Hull Construction Regulations — 19
19 (1) In every ship the number of side scuttles, scuppers, sanitary discharges and other openings in the shell plating below the margin line shall be the minimum compatible with the design and proper working of the ship, and no side scuttles shall be fitted below the bulkhead deck in ships of less than 150 tons, gross tonnage. (2) The arrangements for closing each such opening below the margin line shall be consistent with its intended purpose and shall be such as will ensure watertightness. (3) In every ship of 150 tons, gross tonnage, or over, (a) the number of side scuttles below the margin line that are capable of being opened shall be the minimum compatible with the requirements of the proper operation of the ship; (b) where in a between decks of such a ship the sills of any side scuttles are below a line drawn parallel to the bulkhead deck at side and having its lowest point 2 1/2 per cent of the breadth of the ship above the deepest subdivision load water line, every side scuttle in that between decks shall be of a non-opening type; (c) where in a between decks all the sills of the side scuttles are above the aforesaid line, every side scuttle in that between decks shall be either of a non-opening type or incapable of being opened except by a person authorized to do so by the master of the ship; (d) where other than non-opening type side scuttles are fitted, a notice shall be posted in the Chart Room stating that such side scuttles are required to be closed before the ship proceeds to sea and shall be kept closed while the ship is at sea; and (e) similar notices shall be posted in the spaces within which such side scuttles are situated. (4) In every ship of 150 tons, gross tonnage, or over, every side scuttle below the margin line shall be fitted with an efficient hinged deadlight of material other than ordinary cast iron, permanently attached, so that it can be readily and effectively closed and secured watertight, provided that abaft a point one-eighth of the length of the ship from the forward perpendicular and above a line drawn parallel to the bulkhead deck at side and having its lowest point at a height of 3.66 m plus 2 1/2 per cent of the breadth of the ship above the ship’s deepest subdivision load water line, deadlights may, for the purposes of these Regulations, be portable in crew spaces and in passenger spaces not appropriated for the use of steerage passengers. (5) Side scuttles shall not be fitted below the margin line in any space that is appropriated solely to the carriage of cargo or coal; if side scuttles are fitted in spaces below the margin line that may be appropriated to the carriage of cargo or passengers, such side scuttles and their deadlights shall be so constructed as to be incapable of being opened except by a person authorized to do so by the master of the ship; where other than non-opening type side scuttles are fitted, a notice shall be posted in the Chart Room stating that such side scuttles are required to be closed before the ship proceeds to sea and shall be kept closed while the ship is at sea; similar notices shall be posted in the spaces within which such side scuttles are situated. (6) Automatic ventilating side scuttles shall not be fitted below the margin line in the shell plating of any such ship. (7) In every ship (a) each inlet and discharge led through the shell plating below the margin line shall be fitted with efficient and readily accessible means for preventing the accidental admission of water into the ship; (b) without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, each discharge led through the shell plating from spaces below the margin line, not being a discharge in connection with machinery, shall be provided with either (i) one automatic non-return valve fitted with a positive means by which it can be closed from a readily accessible position above the ship’s bulkhead deck and with an indicator at the position from which the valve may be closed to show whether the v