Interpretation

For the purpose of these Regulations, unless expressly provided otherwise, the terms used herein have the meanings defined in the following paragraphs. Additional definitions are given in the various Parts. “Administration” means, in respect of ships flying the Belizean flag, IMMARBE (International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize); Merchant Ships (Registration) 108 “all ships” means cargo ships of any description to which these Regulations apply; “anniversary date” means the day and the month of each year which corresponds to the date of expiration of the relevant “approved” means approved by the Administration; “barge” means a cargo ship not propelled by mechanical means; “cargo ship” means any ship which carries not more than twelve passengers; “Caribbean Trading Area” means an area bounded by a line from a point on the east coast of the United States of America in latitude 35°00’ north, to a point 5°00’ south, 33°00’ west; thence to a point 10°00’ south, 33°00’ west’ thence to a point on the coast of Brazil in latitude 10° 00’ south; thence northward along the coast of Continental America to a point in latitude 35°00’ north, on the east coast of the United States of America; “1972 Collision Regulations” means the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 as amended; “existing ship” means a ship which is not considered a new ship; “fishing vessel” means a vessel used for catching fish, or other living resources of the sea; “gross tonnage” means the measure of the overall size of a ship determined in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969; “international voyage” means a voyage from a port in a State to another port outside such State; Merchant Ships (Registration) 109 “1966 Load Line Convention” means the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 as amended; “length” or “L” in relation to a ship, means 96% of the total length on a waterline at 85% of the least moulded depth measured from the top of the keel, or the length from the foreside of the stern to the axis of the rudder stock on the waterline, if that be the greater. In a ship designed with a rake of keel, the waterline on which this length is measured shall be parallel to the designed waterline; “machinery space” means the space to be taken as extending from the moulded base line to the margin line and between the extreme main transverse watertight bulkheads, bounded by the spaces containing the main and auxiliary propulsion machinery, boilers serving the needs of propulsion, and all permanent coal bunkers. In case of unusual arrangements, the Administration may define the limits of the machinery spaces; “machinery space of category A” means the space and trunks to such spaces which contain– (a) internal combustion machinery used for main propulsion; or (b) internal combustion machinery used for purposes other than main propulsion where such machinery has in the aggregate a total output of not less than 375 kW; or (b) any oil-fired boiler or oil fuel unit; “MARPOL 73/78” means the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto as amended; “moulded depth (D)” meansMerchant Ships (Registration) 110 (a) the vertical distance measured from the top of the keel to the top of the freeboard deck beam at side. In wood and composite ships the distance is measured from the lower edge of the keel rabbet. Where the form at the lower part of the midship section is of a hollow character, or where thick garboards are fitted, the distance is measured from the point where the line of the flat of the bottom continued inwards cuts the side of the keel; (b) in ships having rounded gunwales, a distance which should be measured to the point of intersection of the moulded lines of the deck and side shell plating, the lines extending as though the gunwale were of angular design; and (c) where the freeboard deck is stepped and the raised part of the deck extends over the point at which the moulded depth is to be determined, a distance which should be measured to a line of reference extending from the lower part of the deck along a line parallel with the raised part; “new ship” means a ship the keel of which is laid or is at similar stage of construction on 9 February 1997. For the purpose of this definition “similar stage of construction” means the stage of construction of the ship at which– (a) construction is identifiable with a specific ship begins; and (b) assembly of that ship has commenced comprising at least 50 tonnes or one per cent of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is less; Merchant Ships (Registration) 111 “Recognised organization” means any organization recognised to perform statutory work on behalf of IMMARBE in terms of certification and survey functions connected with the issuance of international certificates; “Restricted area I” means an area in open seas in which the ship in the course of navigation is not more than 200 miles from a place of refuge, the permissible distance between places of refuge not exceeding 400 miles; “Restricted area II” means an area in open seas in which the ship in the course of navigation is not more than 50 miles from a place of refuge, the permissible distance between places of refuge not exceeding 100 miles; “Restricted area III” means an area of harbour, roadstead and coastal service where the area limits and weather restrictions requiring compulsory return to a place of refuge are specified; “1974 SOLAS Convention” means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended; “1978 STCW Convention” means the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended; “tanker” means a cargo ship constructed or adapted for the carriage in bulk of liquid cargoes of a flammable nature; “wooden ship of primitive build” means a wooden ship of traditional build not primarily propelled by mechanical means; “short voyage” means a voyage within the Caribbean Trading Area which does not extend for more than 100 nautical miles from the port of departure; Merchant Ships (Registration) 112