Section 1 General

101. Application

1. The requirements of this Chapter apply to the operation of offshore support vessels (hereinafter called "ships") that may be employed to recover oil from a spill. As such, these vessels may be equipped to handle, store and transport recovered oil.

2. The ships should comply with the requirements of this chapter in addition to Ch 1 to Ch 3.

3. Requirements additional to those given in this Chapter may be imposed by the National Administration with whom the vessel is registered or by the Administration within whose territorial jurisdiction the vessel is intended to operate.

102. Submission of Plans

In addition to the plans required to be submitted by Ch 2, 204, the following additional plans, documents, and calculations are to be submitted in the same manner.

1. Plans

(1) Plans and particulars of recovered oil tanks indicating access.

(2) Structural and general arrangement plans indicating the location, support and fastening arrange- ments of oil recovery and handling equipment.

(3) Plan showing arrangement of structural fire protection and location, controls and particulars of fire extinguishing systems and fire safety equipment.

(4) Diagrammatic plans of piping systems for handling recovered oil. These plans are to be accom- panied by lists of material giving size, wall thickness, maximum working pressure and material of all pipes and the type, size, pressure rating and material of valves and fittings.

(5) Diagrammatic plans of recovered oil tank venting arrangements including the position of vent outlets.

(6) Diagrammatic plans of recovered oil heating systems, if installed.

(7) Plans showing hazardous locations and electrical equipment in these locations together with a listing of equipment manufacturers and model numbers and evidence of certification for ex- plosion-proof, intrinsically-safe and pressurized equipment. Also, wiring plans, installation in- structions and certification agency restrictions for intrinsically-safe systems.

(8) Plans showing electrical power supply, protection and cabling for oil recovery equipment.

(9) Plans showing hazardous areas and spaces including the arrangement of ventilating systems for all hazardous areas along with complete particulars of the ventilating system such as capacities of fans, number of complete changes of air per hour, air flows, areas subject to positive or negative pressure, and location and direction of opening of self-closing doors.

2. Documents

(1) Detailed specifications for gas detection/measuring equipment.

(2) Detailed Operations and Procedures Manual

3. Calculations

(1) Load analysis of structural support in way of deck equipment during oil recovery operations in at least moderate sea conditions.

(2) Electrical load analysis considering the use of oil recovery equipment during oil recovery operations.

(3) Stability analysis considering all relevant operational conditions including ballasting.

103. Operating Manual

An approved Operating Manual detailing operational and maintenance procedures, equipment and capacity data, and particulars on operation of the vessel during oil recovery mode of operations is to be placed aboard the vessel for the guidance of the operating personnel. The vessel is to be op- erated during oil recovery mode of operation in accordance with this approved Operating Manual.

The Operating Manual is, in general, to give information regarding the following:

(1) Arrangement and equipment

(A) Tank arrangement with venting systems

(B) Recovered oil transfer system

(C) Gas measuring instruments

(D) Gas detection systems, if installed

(E) List of oil response equipment and supplies

(2) Oil Recovery Operations and Procedures verifying that all equipment installed in hazardous loca- tions and/or transferred onboard are certified for use in gas-hazardous atmosphere

(A) Instructions regarding the use of non-certified electrical equipment

(B) Changing-over to low sea suctions for all sea water cooling pumps and fire pumps

(C) Hook-up and equipment deployment

(D) Tank filling procedures

(E) Heating of recovered oil, if applicable

(F) Discharging of recovered oil

(G) List of spaces and equipment that may be required to be secured

(H) List of deadlights that may be required to be secured

(I) Recovered oil piping and venting configuration instructions

(J) Space specific ventilation requirements

(K) Storage location and use of portable gas detection/measuring instruments

(L) Installation of spill coamings

(3) Safety Instructions

(A) Fire fighting

(B) Guidelines regarding safe distance from an oil spill source including specifying conditions when to withdraw the vessel from oil recovery operations.

(C) Gas measurements during operation (on open deck and in spaces where gas might accumulate)

(D) Actions to be taken if gases are detected in enclosed spaces (cleaning, ventilation, emptying of adjacent tanks, etc.)

(E) Precautions against overfilling of tanks

(4) Cleaning and gas-freeing of tanks and pipes

(5) Stability in all relevant operational conditions including ballasting guidance.