Safe Access to Ships Cargo Holds
Marine Notice 10/2008
The purpose of this Marine Notice is to highlight to all those involved (particularly cargo stowage planners and ship’s Masters) the risks associated with restricting the means of access and egress from a ships cargo hold due to blocks of cargo in the hold ends.
Marine Order Part 32: Cargo Handling Equipment is mandatory for Australian registered vessels and for foreign vessels when loading or unloading at a port in Australia or in an external territory of Australia. In particular this Marine Order articulates the obligations with regards to providing and maintaining a safe and unobstructed means of access to ships cargo holds.
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Cargo in hold ends limiting access to hold ladders from the centre of cargo hold |
Industry may be aware of recent occurrences where ships loaded in overseas ports have presented at an Australian port with a requirement for personnel to access the centre of the cargo hold. To achieve this access, personnel have been required to climb over, or pass around cargo at the hold ends. This, depending on the cargo consignment and stowage, could be dangerous, especially if emergency access or egress is required.
All those involved in the preparation of cargo stowage plans for ships requiring loading or unloading in Australian ports are therefore reminded of their statutory obligations under Marine Order Part 32:
- Appendix 7: Cargo spaces, sub-section 6: Accesses, openings, ladders, coamings and passageways requires that all ships maintain at least one unobstructed and safe means of access from the uppermost deck of the space to the level at which loading or unloading is taking place.
- Appendix 1: Protective fencing, sub-section 3: Cargo spaces requires that there is a protective fence or netting to guard against a fall if the height at which personnel are working or transiting exceeds two meters.
- Appendix 17: Ladders, sub-section 7: Portable ladders, gives the requirements for the use of portable ladders that may be used to access cargo, including securing arrangements.
It is recommended that cargo planners and ship’s Masters review their procedures to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to avoid instances were personnel are required to access cargo with blocked hold ends. This may include reviewing port rotations or the way cargo is presented.
Masters are reminded that routine ship inspections by AMSA Surveyors include verifying compliance with the provisions of Marine Orders Part 32. This may include verifying the means of access and egress from ship’s cargo holds, protective fencing or netting arrangements, and portable ladder arrangements. Masters should also be aware that Marine Orders Part 32 contains penal provisions and allows for AMSA to prohibit unsafe or inadequate arrangements until appropriate corrective actions are taken.
Marine Orders Part 32 Cargo Handling Equipment is available from the AMSA website at www.amsa.gov.au
Graham Peachey
Chief Executive Officer
5 May 2008
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181
CANBERRA ACT 2601
File No: 2008/172
Internet address for all current Marine Notices: www.amsa.gov.au