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PART V
Construction Requirements: Class A Oil Barges (Cargo flashpoint not exceeding 60º C)

Hull Requirements - General ^

27. (1) The hull, structural bulkheads, decks, superstructures and deckhouses of every Class A oil barge shall be constructed of steel or an equivalent material with respect to fire risk.

(2) Scantlings, material, workmanship, welding, subdivision of cargo spaces and fitting of cofferdams shall be at least equivalent to the standards of an approved classification society.

(3) Every Class A oil barge shall comply with the double hull requirements of Part VII of these Standards.

Cargo Tank Pressures ^

28. (1) Provision shall be made to ensure that the liquid level in any cargo tank does not rise to a height that would exceed the test head established by paragraph 18(g)(vi).

(2) The requirements of subsection (1) may be achieved by the use of high level alarms, overflow control systems, gauging devices or tank filling procedure control.

Cargo Segregation ^

29. In every Class A oil barge,

(a) tanks used to carry oil of flashpoint not exceeding 60º C shall be segregated from

(i) service spaces excluding any isolated cargo handling gear locker,

(ii) machinery spaces, and

(iii) any other space in which any source of ignition is normally present

by cofferdams, voids, pumprooms, open deck spaces, or tanks used to carry oil of flashpoint exceeding 60º C;

(b) any opening in the cargo tank area or the boundary of a superstructure or deckhouse shall be arranged to

(i) minimize the possibility of gas entering an enclosed space containing a source of ignition, and

(ii) prevent gas from accumulating in the vicinity of any deck machinery or equipment that may constitute an ignition hazard;

(c) any source of ignition such as electrical equipment shall be arranged so as to avoid the danger of explosion; and

(d) where a deck on which oil spills may occur contains any space in which any source of ignition is normally present, the deck shall be fitted with coamings or other suitable means for keeping oil spills away from such spaces.

Location of Spaces ^

30. In every new Class A oil barge,

(a) every service space, machinery space, cargo control station and enclosed general cargo space shall be located aft of any cofferdam, void or pumproom used for segregation purposes in accordance with section 29, except

(b) the Board, or the Regional Manager when authorized by Section 8 of these Standards, may permit such spaces and stations to be located elsewhere in the oil barge if satisfied that an equal standard of safety would be attained.

Openings in Restricted Areas ^

31. In every new Class A oil barge,

(a) no entrance, air inlet or like opening to a service space or machinery space, other than a bolted plate for the removal of machinery, shall be fitted

(i) in any exterior superstructure or deckhouse bulkhead that faces the cargo area, and

(ii) in the outboard sides of any superstructure or deckhouse within 0.04 x length (L) of a bulkhead defined by paragraph (i), except that such distance shall not be less than 3 metres and need not exceed 5 metres;

(b) every window or portlight located within the areas defined by paragraphs (a)(i) and (ii) shall be of the non-opening type and, if located in the first tier above the main deck, shall have an inside cover of steel or an equivalent material; and

(c) skylights to cargo pumprooms shall be of steel, shall not contain any window or portlight, and shall be capable of being closed from outside the pumproom.

Independent Cargo Tanks ^

32. Independent cargo tanks may be located in other cargo tanks, in hold spaces or on an exposed deck, provided

(a) each independent tank is

(i) constructed in accordance with approved plans,

(ii) supported in a saddle or on a foundation of steel or other suitable material,

(iii) securely attached to prevent shifting or damage resulting from collision, movement of the barge at sea, or other like causes;

(b) tank support arrangements allow for thermal expansion;

(c) tank supports and foundations are arranged so that loads transmitted through them are properly absorbed by the hull structure;

(d) where an independent cargo tank is located in an enclosed space other than another cargo tank, that enclosed space is ventilated and protected from sources of vapour ignition in like manner to a cargo pumproom; and

(e) adequate clear working space is provided around each independent tank to permit access for inspection purposes.

