Section 17 Additional requirements for passenger ships

17.1.1 Passenger ships are to comply with the applicable additional requirements of this Section.

17.2.1 Where the ship contains main fire zones, emergency services and their emergency power supplies that are required to be capable of being operated under fire conditions or in the event of damage are to be so arranged that a fire in a main fire zone does not affect the operation of the emergency services in any other main fire zone.

17.2.2 Where the ship contains flooding zones for damage stability, electrical equipment (for example cables and connections, switchboards, section and distribution boards and protective devices) required to provide essential services required for the propulsion and safety of the ship and for emergency services are to be located above the damage stability level as far as is practicable.

17.3.1 Lighting is to be provided by suitable electrical equipment only.

17.3.2 For the following spaces and locations, both main and emergency lighting is to be provided:

1. at all stowage and designated preparation positions for life-saving appliances;

2. at all muster stations and, where applicable, embarkation stations and oversides;

3. escape route alleyways, stairways and exits;

4. accommodation areas, cabins and personnel lift cars;

5. in other areas intended for use by persons with reduced mobility;

6. in the machinery spaces and main generating stations, including their control positions and their exits;

7. in the wheelhouse;

8. at all stowage positions for fireman’s outfits;

See also Pt 6, Ch 2, 2.7 Lighting circuits 2.7.4.

17.3.3 Where required, additional emergency lighting indicating escape routes and emergency exits (e.g. low location lighting) is to be provided with an emergency power supply and is to be in accordance with the relevant requirements of the appropriate National, International or Local Authorities.

17.4.1 The following emergency services, where required by National, International or Local Authorities, are to be provided with emergency power supplies capable of supplying the services for 30 minutes:

• emergency lighting;
• signal lights;
• searchlights;
• fire and general alarms;
• public address systems;
• passenger and crew warning systems;
• fire detection and alarm systems;
• fire-extinguishing systems and fire-extinguishing media release alarms;
• automatic sprinkler systems;
• control and power systems to power-operated watertight doors and fire doors and their status indication;
• personnel lifts and lifting equipment for persons with reduce mobility provided for evacuation purposes;
• emergency bilge pump and equipment necessary for the operation of remote controlled bilge valves; and
• davits and hoisting gear for gangways intended for emergency use and rescue boats, where installed.

17.4.2 Emergency arrangements to bring the lift cars to deck level for the escape of persons are to be provided supplied from an emergency power supply. The passenger lift cars may be brought to deck level sequentially in an emergency.

17.5.1 An internal alarm system is to be provided that permits persons on board to alert responsible ship personnel and is to be in accordance with Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.5 Passenger and crew warning system 17.5.2.

17.5.2 The system is to be provided with means of activation at the following places:

• in each cabin;
• in corridors, lifts and stairwells with the distance to the nearest trigger not exceeding 10 m and with at least one trigger for each watertight compartment;
• in lounges, dining rooms and similar recreation rooms;
• in toilets, intended for use by persons with reduced mobility;
• in engine rooms, galleys and similar rooms where there is a fire risk; and
• in the cold-storage rooms and other store rooms with deck surface area greater than 4 m².

Additional means of activation may be provided at other locations considered appropriate.

17.5.3 The means of alarm activation are to be protected against unintentional use and are to be installed at a height above the deck of 0,85 m to 1,10 m.

17.5.4 Upon activation, an alarm is to be given in designated areas for the responsible ship personnel.

17.5.5 The system is to be arranged to allow alarms to be reset, accepted or otherwise handled only by responsible ship personnel.

17.6.1 Required electrically operated bell or klaxon or other equivalent warning systems for sounding the general emergency alarm signal are to comply with the relevant requirements of the appropriate National, International or Local Authorities and with the requirements of this sub- Section.

17.6.2 The system is to be capable of sounding a clearly distinguishable general emergency alarm in:

1. all rooms accessible to passengers; and

2. all spaces occupied by shipboard personnel (including crew recreation rooms, cold-storage rooms and other store rooms).

