;

    • .2 access through horizontal openingş hatches or manholes. The dimensions shall be sufficient to allow a person wearing a breathing apparatus to ascend or descend any ladder without obstruction, and also to provide a clear opening to facilitate the hoisting of an injured person from the bottom of the space. The minimum clear opening shall be not less than 600 mm x 600 mm;

    • .3 access through vertical openings or manholes providing passage through the length and breadth of the space. The minimum clear opening shall be not less than 600 mm x 800 mm at a height of not more than 600 mm from the bottom plating unless gratings or other footholds are provided; and

    • .4 circular access openings to type C tanks shall have a diameter of not less than 600 mm.

  • .2 The dimensions referred to in 3.5.3.1.2 and 3.5.3.1.3 may be decreased, if the requirements of 3.5.3 can be met to the satisfaction of the Administration.

  • .3 Where cargo is carried in a containment system requiring a secondary barrier, the requirements of 3.5.3.1.2 and 3.5.3.1.3 do not apply to spaces separated from a hold space by a single gastight steel boundary. Such spaces shall be provided only with direct or indirect access from the weather deck, not including any enclosed non-hazardous area.

  • .4 Access required for inspection shall be a designated access through structures below and above cargo tanks, which shall have at least the cross-sections as required by 3.5.3.1.3.

  • .5 For the purpose of 3.5.1 or 3.5.2, the following shall apply:

    • .1 where it is required to pass between the surface to be inspected, flat or curved, and structures such as deck beams, stiffeners, frames, girders, etc., the distance between that surface and the free edge of the structural elements shall be at least 380 mm. The distance between the surface to be inspected and the surface to which the above structural elements are fitted, e.g. deck, bulkhead or shell, shall be at least 450 mm for a curved tank surface (e.g. for a type C tank), or 600 mm for a flat tank surface (e.g. for a type A tank) (see figure 3.1);

    • .2 where it is not required to pass between the surface to be inspected and any part of the structure, for visibility reasons the distance between the free edge of that structural element and the surface to be inspected shall be at least 50 mm or half the breadth of the structure's face plate, whichever is the larger (see figure 3.2);

    • .3 if for inspection of a curved surface where it is required to pass between that surface and another surface, flat or curved, to which no structural elements are fitted, the distance between both surfaces shall be at least 380 mm (see figure 3.3). Where it is not required to pass between that curved surface and another surface, a smaller distance than 380 mm may be accepted taking into account the shape of the curved surface;

    • .4 if for inspection of an approximately flat surface where it is required to pass between two approximately flat and approximately parallel surfaces, to which no structural elements are fitted, the distance between those surfaces shall be at least 600 mm. Where fixed access ladders are fitted, a clearance of at least 450 mm shall be provided for access (see figure 3.4);

    • .5 the minimum distances between a cargo tank sump and adjacent double bottom structure in way of a suction well shall not be less than those shown in figure 3.5 (figure 3.5 shows that the distance between the plane surfaces of the sump and the well is a minimum of 150 mm and that the clearance between the edge between the inner bottom plate, and the vertical side of the well and the knuckle point between the spherical or circular surface and sump of the tank is at least 380 mm). If there is no suction well, the distance between the cargo tank sump and the inner bottom shall not be less than 50 mm;

    • .6 the distance between a cargo tank dome and deck structures shall not be less than 150 mm (see figure 3.6);

    • .7 fixed or portable staging shall be installed as necessary for inspection of cargo tanks, cargo tank supports and restraints (e.g. anti-pitching, anti-rolling and anti-flotation chocks), cargo tank insulation etc. This staging shall not impair the clearances specified in 3.5.3.5.1 to 3.5.3.5.4; and

    • .8 if fixed or portable ventilation ducting shall be fitted in compliance with 12.1.2, such ducting shall not impair the distances required under 3.5.3.5.1 to 3.5.3.5.4.

  3.5.4 Access from the open weather deck to non-hazardous areas shall be located outside the hazardous areas as defined in chapter 10, unless the access is by means of an airlock in accordance with 3.6.

  3.5.5 Turret compartments shall be arranged with two independent means of access/egress.

  3.5.6 Access from a hazardous area below the weather deck to a non-hazardous area is not permitted.

Parent topic: Chapter 3 — Ship Arrangements
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