Machinery - General ^

33. Except where otherwise provided by these Standards, the machinery and associated systems of every Class A oil barge shall be

(a) designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the requirements of the Marine Machinery Regulations, notwithstanding the application restrictions of subsection 3(2) thereof, and

(b) at least equivalent to the standards of an approved classification society.

Electrical Installation ^

34. The electrical installation of every Class A oil barge shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Safety Electrical Standards, TP127.

Installation of Compression Ignition Engines ^

35. Every compression ignition engine located on the weather deck shall be

(a) installed in a well ventilated deckhouse of sufficient size to permit proper operation and maintenance, or

(b) provided with a ventilated metal hood.

Installation of Compression Ignition Engines ^

36. Every compression ignition engine that is located on the weather deck and is used to drive a cargo pump shall be fitted with at least one remote, manually operated shutdown station that

(a) is located at least 0.5 x length (L) from the engine;

(b) is conspicuously marked; and

(c) provides a means for immediately stopping the engine.

Installation of Compression Ignition Engines ^

37. The exhaust piping of every compression ignition engine shall

(a) extend at least 2.4 m above the weather deck;

(b) be fitted with spark arresters;

(c) be insulated with fireproof material, or watercooled, such that the temperature of exposed parts does not exceed 200º C; and

(d) be constructed with screwed or welded connections, or with bolted connections having fireproof gaskets.

Air Compressors ^

38. No air compressor or air compressor intake shall be installed in a location in which cargo vapours may be present, including any

(a) cargo handling room;

(b) enclosed space containing cargo piping or cargo hose stowage;

(c) enclosed space adjacent to a cargo tank or cargo tank hold used for the carriage of oil of flashpoint not exceeding 60º C;

(d) space within 3 m of any

(i) cargo tank opening,

(ii) outlet for cargo vapour,

(iii) cargo pipe flange,

(iv) cargo valve, or

(v) entrance or ventilation opening into a cargo handling room; and

(e) enclosed space having an opening into a location described in subsections (a), (b), (c) or (d).

Cargo Handling Arrangements - Pumprooms ^

39. (1) Spaces containing pumps, piping, or valves for handling oil of flashpoint not exceeding 60º C shall be completely isolated from all sources of vapour ignition by steel, gastight bulkheads having no openings except where necessary to pass cargo pump drive shafts and controls that are fitted through stuffing boxes having readily accessible gastight glands.

(2) A steam driven pump shall not be considered a source of vapour ignition provided the steam temperature does not exceed 260º C.

(3) Access to cargo pumprooms shall be directly from the weather deck.

Cargo Pumps and Piping ^

40. In every Class A oil barge

(a) the cargo pumps shall be designed and installed so as to minimize the danger of sparking;

(b) compressed air shall not be used as a means of cargo discharge; and

(c) a pressure gauge shall be installed for each pump discharge, located where clearly visible from the pump controls; and

(d) a relief valve, piped back into the suction, shall be fitted in the discharge of every cargo pump, except that such a valve need not be fitted when the system is served only by centrifugal pumps designed so that the delivered pressure cannot exceed the piping design pressure.

Cargo Piping Systems; Cargo flashpoint <27C ^

41. Every Class A oil barge that carries oil of flashpoint lower than 27º C shall be fitted with a fixed cargo piping system that

(a) complies with the requirements of section 43 of these Standards; and

(b) does not pass through ship service oil fuel tanks, or through machinery spaces in which sources of vapour ignition are normally present.

Cargo Piping Systems; Cargo flashpoint > 27º C ^

42. Every Class A oil barge that only carries oil of flashpoint equal to or greater than 27º C shall be

(a) fitted with a fixed cargo piping system that complies with the requirements of section 41 of these Standards; or

(b) served by a portable piping system that complies with the requirements of section 44 of these Standards.

