Marine Orders - Part 21: Safety of navigation and emergency procedures, Issue 6 (Order No. 2 of 2009)
5Safety net
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5.1 A safety net must be of adequate length and width.
5.2 An aperture of the mesh of a safety net must be not more than 190 mm measured between opposite knots when the mesh is hung or cut to make it square mesh.
5.3 A safety net is to consist of a framing rope and netting both resistant to actinic degradation and having at least 400 kgwt and 125 kgwt breaking strain respectively.
5.4 The safety net must be secured in position at each corner, and intermediate points if required, by suitably secured lengths of framing rope.
5.5 The corners of each mesh of a safety net must be properly secured so as to prevent movement.
1 Provision of safe means
1 Provision of safe means
1.1 Where the master of a ship in port provides a means of access, being an accommodation ladder, gangway, or other means permitted by this Part, for persons boarding or disembarking from the ship, that means of access must be safe.
Note:In relation to “ladder” see paragraph 3, “gangway” see paragraph 4. Where a means of access is not provided by the master of the ship (such as where a gangway is provided by a port authority) the master should take whatever steps are necessary and practical to bring any concerns about the safety of that access to the provider and to any person requiring access to or from the ship.
1.2 Where access is provided between 2 adjacent ships lying alongside, the master of the ship having the higher weather deck must ensure that such means of access is safe.
1.3 The means of passage between a ship's deck and the upper end of a gangway resting on a bulwark or side rail of the ship, must be a bulwark ladder with handrails.
Note: A bulwark ladder is a set of substantial steps designed to allow a person to safely ascend to or descend from the top of a ship's bulwark or side rail.
1.4 The master of a ship at anchor or at a mooring may provide a pilot ladder as a means of access if he or she considers that the use of an accommodation ladder is impracticable, but must limit the use of such ladder, except in an emergency, to pilots and other persons engaged in or in relation to the business of the ship.
1.5 A cargo access ramp may be used as a means of access to and from a ship, provided:
(a) a non-slip surface is provided and marked for pedestrian use;
(b) the sides of the ramp are protected by guard rails or equivalent arrangements that provide adequate protection; and
(c) either:
(i) the pedestrian area is effectively and protectively separated from the vehicular area; or
(ii) pedestrians are permitted to use the ramp only when the ramp is not in use by vehicles.
Note: Effectively, this means that pedestrians may only use the ramp during periods when cargo is not being worked,
or if traffic signals or signalmen are employed to stop vehicular traffic when the ramp is in use by pedestrians.
Section 5 - Marine Orders - Part 21: Safety of navigation and emergency procedures, Issue 6 (Order No. 2 of 2009) - Safety net | Zoe
1.6 A person boarding or leaving a ship must, where a safe means of access complying with this Part is provided, use such means of access for that purpose.
1.7 A surveyor may, by written notice addressed to the master, prohibit use of a means of access if he or she considers the means of access defective or deficient in respect of the requirements of this Part.
1.8 A master receiving notice of a prohibition under 1.7 must ensure that the means of access referred to in the notice is not used until the defect or deficiency is rectified.
2 Requirements
2 Requirements
2.1 A safe means of access must be:
(a) of adequate strength;
(b) in a good state of repair;
(c) well secured to prevent accidental displacement;
(d) adequately illuminated throughout its length during the hours of darkness;
(e) so positioned that, so far as is practicable, it is not underneath the path of cargo being loaded on to or unloaded from a ship;
(f) kept clean and free of any material that could render its use unsafe;
(g) properly rigged and adjusted to allow for any changes in tidal levels and the ship's trim and freeboard;
(h) positioned at such an angle as will allow safe access to the ship; and
(i) firmly landed and clear of wharf edge and other potential hazards.
2.2 A gangway must not be placed on a bulwark or side rail of a ship, unless the bulwark or side rail is of sufficient strength to bear the weight of the gangway and persons using it.
2.3 A telescopic accommodation ladder must not be used as a means of access unless its sections are locked together with substantial pins or other effective means to prevent variation in length.
