Section 9 Access

901. General

1. Each space within the unit should be provided with at least one permanent means of access to en- able, throughout the life of a unit, overall and close-up inspections and thickness measurements of the unit’s structures to be carried out by the Administration, the company, and the unit’s personnel and others as necessary. Such means of access should comply with the provisions of paragraph 904 and with the Technical provisions for means of access for inspections, adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.133(76), as may be amended by the Organization.

2. Where a permanent means of access may be susceptible to damage during normal operations or where it is impracticable to fit permanent means of access, the Administration may allow, in lieu thereof, the provision of movable or portable means of access, as specified in the Technical provi- sions, provided that the means of attaching, rigging, suspending or supporting the portable means of access forms a permanent part of the unit’s structure. All portable equipment should be capable of being readily erected or deployed by the unit’s personnel.

3. The construction and materials of all means of access and their attachment to the unit’s structure should be to the satisfaction of the Administration. The means of access should be subject to in- spection prior to, or in conjunction with, its use in carrying out surveys in accordance with Ch 2.

902. Safe access to holds, tanks, ballast tanks and other spaces

1. Safe access to holds, cofferdams, tanks and other spaces should be direct from the open deck and such as to ensure their complete inspection. Safe access may be from a machinery space, pump- room, deep cofferdam, pipe tunnel, hold, double hull space or similar compartment not in- tended for the carriage of oil or hazardous materials where it is impracticable to provide such ac- cess from an open deck.

2. Tanks, and subdivisions of tanks, having a length of 35 m or more, should be fitted with at least two access hatchways and ladders, as far apart as practicable. Tanks less than 35 m in length should be served by at least one access hatchway and ladder. When a tank is subdivided by one or more swash bulkheads or similar obstructions which do not allow ready means of access to the other parts of the tank, at least two hatchways and ladders should be fitted.

3. Each hold should be provided with at least two means of access as far apart as practicable. In general, these accesses should be arranged diagonally, e.g., one access near the forward bulkhead on the port side, the other one near the aft bulkhead on the starboard side.

903. Access manual

1. A unit’s means of access to carry out overall and close-up inspections and thickness measurements should be described in an access manual which may be incorporated in the unit’s operating manual. The manual should be updated as necessary, and an updated copy maintained on board. The struc- ture access manual should include the following for each space:

(1) plans showing the means of access to the space, with appropriate technical specifications and di- mensions;

(2) plans showing the means of access within each space to enable an overall inspection to be car-

ried out, with appropriate technical specifications and dimensions. The plans should indicate from where each area in the space can be inspected;

(3) plans showing the means of access within the space to enable close-up inspections to be carried

out, with appropriate technical specifications and dimensions. The plans should indicate the posi- tions of critical structural areas, whether the means of access is permanent or portable and from

Ch 3 Hull Construction and Equipment Ch 3

where each area can be inspected;

(4) instructions for inspecting and maintaining means of attachment, taking into account space;

the structural strength of all means of access and any corrosive atmosphere that may be within the

(5) instructions for safety guidance when rafting is used for close-up inspections and thickness measurements;

(6) instructions for the rigging and use of any portable means of access in a safe manner;

(7) an inventory of all portable means of access; and

(8) records of periodical inspections and maintenance of the unit’s means of access.

2. For the purpose of this paragraph “critical structural areas” are locations which have been identified from calculations to require monitoring or from the service history of similar or sister units to be sensitive to cracking, buckling, deformation or corrosion which would impair the structural integrity of the unit.

904. General technical specifications

1. For access through horizontal openings, hatches or manholes, the dimensions should be sufficient to allow a person wearing a self-contained air-breathing apparatus and protective equipment to ascend or descend any ladder without obstruction and also provide a clear opening to facilitate the hoisting of an injured person from the bottom of a confined space. The minimum clear opening should not be less than 600 mm × 600 mm . When access to a hold is arranged through a flush manhole in the deck or a hatch, the top of the ladder should be placed as close as possible to the deck or hatch

coaming. Access hatch coamings having a height greater than 900 mm should also have steps on

the outside in conjunction with the ladder.

2. For access through vertical openings, or manholes, in swash bulkheads, floors, girders and web frames providing passage through the length and breadth of the space, the minimum opening should be not less than 600 mm × 800 mm at a height of not more than 600 mm from the bottom shell

plating unless gratings or other footholds are provided.