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SHIPPING ACT
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Part A General Provisions
2023 Laws not yet authenticated through a Commencement Order

Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)

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Part A
General Provisions

1   General Provisions

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    1.1     The construction and arrangement of a vessel shall allow the safe operation of the vessel in accordance with the terms of its Certificate of Inspection giving consideration to—

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           provisions for a seaworthy hull,

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           protection against fire,

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           *  Applicable standards for the material and construction of the vessel include the following—     .1     Wooden hull vessels – Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Yachts and Small Craft, Lloyd's Register of Shipping (LR).     .2     Steel hull vessels – and Regulations for the Classification of Special Service craft, LR; or Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels under 90m (200feet) in length, American Bureau of shipping (ABS).     .3     Glass fibre reinforced plastic vessels – Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Special Service Craft, LR; or Rules for Building and Classing Reinforced Plastic Vessels, ABS.     .4     Aluminum hull vessels – Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Special Service Craft, LR. Rules for Building and Classing Aluminum vessels ABS.

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           guards and rails in hazardous places,

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           ventilation of enclosed spaces,

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           necessary facilities for the accommodation and use of passengers and crew.

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         The Administration shall arrange for the phasing in of the provisions of this Chapter to existing vessels within 3 years of the coming into force of the Code.

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    1.2     Unless authorized by the Administration, a vessel certified for operation in exposed waters shall be fitted with a watertight weather deck over the length of the vessel and be of adequate structural strength to withstand the sea and weather conditions likely to be encountered in the area of operation. The vessel shall be so constructed as to meet the appropriate requirements of Chapter III.

2   Plans and Information to be Submitted

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    2.1     The owner of a vessel requesting initial inspection for certification shall, prior to the start of construction unless otherwise allowed by the Administration, submit for approval to the Administration, at least two copies of plans concerning the following areas: machinery installation including piping systems; electrical installation; arrangement in detail of lifesaving equipment; arrangement in detail of fire equipment, mast and rigging arrangements; navigation lights; steering and control equipment; and sanitation arrangements.

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    2.2     For a vessel of not more than 20m (65 feet) in length, the owner may submit specifications, sketches, photographs, line drawings or written descriptions instead of any of the required drawings, provided the required information is adequately detailed and acceptable to the Administration.

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    2.3     The provisions of II/2.1 and II/2.2 apply equally to existing vessels.

3   Hull Structure

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    3.1.1     Except as provided in II/3.2 a vessel shall comply with the applicable design requirements of one of the Rules and Regulations of a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).*  Details of IACS members can be found at www.IACS.org.uk

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    3.1.2     Inflatable or rigid vessels shall meet the design and construction requirements of Chapter III of SOLAS and the parts of the LSA Code which are appropriate to the type of vessel.

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    3.1.3     Vessels built to other standards shall be considered specifically by the Administration.

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    3.2     An existing vessel shall be considered to be of acceptable construction where it is—

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      .1     built to one of the standards described in II/3.1; or

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      .2     of a design with a record of at least five years' history of safe operation in an area where the sea and weather conditions and manner of use are no less severe than those likely to be encountered in the area of operation.

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    3.3     The design, materials, and construction of masts, posts, yards, booms, bowsprits, and standing rigging on a sailing vessel should be suitable for the intended service. The hull structure should be adequately reinforced to ensure sufficient strength and resistance to plate buckling.

4   Means of Escape

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    4.1     Each space of more than 3.7m (12 feet) in length accessible to passengers or used by the crew on a regular basis shall have at least two means of escape, one of which shall not be a watertight door.

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    4.2     The two required means of escape shall be widely separated and, where possible, at opposite ends or sides of the space to minimise the possibility of one incident blocking both escapes. Means of escape may include normal exits and emergency exits, passageways, stairways, ladders, deck scuttles, and windows. The number and dimensions of the means of escape from each space shall be sufficient for rapid evacuation in an emergency of the maximum number of persons likely to occupy the space under any operational conditions. The size of the escapes shall be to the satisfaction of the Administration.

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    4.3     In a passenger vessel, the sum of the width of all doors and passageways used as means of escape from a space shall not be less than 8.4mm (0.333 inches) multiplied by the number of passengers for which the space is designed with a minimum clear opening of not less than 810mm (32 inches). In all vessels, doors or passageways used solely by crew members shall have a clear opening not less than 710mm (28 inches).

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    4.4     When a deck scuttle serves as a means of escape, it must not be less than 455mm (18 inches) in diameter and must be fitted with a quick acting release and a holdback device to hold the scuttle in an open position.

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