Interpretations of the provisions of the 1969 Tonnage Measurement Convention
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Maritime Safety Committee - Resolution MSC.234(82) - Recommendations Concerning Tonnage Measurement of Open-Top Containerships - Annex - Recommendations Concerning Tonnage Measurement of Open-top Containerships - Interpretations of the provisions of the 1969 Tonnage Measurement Convention

Interpretations of the provisions of the 1969 Tonnage Measurement Convention

  3 The provisions of the 1969 Tonnage Measurement Convention for treatment of enclosed spaces should be applied to open-top containerships subject to the following unified interpretations:

  • .1 Upper deck (regulation 2(1))

    In a ship which is exempted by the Administration from the requirements to fit weathertight hatch covers .on the uppermost deck exposed to weather and sea, as in an open-top containership, the upper deck should be taken as that deck which would have been determined by regulation 2(1) as if such hatch covers had been fitted.

  • .2 Enclosed spaces (regulation 2(4))

    In open-top containerships, an opening in a deck such as the absence of hatch covers should not preclude a space from being included in the enclosed space.

  • .3 Shelter above container stacks

    In the case of open-top containerships having movable non-load-bearing covers (shelter) of light construction resting on the container-guides, the space above the hatch coamings up to the covers does not qualify as an excluded space according to regulation 2(5). For this particular design, however, an exception can be made in accordance with regulation l(3). The space can be excluded provided that this type of ship meets the requirements of an open-top containership without such covers.


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