Bilge pumping arrangements

(1) In every ship an efficient bilge pumping arrangement shall be provided which under all practical conditions shall be capable of pumping from and draining any watertight compartment which is neither a permanent oil tank nor a permanent watertank. In the spaces not serviced by installed piping ready access for portable pumps shall be demonstrated. Where the Administration is satisfied that the safety of the ship is not impaired the bilge pumping arrangements may be dispensed with in any particular compartment. (2) The arrangement of the bilge and ballast pumping system shall be such as to prevent the possibility of water passing from the sea and from water ballast spaces into the cargo and machinery spaces, or from one compartment to another. (3) All distribution boxes and manually operated valves in connection with the bilge pumping arrangements shall be in positions which are accessible under ordinary circumstances. (4) Every ship shall be provided with at least two power bilge pumps. (5) In a ship propelled by mechanical means fitted with single main propulsion machinery, one of the two required bilge pumps may be driven by that machinery. In every ship fitted with twin independently operated main propulsion machinery, each such set of machinery may drive one of the required bilge pumps. In every case the propeller shaft shall be able to be readily disconnected or a controllable pitch propeller fitted. Merchant Ships (Registration) 137 (6) The total capacity of the required bilge pumps shall be not less than 125% of the total capacity of the required main fire pumps referred to in regulation 61. (7) Sanitary, ballast, fire and general service pumps provided with suitable connections for bilge suction may be accepted as independent power bilge pumps. (8) The Administration may permit a bilge ejector in combination with an independently driven high pressure seawater pump to be installed or a portable mechanical pump to be used as substitute for one of the bilge pumps required by subregulation (4). (9) Bilge pipes shall not be led through fuel oil, ballast or double tanks, unless pipes are of heavy gauge steel construction. D. Loadline Requirements for Ships of Less Than 24m In Length