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Marine Machinery Regulations (SOR/90-264)

Regulations are current to 2024-10-30 and last amended on 2023-12-20. Previous Versions

SCHEDULE XIIFuel Oil Systems

PART I(Section 4)Design Specifications

ItemRequirements
1Subject to items 2 and 3, fuel oil for all fixed installations shall have a flash-point of not less than 60°C (closed cup test).
2Fuel oil for fixed installations may have a flash-point of not less than 43°C (closed cup test) where

  • (a) the ship is on geographically restricted voyages and measures are taken so that the ambient temperature of the spaces in which the fuel is stored or used does not rise to within 10°C below the flash-point of the fuel;

  • (b) the fuel oil in the storage tank is not heated to more than 38°C; and

  • (c) thermostats or thermometers are fitted to the main suction lines of transfer and service pumps.

3Fuel oil for emergency generator service may have a flash-point of not less than 43°C (closed cup test).
4Fixed fuel oil systems for helicopters and for non-fixed equipment shall have additional safety features taking into account the quantity of fuel carried and the hazardous properties of the fuel.
5Small approved portable containers holding fuel oil with a flash-point of lower than 43°C shall

  • (a) meet the Canadian Standards Association standard Portable Containers For Gasoline and Other Petroleum Fuels, as amended from time to time; and

  • (b) be stored outside machinery spaces.

6For ships operating in extremely cold conditions with exposed fuel oil piping to the emergency generator from an external deck-mounted fuel tank, means shall be taken so that the fuel oil viscosity will not adversely affect oil flow and where warming systems are used, the system shall incorporate a heat-limiting device to ensure that the oil is not heated to a temperature exceeding 20°C.
7The ventilation of spaces in which fuel oil is used shall be sufficient to prevent accumulation of oil vapour.
Tanks
8Fuel oil shall not be stored in the forepeak and the tanks shall, as far as practicable, form part of the ship structure.
9Where fuel oil tanks, except double bottom tanks, are located adjacent to machinery spaces of category A out of necessity, they shall have a common boundary, where practicable, with the double bottom tanks, and the area of the tank boundary common with the machinery spaces of category A shall be kept to a minimum.
10Where practicable, the use of non-structural fuel oil tanks shall be avoided, but where used such tanks shall

  • (a) be fitted with a drip tray with drains that lead to a sludge tank; and

  • (b) be located in spaces other than machinery spaces of category A on ships

    • (i) certificated to carry more than 12 passengers, or

    • (ii) in excess of 500 tons gross tonnage.

11No fuel oil tank shall be located where spillage or leakage from the tank creates a hazard by falling on heated surfaces.
12Fuel oil tanks for cooking and cabin hot-air heating appliances shall not be installed in the same spaces as the appliances and the supply of oil to appliance burners shall be capable of being shut off from positions outside the spaces in which the appliances are fitted.
13Quantities of fuel oil in tanks may be determined by

  • (a) sounding pipes with suitable means of closure at their upper ends and terminating on the open deck if practicable; or

  • (b) other safe and efficient means that on failure or over-filling of the tanks will not permit the release of fuel oil, where a supplementary means of manual sounding is provided.

14Where fuel oil quantities in a tank are determined by means other than sounding pipes, the installation of the system shall be in accordance with the following requirements:

  • (a) for ships certificated to carry more than 12 passengers, the system shall not require penetration of the tank below the top; and

  • (b) for ships certificated to carry 12 passengers or less, the system may include the use of oil-level gauges with flat glasses and self-closing valves between the gauges and the oil tank, but may not include the use of cylindrical gauge glasses.

15Provision shall be made to prevent over-pressure in any fuel tank or system by means of

  • (a) flame-screened vent pipes terminating on the open deck if practicable; and

  • (b) relief valve discharges leading back to the suction sides of pumps or to suitable tanks.

16Subject to item 17, every fuel oil pipe that if damaged would allow fuel oil to escape either by gravity or siphon action from a storage, settling or daily service tank located in a space above the double bottom shall be fitted with a cock or valve on the tank that is capable of being closed from a safe location outside the space.
17In the case of deep tanks situated in any shaft or pipe tunnel or similar compact space, valves shall be fitted on the tanks and remote control may be operated by means of an additional valve outside the compact space.
18Where an additional valve is fitted in the machinery space it shall be operable from outside that space.
Piping and Components
19As far as practicable, all parts of a fuel oil system containing heated oil under pressure exceeding 180 kPa shall be located so that defects and leakage can be readily observed.
20Machinery space fuel oil piping and components shall be adequately illuminated.
21Means shall be provided to prevent oil that may escape under pressure from a component from coming into contact with heated surfaces.
22Drip trays with drains leading to a sludge oil tank shall be fitted under all components where leakage may occur.
23Fuel oil pipes shall be of steel or similar fire and pressure-resistant material, except that short flexible hoses may be used in accordance with Schedule IX.
24Flexible hoses and end attachments shall be of fire-resistant materials of adequate strength and shall be constructed in accordance with Schedule IX.
Incinerators, Cooking Ranges and Cabin Hot-Air Heating Appliances
25Printed manufacturer’s instructions for the proper installation, maintenance and operation of each fuel oil burning appliance shall be permanently mounted in a visible location adjacent to the appliance.
26

In addition to the instructions referred to in item 25, the following safety instructions shall be prominently posted in spaces, other than machinery spaces, where fuel oil burning appliances are located:

“WARNING

ENSURE THAT FRESH AIR VENTILATION SYSTEM IS IN OPERATION WHEN USING FUEL-BURNING APPLIANCE

If leakage of fuel oil is suspected or detected, the following actions must be taken immediately:

  • (a) shut off supply of fuel;

  • (b) extinguish all naked flames and sources of ignition including heaters, cookers and cigarettes; and

  • (c) ventilate by creating a through draught of fresh air.”

PARTS II to IV[Repealed, SOR/2021-135, s. 80]

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