17.6.3 Means are to be provided to allow the system to be capable of sounding the alarm required by Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.6 General emergency alarm system 17.6.2.(b) independently of the alarm to the passenger spaces required by Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.6 General emergency alarm system 17.6.2.

17.6.4 Means are to be provided to permit the alarm to be activated from the wheelhouse and from a location that is permanently attended by ship personnel.

17.6.5 The means of alarm activation are to be protected against unintentional use.

17.7.1 Required public address systems are to comply with the relevant requirements of the appropriate National, International or Local Authorities and with the requirements of this sub-Section.

17.7.2 The public address system is to be capable of broadcasting messages from the wheelhouse to:

• all passenger areas;
• control stations where there is no other direct communication means from the wheelhouse; and
• in the access and evacuation areas for passengers.

Loudspeakers may be omitted in passenger areas where it can be demonstrated that effective direct communication between the wheelhouse and the passenger area is possible due to proximity and the lack of barriers.

17.7.3 The system is to be designed in such a way as to ensure that the information transmitted can be clearly distinguished from background noise.

17.8.1 The electrical power required for power-operated sliding watertight doors is to be separate from any other power circuit. Watertight doors are to be capable of being supplied with main and emergency electrical power.

17.8.2 A single failure in the power operating or control system of power-operated sliding watertight doors is not to result in a closed door opening or prevent the hand operation of any door.

17.8.3 Availability of the power supply is to be continuously monitored at a point in the electrical circuit adjacent to the door operating equipment. Loss of any such power supply is to activate an audible and visual alarm in the wheelhouse.

17.8.4 Electrical power, control, indication and alarm circuits are to be protected against fault in such a way that a failure in one door circuit will not cause a failure in any other door circuit. Short circuits or other faults in the alarm or indicator circuits of a door are not to result in a loss of power operation of the door. Arrangements are to be such that leakage of water into the electrical equipment located below the bulkhead deck will not cause the door to open.

17.8.5 The enclosures of electrical components necessarily situated below the bulkhead deck are to provide suitable protection against the ingress of water with ratings as defined in IEC 60529: Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code) or an acceptable and relevant National Standard, as follows:

1. Electrical motors, associated circuits and control components, protected to IPX7 standard.

2. Door position indicators and associated circuit components protected to IPX8 standard, where the water pressure testing of the enclosures is to be based on the pressure that may occur at the location of the component during flooding for a period of 36 hours.

3. Door movement warning signals, protected to IPX6 standard.

17.8.6 Watertight door electrical controls including their electric cables are to be kept as close as is practicable to the bulkhead in which the doors are fitted and so arranged that the likelihood of them being involved in any damage which the ship may sustain is minimized.

17.8.7 An audible alarm, distinct from any other alarm in the area, is to sound automatically whenever the door is closed by power. When a door is closed remotely, the audible alarm is to sound for at least five seconds but no more than ten seconds before the door begins to move and is to continue sounding until the door is completely closed. The audible alarm is to be supplemented by an intermittent visual signal at the door in passenger areas and areas where the noise level exceeds 85 dB(A).

17.8.8 Power operated watertight doors are to be provided with an additional hand-operated mechanism capable of operating independently of the power operation. It is to be possible to open and close the door by hand at the door itself from either side. Direction of rotation or other movement is to be clearly indicated at door operating positions.

17.8.9 Power operated watertight doors are to be capable of being closed in not more than 60 s with the ship in the upright position. The closing time of watertight doors is not to be less than 30 s. The time necessary for the complete closure of the door, when operating by hand gear, is to not exceed 90 s with the ship in the upright position.

17.8.10 Indicators are to be provided at watertight door remote control positions to indicate when a door is fully closed or open.

17.8.11 The arrangements are to be such that it is not possible to remotely open any watertight door.