### Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Load Lines) (Deck Cargo) Regulations 《商船(安全)(載重線)(艙面貨物)規例》

1. Citation
(1) These regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Load Lines) (Deck Cargo) Regulations.
(2) (Omitted as spent)

2. Interpretation
(1) In these regulations unless the context otherwise requires—
“deck cargo” (艙面貨物) means cargo carried in any uncovered space on the deck on the ship;
“timber deck cargo” (木材艙面貨物) means deck cargo consisting of timber;
“weather deck” (露天甲板) means the uppermost complete deck exposed to weather and sea, and for this purpose a deck which is stepped shall be considered to consist of the lowest line of the deck and the continuation of that line parallel to the upper part of the deck.
(2) The expressions “load line” (載重線), “timber load line” (木材載重線), “superstructure” (上層建築), “standard height” (標準高度) in relation to a superstructure, “watertight” (水密) and “weathertight” (風雨密) have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Load Line) Regulations (Cap. 369 sub. leg. AD).

3. Application to ships
(1) These regulations apply to all ships except—
(a) a ship of war;
(b) a local vessel;
(c) a pleasure vessel not engaged in trade; and
(d) a fishing vessel.
(2) In this regulation—
fishing vessel (漁船) means a ship that is used for catching fish, whales, seals, walrus or other living resources of the sea; 
local vessel (本地船隻) means a local vessel as defined by section 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance (Cap. 548);
pleasure vessel (遊樂船隻) means a vessel primarily used for sport or recreation.
(L.N. 48 of 2018)

4. Application to deck cargo
The requirements set out in this Part shall, except as otherwise provided in Part III, apply in respect of all deck cargo.

### Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Load Lines) (Deck Cargo) Regulations 《商船(安全)(載重線)(艙面貨物)規例》

5. Siting, distribution and storage of deck cargo
Deck cargo shall be so distributed and stowed—
(a) as to avoid excessive loading having regard to the strength of the deck and integral supporting structure of the ship;
(b) as to ensure that the ship will retain adequate stability at all stages of the voyage having regard in particular to—
(i) the vertical distribution of the deck cargo;
(ii) wind moments which may normally be expected on the voyage;
(iii) losses of weight in the ship, including in particular those due to the consumption of fuel and stores; and
(iv) possible increases of weight of the ship of deck cargo, including in particular those due to the absorption of water and to icing;
(c) as not to impair the weathertight or watertight integrity of any part of the ship or its fittings or appliances, and as to ensure the proper protection of ventilators and air pipes;
(d) that its height above the deck or any other part of the ship on which it stands will not interfere with the navigation or working of the ship;
(e) that it will not interfere with or obstruct access to the ship’s steering arrangements, including emergency steering arrangements;
(f) that it will not interfere with or obstruct safe and efficient access by the crew to or between their quarters and any machinery space or other part of the ship used in the working of the ship, and will not in particular obstruct any opening giving access to those positions or impede such opening being readily made weathertight.

6. Securing of deck cargo
Deck cargo shall be so secured as to ensure, as far as practicable, that there will be no movement of that cargo relative to the ship in the worst sea and weather conditions which may normally be expected on the voyage, and lashings and all fittings used for their attachment shall be of adequate strength for that purpose.

### Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Load Lines) (Deck Cargo) Regulations 《商船(安全)(載重線)(艙面貨物)規例》

7. Access
(1) Access for the crew between their quarters and the machinery spaces and other parts of the ship used in the working of the ship shall be provided by means of a walkway which complies with the requirements of subregulation (2), except where such access is provided by means of a passage suitable for the purpose situated on or under the deck carrying the deck cargo.
(2) The walkway referred to in subregulation (1) shall be—
(a) not less than 1 m in width;
(b) fitted over the deck cargo and effectively secured so as to provide safe and efficient access for the crew between the positions mentioned in subregulation (1); and
(c) fitted on each side with a set of efficient guard rails or guard wires not less than 1 m in height and consisting of not less than 3 courses of rails or wires supported by stanchions securely fitted to the walkway at intervals not exceeding 1.5 m.
(3) No opening below the lowest course in the guard rails or guard wires referred to in subregulation (2)(c) shall exceed 230 mm in height and no opening above that course shall exceed 380 mm in height.

8. Application to timber deck cargo
The requirements set out in Sections A and B of this Part shall apply in respect of timber deck cargo in the circumstances specified in those Sections; and the requirements set out in Part II shall also apply in respect of such cargo except insofar as compliance therewith would be inconsistent with compliance with the requirements of those Sections.

9. Circumstances in which Section A applies
The requirements of this Section shall apply in respect of timber deck cargo carried by a ship which—
(a) is not marked with timber load lines; or
(b) is so marked, but is loaded to a depth less than that indicated by the load line which if timber load lines were not marked, would be appropriate in the circumstances.

### Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Load Lines) (Deck Cargo) Regulations 《商船(安全)(載重線)(艙面貨物)規例》

10. Maximum height of timber deck cargo
(1) This regulation applies if a ship is in a special area.
(2) If a ship is in a special area during the Winter Period specified in Regulations 46, 47, 50 and 51 of Annex II for the winter seasonal zone or area concerned, all timber deck cargo carried by the ship must be stowed so as to ensure that at no point throughout its length does the height of the timber deck cargo above the level of the weather deck at side exceed one-third of the extreme breadth of the ship.
(3) For the purposes of subregulation (1), if a ship is at a port which stands on the boundary line between 2 zones or areas or between a zone and an area, or is required under Annex II to be considered as being on such a boundary line, the port is regarded as within the zone or area as determined in accordance with Article 11 of the Convention of 1966 and Annex II.
(4)  In this regulation— 
Annex II (《附則II》) means Annex II to the Convention of 1966;
special area (特別區域) means an area specified in Regulations 46, 47, 50 and 51 of Annex II as a winter seasonal zone or area.
(L.N. 48 of 2018)

11. Access
Where timber deck cargo occupies the whole or substantially the whole of the uncovered space on the deck of a ship, means of access for the crew between their quarters and the machinery spaces and other parts of the ship used in the working of the ship, shall be provided in the form of a walkway fitted over the timber deck cargo and complying with the requirements applicable to a walkway under regulation 7(2), notwithstanding that a passage on or under the deck as described in regulation 7(1) is also provided.

12. Stowing and securing of timber deck cargo
Timber deck cargo shall be compactly stowed and secured throughout its length by a system of overall lashings of adequate strength so as to ensure, as far as practicable, that there will be no movement of that cargo relative to the ship in the worst sea and weather conditions which may normally be expected on the voyage, and efficient arrangements for the release of such lashings and fittings shall be provided and be so situated as to be readily accessible at all times.