17. Stern bearing assemblies on a fishing vessel shall consist of

• (a) a stern bearing not less than 3 1/2 shaft diameters in length;

• (b) a gland situated inside the fishing vessel; and

• (c) a watertight tube fitted between the bearing and the gland.

18. Before a steel fishing vessel is launched, the compartments within the main hull shall, before the cementing is commenced, be subjected to hose or pressure tests as follows:

• (a) double bottoms that are not to be used for the carrying of oil shall be tested to a head of water equal to the maximum head that can be experienced in service;

• (b) deep tanks and peak tanks used for carrying water, and deep tanks and double bottom tanks arranged for carrying oil fuel shall be tested to a head of water equal to the maximum head to which the tanks can be subjected in service, but not less than 2.44 m above the crown of the tanks where the moulded depth to the strength deck exceeds 4.88 m, and 915 mm where the moulded depth does not exceed 3.05 m; intermediate heads may be obtained by interpolation between 4.88 and 3.05 m;

• (c) peak bulkheads that do not form the boundaries of tanks shall be tested by filling the peaks with water to the level of the load water line;

• (d) watertight bulkheads, including recesses and watertight flats, watertight tunnels, weatherdecks and waterways, shall be hose tested; the pressure of water in the hose shall not be less than 207 kPa;

• (e) watertight doors shall be tried under working conditions and hose tested; the pressure in the hose shall not be less than 207 kPa.

• 19. (1) Every fishing vessel shall be fitted with not less than three suitably spaced main transverse watertight bulkheads extending from the keel or horn timber to the weatherdeck, located as follows:

  • (a) in the case of fishing vessels not more than 35.1 m in length, one bulkhead shall be located at a distance from the intersection of the stem and load water line of not less than one-twentieth and not more than one-third of the length;

  • (b) in the case of fishing vessels more than 35.1 m in length, one bulkhead shall be located at a distance from the intersection of the stem and load water line of not more than 3.05 m plus one-twentieth of the length in metres;

  • (c) the other two bulkheads shall be located aft of the one mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) at positions suitable to the design of the vessel and in accordance with the plans submitted to and approved by the Board.

• (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where a fishing vessel has a completely enclosed tween deck space that is

  • (a) used as a fish processing area, and

  • (b) located entirely above the deepest load water line,

  the bulkheads specified in paragraph (1)(c) are not required to be watertight above the lower deck of the tween deck space.

• (3) Openings in watertight bulkheads shall be fitted with watertight doors of ample strength to withstand the water pressure to which they may be subjected and they shall be carefully fitted and constructed.

• (4) Where a crew space is below the main deck and adjoins or is connected to the engine room in any way, the bulkheads and decks between the engine room and the crew space shall be so constructed as to prevent the infiltration of fumes into the crew space, either by being made watertight or by the close-fitting of the materials, and any doors fitted in those bulkheads and decks shall be close fitting and as efficient in preventing the infiltration of fumes as the bulkhead or deck in which they are fitted.