Section 1 General

101. Application

1. The requirements of this chapter are to apply to the hatchways and other openings on the exposed parts of freeboard deck of the barges not engaged on international voyages and the barges of less than 24 m in length.

2. For the barges of 24 m and above in length and engaged on international voyages, the hatchways and other deck openings on the exposed parts of freeboard deck are to be in accordance with the requirements in Rule Pt 10, Ch 19.

3. Where the barge has an unusually large freeboard, the requirements in this chapter may be reduced subject to the approval by the Society.

102. Weathertightness

Hatchways and other openings on the decks are to have weathertight covers.

103. Position of Exposed Deck Openings

For the purpose of this chapter, two positions of exposed deck openings are defined as follows:

Position I : Upon exposed freeboard deck and raised quarter decks and exposed superstructure decks within the forward 0.25Ãᾚ .

Position II : Upon exposed superstructure decks abaft the forward 0.25Ãᾚ .