2.4 Adequate precautions must be taken to protect persons from injury by falling from an accommodation ladder or a gangway by rigging a safety net. So far as is reasonably practicable, the net should protect the entire length of the accommodation ladder or gangway.
3 Accommodation ladders
3.1 Design
3.1.1 An accommodation ladder may be a single‑flight, a multi‑flight or a telescopic ladder.
3.1.2 Where an accommodation ladder is of the multi‑flight type, an intermediate platform must be self‑levelling.
3.1.3 A telescopic ladder must be provided with substantial pins or other effective means to enable the ladder sections to be locked together to prevent them moving relative to each other.
3.2 Platforms
3.2.1 The upper end of an accommodation ladder must be hinged from a fixed or revolving platform, which platform shall be secured to the ship and effectively supported to remain horizontal in use.
3.2.2 The lower end of an accommodation ladder must be fitted with a platform, which platform, and any intermediate platform fitted in a multi‑flight ladder, must be effectively supported to remain horizontal in use.
Note: It is recommended that the lower end of an accommodation ladder which is intended to rest on a wharf in use, should be fitted with wheels or rollers to enable free movement.
3.2.3 The sides of every platform, with the exception of access openings, must be fenced in accordance with 3.4 of this Appendix.
3.3 Treads
3.3.1 The treads of an accommodation ladder must be:
(a) at least 550 mm in clear width;
(b) provided with a non‑slip surface of adequate depth;
(c) spaced at suitable and equally spaced intervals; and
(d) subject to 3.3.2, of such shape and design that at any working angle of the ladder, a person is not required to step upon a corner edge of a tread but will have available a flat or curved surface.
3.3.2 Where a ship constructed before 25 May 1980 is equipped with an accommodation ladder, fitted with fixed flat treads, which may be positioned at such an angle as to require a person using it to step upon a corner edge of a tread, that ladder may be used provided that it is fitted with suitable cleated duckboards securely attached to the ladder.
3.4 Side rails and stanchions
3.4.1 An accommodation ladder must be fenced on each side of its entire length with upper and intermediate side rails.
3.4.2 The height of a side rail must be measured from the surface of the treads, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ladder.
3.4.3 Side rails must not be more than 0.61 m apart and the upper rail must be at a height of not less than 1.07 m.
3.4.4 In the case of a ship that is not registered in Australia, the use of side rails that do not comply with 3.4.3 of this Appendix is permitted if, in the opinion of a surveyor, they provide adequate protection.
3.4.5 Side rails may be fixed rails or taut ropes or chains and any covering material used on ropes or chains must be capable of removal to allow inspection of the condition of the ropes or chains.
3.4.6 The side rails must be supported by stanchions spaced not more than 2 m apart.
3.4.7 Stanchions must be fitted with a locking device to prevent accidental dislodgment.
4 Gangway
4.1 A gangway must be provided with a closely boarded walkway at least 550 mm in clear width which must be fitted with transverse treads at suitable and equally spaced intervals.
4.2 A gangway must be fenced on each side of its entire length with upper and intermediate side rails complying with the specifications in respect of side rails in 3 supported by stanchions fitted with a locking device to prevent accidental dislodgment.
4.3 The upper end of a gangway must be fitted with suitable means to effectively secure it to a ship.
Note: It is recommended that the lower end of a gangway should be fitted with wheels or rollers to ensure free movement when resting on a wharf.
4.4 A gangway requiring the use of a derrick or crane to position or stow it must be provided with suitable lifting attachments so located as to balance it whilst it is freely suspended.
5 Safety net
5.1 A safety net must be of adequate length and width.
5.2 An aperture of the mesh of a safety net must be not more than 190 mm measured between opposite knots when the mesh is hung or cut to make it square mesh.
5.3 A safety net is to consist of a framing rope and netting both resistant to actinic degradation and having at least 400 kgwt and 125 kgwt breaking strain respectively.
5.4 The safety net must be secured in position at each corner, and intermediate points if required, by suitably secured lengths of framing rope.
5.5 The corners of each mesh of a safety net must be properly secured so as to prevent movement.