Fixed Cargo Piping Systems; details ^

43. Every fixed cargo piping system shall be

(a) independent of all other piping systems; and

(b) so arranged that

(i) all pipe connections, valves and valve operating rods are of suitable design,

(ii) packing materials are suitable for the cargo carried,

(iii) all cargo loading and discharge hose connections are fitted with valves or blind flanges,

(iv) provision is made for pipe expansion,

(v) loading pipes are led as low as practicable into the cargo tanks, and

(vi) all valves are operable from an easily accessible location.

Portable Cargo Piping Systems; details ^

44. In every portable cargo piping system,

(a) all flexible hoses in the system shall comply with the requirements of the Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations respecting transfer hose;

(b) a shutoff valve shall be fitted at or near the point of entry into the cargo tank;

(c) any opening through which oil cargo is transferred shall be fitted with a vapour tight seal that

(i) is arranged to be bolted or dogged in place, and

(ii) has the hose and dropline connected thereto; and

(d) droplines shall be of metallic construction.

Ventilation - General ^

45. In every Class A oil barge

(a) all enclosed spaces other than cargo tanks, fuel and water tanks, cofferdams and void spaces shall be provided with adequate means of ventilation;

(b) the ventilation system of every machinery space shall

(i) effectively ventilate the whole volume of the space,

(ii) provide for extraction of air from the floor level and bilges,

(iii) be arranged so that all inlet and outlet trunks may be closed from outside the machinery space, and

(iv) in the case of a mechanical ventilation system, be so arranged that the power ventilation may be stopped from at least one, easily accessible and prominently marked location outside the machinery space.

Ventilation - Cargo Pump Rooms ^

46. (1) Every cargo pumproom shall be fitted with a ventilation system that

(a) effectively ventilates the whole volume of the room;

(b) provides inlet air from the weather deck;

(c) provides for extraction of air from the pumproom bilges immediately above the floorplates or bottom structure;

(d) is capable of properly ventilating the pumproom when all access openings thereto are closed;

(e) is constructed so that all inlet and outlet trunks may be closed from outside the pumproom; and

(f) in the case of a mechanical ventilation system, is so arranged that the system may be stopped from at least one, easily accessible and prominently marked location outside the pumproom.

(2) Cargo pumprooms on existing Class A oil barges that carry oil of flashpoint below 27ºC, and on all new Class A oil barges, shall be fitted with a suction type mechanical ventilation system that

(a) is of sufficient capacity to provide at least 20 air changes per hour, based on the gross volume of the room;

(b) is constructed and arranged so as not to provide a source of vapour ignition;

(c) is arranged to discharge the air, gases and vapours extracted from the pumproom at a safe location on the weatherdeck that is

(i) not less than 2 metres from any opening to an interior part of the oil barge that normally contains a source of vapour ignition, and

(ii) so located as to minimize the possibility of recirculating contaminated air through the pumproom.

Tank Vents - General ^

47. (1) Except where otherwise provided by subsection (2), tank vents shall be fitted to every

(a) tank used for the carriage of bulk oil;

(b) tank, cofferdam or void space located adjacent to a tank used for the carriage of bulk oil;

(c) void space through which pressure piping passes; and

(d) tank that is filled or emptied through fixed pumping arrangements.

(2) Existing barges not fitted with fixed bilge systems serving cofferdams and void spaces need not be provided with vents to those spaces unless otherwise required by the Board.

(3) Each tank, cofferdam or void space that is required to have a tank vent shall be fitted with at least one vent pipe, located at the highest point of the tank and arranged to provide adequate self-drainage under normal conditions.

(4) The structural arrangement of every tank, cofferdam or void space that is required to have a tank vent shall permit the free passage of air and gases from all parts of the space to the vent pipe.

(5) Vent outlets from cargo tanks used to carry oil of flashpoint not exceeding 60ºC or from cofferdams and void spaces adjacent thereto, shall be located at least 3.0m from openings to spaces containing sources of vapour ignition such as service spaces, machinery spaces, and internal combustion engines on deck.

