### Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Closing of Openings in Hulls and in Watertight Bulkheads) Regulations 《商船(安全)(船體開口及水密艙壁開口的關閉)規例》

4. Permitted openings while underway
(1) A watertight door below the margin line and fitted in a bulkhead which is required to be watertight, other than a door described in regulation 3(1), shall be kept closed while the ship is on a voyage except—
(a) when opened in accordance with the procedures laid down in written operational instructions which are based upon the advice set out in the Schedules and approved by the Director of Marine;
(b) when opened for the purposes of drill required by regulation 7; or
(c) when any such door is opened on the express authority of the master for a specific purpose and for no longer than a period of time specified by the master and all other watertight doors below the margin line, except those opened in accordance with paragraph (a), are closed during that period.
(2) The operational instructions referred to in subregulation (1)(a) shall be kept on board a ship at all times in the custody of the master.
(3) Notwithstanding subregulation (1)(a), (b) and (c) every watertight door described in subregulation (1) shall, except where there is an immediate need to pass through, be kept closed while the ship is on a voyage—
(a) in conditions of restricted visibility;
(b) within any port limits or compulsory pilotage limits;
(c) where the depth of water is less than 3 times the ship’s draught; and
(d) in any other conditions which the master considers potentially hazardous owing to—
(i) the proximity of underwater hazards;
(ii) the density of traffic; or
(iii) any other factor,
and if such a door is opened in such circumstances then it shall be closed immediately after passage through it has been effected.
(4) Any watertight door which may be opened in accordance with subregulation (1) or (3) shall be kept clear of obstructions which might prevent its rapid closure.
(5) Notwithstanding the requirements of this regulation or regulation 3, in an emergency the master may authorize the opening or closing of any watertight door provided he is satisfied that such action is essential for the overall safety of the ship.

5. Portable plates
Every portable plate closing an opening below the margin line in any portion of the internal structure of a ship which is required to be watertight shall be fitted in place before the ship proceeds on any voyage and shall be kept in place, except in case of urgent necessity, until the ship has been secured at a berth or anchorage. In replacing any such plate all reasonable precautions shall be taken to ensure that the joints are watertight.

### Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Closing of Openings in Hulls and in Watertight Bulkheads) Regulations 《商船(安全)(船體開口及水密艙壁開口的關閉)規例》

6. Coverings, etc., for ash-shoots, etc.
Both the watertight cover and the automatic non-return valve of any ash-shoot, rubbish-shoot or other similar device on a ship having its inboard opening below the margin line shall be kept closed and secured at all times when such device is not in use.

7. Drills and inspections of deadlights, etc.
(1) All deadlights which are accessible, all watertight doors to the opening of which regulation 3 applies, all valves and closing mechanisms of scuppers and the devices referred to in regulation 6 shall be opened and closed for the purposes of drill—
(a) at intervals of not more than 7 days except so far as is necessary to avoid drills being conducted in any of the situations described in regulation 4(3); and
(b) immediately before a ship proceeds to sea if the ship is intended to remain at sea for a period of more than 7 days.
(2) All watertight doors fitted in bulkheads required to be watertight which may be opened for the working of the ship in accordance with regulation 4 shall be opened and closed for the purposes of drill once in every period of 24 hours.
(3) All closing appliances and devices referred to in regulations 3 and 6 shall be inspected by a person appointed by the master for that purpose—
(a) before the ship proceeds on any voyage; and
(b) at intervals of not more than 7 days if the ship is intended to remain at sea for a period of more than 7 days, except where they are not accessible.

8. Drills and inspections of watertight doors, etc.
(1) The following closing appliances, mechanisms and other devices shall be inspected at intervals of not more than 7 days by a person appointed for that purpose, either generally or on any particular inspection, by the master—
(a) all watertight doors other than those of the type described in regulation 3(1);
(b) all mechanisms, indicators and warning devices connected with such doors;
(c) all valves, the closing of which is necessary to make watertight any compartment below the margin line; and
(d) all valves, the operation of which is necessary for the efficient operation of damage-control cross-connections.
(2) Suitable notices and signs shall be provided on, or in the vicinity of, all the closing appliances referred to in subregulation (1) to indicate, as necessary, the procedures for operating the appliances, the purpose of the controls and any precautions to be observed.

### Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Closing of Openings in Hulls and in Watertight Bulkheads) Regulations 《商船(安全)(船體開口及水密艙壁開口的關閉)規例》

9. Training
All members of the crew of a ship who will have occasion to use any watertight doors, shall be instructed in the safe operation of watertight doors. In addition, written instructions on the safe operation of the doors, given in easily understood terms and illustrated wherever possible, shall be available to all members of the crew. Such instructions shall be based upon the operational instructions referred to in regulation 4(1)(a).

10. Entries in official log-book
Entries shall be made in a ship’s official log-book recording the following—
(a) the times of the last closing, before the ship proceeds on any particular voyage, of watertight doors and other closing appliances referred to in regulation 3 and of the next opening of such doors and closing appliances;
(b) the times of the opening and closing of any watertight door pursuant to regulation 4(1)(c);
(c) the times when portable plates referred to in regulation 5 are fitted in place and the times of any removal and replacement of such plate while the ship is on any voyage; and
(d) the occasions on which drills are held and inspections made in compliance with these regulations and whether or not the closing appliances and devices to which such a drill or inspection relates are in good working order when the drill or inspection takes place.

11. Penalties
(1) If there is a breach of these regulations, then by virtue of section 95(2) of the Ordinance the master of the passenger ship involved in the contravention commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $10,000.
(2) Any person who fails to carry out an inspection which he has been appointed by the master to carry out under regulation 7(3) or 8 shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
(3) In any proceedings for an offence under these regulations it shall be a defence for the defendant to show that he took steps to prevent the occurrence or continuation of the activity or contravention to which the alleged offence relates and that in the particular circumstances the steps were taken as soon as practicable and were reasonable.