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Code of Practice
7 Machinery
7.1 General Requirements
7.1.1 Generally, machinery installation should comply with the requirements given below. Other installations proposed may be specially considered, provided that full information is presented to and approved by the Certifying Authority.
7.1.2 In the particular case of a proposal to install an inboard petrol engine in a new vessel, full information should be presented to the Department of Transport for approval.
7.1.3 The main propulsion machinery and all auxiliary machinery essential to the propulsion and the safety of the vessel should be designed to operate when the vessel is upright and when inclined at any angle of heel up to and including 15 degrees either way under static conditions and 22.5 degrees either way under dynamic rolling conditions and simultaneously inclined 7.5 degrees by bow or stern under dynamic pitching conditions.
7.2 Diesel engines
A vessel fitted with an inboard engine should be provided with a suitable diesel engine and sufficient fuel tankage.
7.3 Petrol engines
7.3.1 A petrol engine may be accepted only if the engine is suitable outboard type and a fuel tank is fitted such that either the tank or the complete contents can be jettisoned rapidly and safely and when spillage during fuel handling will drain directly overboard.
7.3.2 In an existing vessel only, an inboard petrol engine may be accepted provided that the engine is located in an efficient enclosed space to which a fixed fire extinguishing system is fitted and:-
.1 provision should be made to ventilate the engine space thoroughly before the engine is started; and
.2 the vent pipe from the petrol tank should be led to the open deck and the opening protected by a flash proof fitting.
7.4 Installation
7.4.1 The machinery, fuel tank(s) and associated piping systems and fittings should be a design and construction adequate for the service for which they are intended and should be so installed and protected as to reduce to a minimum danger to persons during normal movement about the vessel, due regard being paid to moving parts, hot surfaces and other hazards.
7.4.2 Means should be provided to isolate a source of fuel which may feed a fire in an engine space fire situation. A valve or cock, which is capable of being closed from a position outside the engine space, should be fitted in the fuel pipe as close as possible to the fuel tank.
7.4.3 In a fuel supply system to an engine unit, when a flexible section of piping is introduced, connection should be of a screw type or equivalent approved type. A flexible pipe should be fire resistant/metal reinforced or otherwise protected from fire. Materials and fitting should be of a suitable recognised national or international standard.
In the case of an existing vessel fitted with a diesel engine in which the installation of a flexible section of piping does not immediately meet the requirements, the requirements should be met when existing fittings in the fuel supply system are replaced.
7.5 Engine Starting
7.5.1 An engine should be provided with either mechanical or hand starting or electric starting with independent batteries.
7.5.2 When the sole means of starting is by battery, the battery should be in duplicate and connected to the starter motor via a 'change over switch' so that either battery can be used for starting the engine. Charging facilities for the batteries should be available.
7.6 Portable Generators
7.6.1 When a portable generator powered by a petrol engine is provided, the unit should be stored on the weather deck.
7.6.2 A deck locker or protective enclosure for the portable generator should have no opening(s) to an enclosed space within the hull of the vessel and the locker or protective enclosure should be adequately ventilated and drained.
7.6.3 Petrol provided for the engine should be stored in portable containers or tanks and meet the requirements of 7.7.
7.7 Stowage of Petrol
When petrol in portable containers for use in an outboard engine of a tender (dinghy) is unavoidably carried on board, the containers should be clearly marked and should be stowed on the weather deck where they can readily be jettisoned and where spillage will drain directly overboard. The quantity of petrol and number of such containers should be kept to a minimum.
