6 Categories of watertight doors
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1380 – Guidance for Watertight Doors on Passenger Ships Which May be Opened During Navigation – (10 December 2010) - Annex – Guidance for Watertight Doors on Passenger Ships Which may be Opened During Navigation - 6 Categories of watertight doors

6 Categories of watertight doors

 In order to assist Administrations in determining to what extent watertight doors may remain open during navigation, watertight doors may be categorized into one of four different types of doors:

  • .1 Category A doors:

  • A watertight door that fulfils the technical requirements in SOLAS regulations II-1/13.5.1 to 13.5.3 and 13.6 (previous SOLAS regulations II-1/15.6.1 to 15.6.4), which also includes the requirements in paragraph 7 of SOLAS regulation II-1/13 (previous SOLAS regulation II-1/15), and has been permitted to remain open during navigation by the Administration according to SOLAS regulation II-1/22.4 (previous SOLAS regulation II-1/15.9.3).

  • .2 Category B doors:

  • A watertight door that fulfils the technical requirements in SOLAS regulations II-1/13.5.1 to 13.5.3 and 13.6 (previous SOLAS regulations II-1/15.6.1 to 15.6.4), which also includes the requirements in paragraph 7 of SOLAS regulation II-1/13 (previous SOLAS regulation II-1/15), and may be opened during navigation when work in the immediate vicinity of the door necessitates it being opened, according to SOLAS regulation II-1/22.3(previous SOLAS regulation II-1/15.9.2). The door must be immediately closed when the task which necessitated it being open is finished.

  • .3 Category C doors:

  • A watertight door that fulfils the technical requirements in SOLAS regulations II-1/13.5.1 to 13.5.3 and 13.6 (previous SOLAS regulations II-1/15.6.1 to 15.6.4), which also includes the requirements in paragraph 7 of SOLAS regulation II-1/13 (previous SOLAS regulation II-1/15), and may be opened during navigation to permit the passage of passengers or crew, according to SOLAS regulation II-1/22.3 (previous SOLAS regulation II-1/15.9.2). The door must be immediately closed when transit through the door is complete.

  • .4 Category D doors:

    • .1 A watertight door that does not comply with SOLAS regulations II-1/13.5.1 to 13.5.3 and 13.6 (previous SOLAS regulations II-1/15.6.1 to 15.6.4), which also includes the requirements in paragraph 7 of SOLAS regulation II-1/13 (previous SOLAS regulation II-1/15), shall be closed before the voyage commences and shall be kept closed during navigation according to SOLAS regulation II-1/22.1 (previous SOLAS regulation II-1/15.6.5 (refer to paragraph 5.2).

    • .2 Additionally, watertight doors fitted in watertight bulkheads dividing cargo between deck spaces in accordance with SOLAS regulation II-1/13.9.1 (previous SOLAS regulation II-1/15.10.1), shall be closed before the voyage commences and shall be closed during navigation according to SOLAS regulation II-1/22.6 (previous SOLAS regulation II-1/15.10.2). Such a watertight door is not eligible for upgrade to another category.

Parent topic: Annex – Guidance for Watertight Doors on Passenger Ships Which may be Opened During Navigation
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