23Access to ships in port — general requirements

23 Access to ships in port — general requirements

23.1 A person engaged in loading or unloading of a ship must not board or leave the ship on foot other than by a means of access mentioned in 23.2.

23.2 The means of access from the wharf to a ship’s deck for use by a person engaged in loading or unloading of a ship must comply with Schedule 9 of Marine Orders, Part 21 (Safety of navigation and emergency procedures).

Note The means of access may be provided by the ship or the shore terminal.

23.3 Subject to subsection 23.2, the means of access must:

(a) be placed so that no loads pass over it; and

(b) be placed where access to it will not be obstructed; and

(c) not be placed where it could be struck by moving traffic on a crane track, railway track or other route; and

(d) be adequately illuminated in accordance with clause 2 of Schedule 1.

23.4 However, if it is not practicable for the means of access to comply with any or all of paragraphs 23.3(a), (b) and (c), it must be supervised at all times during cargo handling.

23.5 Access to spaces and lifting appliances on board a ship must comply with Schedule 2.

23.6 The master of a ship must take such precautions that are reasonable and appropriate, in accordance with clause 1 of Schedule 1, to prevent access by persons to a space that may have an unsafe atmosphere, including a space that has been fumigated, until the master is satisfied that the atmosphere in that space has been determined to be safe.

Note Recommendations on appropriate safety measures to be taken when using pesticides on ships are to be found in the Supplement to the IMDG Code. Other authorities, such as port authorities, may have additional requirements that must be met.