(6) The design of vents and vent systems shall take into consideration the performance characteristics of any pump unit used for filling or discharge.

Vents - Tanks that carry Oil of Flashpoint <60º C ^

48. (1) Venting arrangements for cargo tanks used to carry bulk oil of flashpoint not exceeding 60º C shall be designed and operated such that neither the pressure nor the vacuum in any cargo tank shall exceed the structural design parameters thereof, and shall provide for:

(a) the flow of small volumes of air or vapour caused by thermal variations in the cargo tank, through pressure-vacuum relief valves, and

(b) the passage of large volumes of air or vapour during cargo loading and discharging.

(2) the requirements of subsection (1) may be achieved:

(a) by individual vent pipes that

(i) have an internal diameter not less than 63.5mm,

(ii) extend at least 2.0 m above the weather deck, and

(iii) are fitted with pressure-vacuum relief valves and flame screens; or

(b) by a venting system that connects branch lines from each tank to a common header such that

(i) each branch line has an internal diameter not less than 63.5mm,

(ii) if stop valves are placed in individual branch lines, each such valve is bypassed by a pressure-vacuum relief valve,

(iii) the common header extends at least 2.0m above the weather deck and is fitted with a pressure-vacuum relief valve and flame screen, and

(iv) the venting system is provided with flushing and draining arrangements.

(3) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)(i) and (2)(a)(ii), existing vent pipes on an existing oil barge may have

(a) an internal diameter not less that 50mm, and

(b) a height above the working deck not less than 760mm, provided that

(i) the venting arrangements have a demonstrated record of safe and effective operation, and

(ii) the vents are upgraded to comply fully with subsection (2) when renewal becomes necessary.

Vents - Tanks that carry Oil of Flashpoint > 60º C ^

49. Cargo tanks that are used only to carry bulk oil of flashpoint exceeding 60º C shall be fitted with

(a) tank vents that comply with the requirements of section 48; or

(b) gooseneck vents that

(i) are of at least 125% of the effective area of the filling line, but not less than 63.5mm internal diameter, except that existing vent pipes on an existing oil barge may have an internal diameter not less than 50mm provided

(A) the venting arrangements have a demonstrated record of safe and effective operation, and

(B) the vents are upgraded to full compliance when renewal becomes necessary,

(ii) extend at least 760mm above the weather deck, except that where this height interferes with the working of the oil barge, a lower height may be considered by the Board, and

(iii) are provided with flame screens consisting of

(A) fitted single screens of corrosion-resistant wire of at least 30 by 30 mesh, or

(B) two fitted screens, both of corrosion-resistant wire of at least 20 by 20 mesh, spaced not less than 12.5 mm nor more than 37.5 mm apart.

Vents - Cofferdams and Voids ^

50. Except where otherwise permitted by subsection 47(2), every tank, cofferdam and void space described in paragraphs 47(1)(b), (c) and (d) shall be fitted with a gooseneck vent that complies with the requirements of paragraphs 49(b)(i), (ii) and (iii)

Bilge Systems ^

51. (1) Every oil barge shall be provided with an approved means for pumping and draining every watertight hull compartment that is not permanently appropriated for the carriage of oil or other liquid.

(2) The requirements of subsection (1) may be satisfied by the provision of suitable pumps that are

(a) either fixed or portable, and

(b) carried aboard the oil barge or on the towing vessel

(3) The bilge system, particularly in way of pumprooms and adjacent cofferdams, shall be designed and fitted for operation so as to avoid risk of fire or explosion.

Sounding Arrangements ^

52. (1) Means shall be provided for sounding

(a) all tanks that are permanently appropriated for the carriage of liquids, and

(b) the bilges of other watertight compartments that are not readily accessible for inspection.

(2) Approved tank-level indicating appliances may be used for tank liquid level gauging if a supplementary means of manual sounding is also provided.

(3) Sounding pipe arrangements and details shall comply with the requirements of Schedule XV of Marine Machinery Regulations.

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