Access To and Within Cargo Holds of Bulks Carriers

  Access to cargo holds

  18 If separate hatches are used to access the ladders required in each cargo hold, each hatch should have a clear opening of at least 600 mm by 600 mm. The access hatch and associated ladders should, unless used solely for inspection and maintenance and not for operational access, be located such that a person using them will not enter the volume defined by the vertical projection upwards and downwards of the uppermost cargo hatchway. Accesses and ladders should be so arranged that personnel equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus may readily enter and leave the cargo hold. Access hatch coamings having a height greater than 450 mm should be fitted with steps or footholds inside the coaming and, if greater than 900 mm, should also have steps on the outside in conjunction with cargo hold ladders.

  Access within cargo holds and ballast tanks

  19 Each cargo hold should be provided with at least two ladders as far apart as practicable longitudinally, If possible, these ladders should be arranged diagonally, e.g., one ladder near the forward bulkhead on the port side, the other one near the aft bulkhead on the starboard side, from the ship's centreline. Ladders should be so designed and arranged that the risk of damage from the cargo handling gear is minimised.

  20 Vertical ladders should be at an angle of not less than 70° to the horizontal and should comprise one or more ladder linking platforms spaced not more than 6 m apart vertically and displaced to one side of the ladder. Adjacent sections of ladder should be laterally offset from each other by at least the width of the ladder.

  21 Tunnels passing through cargo holds should be equipped with ladders or steps at each end of the hold so that personnel may easily get across such tunnels.

  22 Where is may be necessary for work to be carried out within a cargo hold or ballast tanks, consideration should be given to suitable arrangements for the safe handling of staging or movable platforms. Such staging and platforms should always be adequately supported and fitted with handrails. Planks should be free from splits and lashed down. In topside and lower hopper tanks, it may be necessary to arrange staging to provide close-up examination of the upper parts of the tank, particularly the transverse web frames, especially where protective coatings have broken down or have not been applied.

  23 Hydraulic arm vehicles (“Cherry Pickers") may be used for close-up examination of the cargo hold bulkheads and the upper parts of the cargo hold structure. The standing platform should be fitted with a safety harness. For those vehicles equipped with a self-levelling platform, care should be taken so that the locking device is engaged after completion of manoeuvring to ensure that the platform is fixed.

  24 Extending/articulated ladders (frame walk) may be used to enable close-up examination of both the lower and upper portions of side shell frames and end brackets. These ladders incorporate a hydraulic locking system and a built-in safety harness. Portable equipment requires regular maintenance and inspection and this should be confirmed prior to its use.

  25 When a short portable ladder is used to gain access to the lower portion of the side shell plating, frames and lower brackets, they should be fitted with adjustable feet, lashings or other safe means, to prevent them from slipping and falling.