Question

As the Chief Engineer of a RO-RO passenger ferry, detail the operational procedures you would expect both engine room and deck departments to adopt to prevent flooding, loss of buoyancy, loss of stability and loss of power under the following circumstances:

Before departure;

During the voyage in good weather;

During the voyage, when heavy weather is expected;

During the voyage in heavy weather.

Answer.

M1361 refers to flooding, which in turn will produce loss of buoyancy and stability. Examples quoted, include the Herald of Free Enterprise and European Gateway, and those procedures relevant to RO-RO's are as follows:

(a) Before departure

Ensure that .

Access hatches, weather tight doors in exposed positions, internal watertight doors and spurling pipes are effectively closed. Void spaces are empty of any water resulting from leakage or inadvertent

Pumping operations;

The bilge pumping system is in sound working condition. all alarms are fully operational.

Additionally; before departure, or as soon as possible after, the cargo loading doors and loading ramps are effectively closed.

(b) During the voyage, in good or seasonal weather

Make regular inspections to ensure that:

The hatches, doors and loading ramps referred to in (a) remain effectively closed and are opened only in accordance with the explicit instructions of the master.

The bilges in engine rooms and auxiliary engine rooms, especially if such rooms are normally unmanned, are free of water.

The sea inlet valves and sea water circulating systems arc in sound condition.

The vehicle spaces are free of water.

(c) During the voyage, when heavy weather is expected

Inspect the hatches, doors and loading ramps referred to in (a) to confirm they are effectively closed.

Where necessary, and provided that this can be carried out without introducing other risks, close or protect ventilators and outlets to air pipes, particularly those to fuel oil tanks.

(d) During the voyage in heavy weather.

Provided it is safe and practical to do so make frequent inspections of:

Vehicle spaces

Fuel oil service tanks for the presence of water.

Void spaces for the presence of water.

Further information on operational control of cargo loading doors and internal watertight doors is contained in Merchant Shipping Regulations 1987 and 1988 and M 1283

Operational training guidance for RO-RO officers and crew is given in STCW pp. 106-110