Section 48
of Merchant Shipping Ports Harbours And Dues Regulations 1961
Section 48
The following provisions in respect of the stowing explosives in any vessel in a port or harbour shall be duly observed, and no vessel in which explosives are stowed otherwise than in accordance with these provisions shall enter any port:-
(a)
before any explosives are stowed in any vessel, the hold or the other place of stowage shall be free from grit and otherwise clean;
(b)
there shall be no iron or steel in the interior of the hold or other place of stowage unless the same is covered, either permanently or temporarily with leather, wood, cloth or other suitable material;
(c)
at all times when not being loaded or unloaded, explosives shall be protected from fire from without, either by being stowed in the hold of a vessel with hatches closed, or by being completely covered by painted cloth, tarpaulin or other suitable material;
(d)
any explosives of the following classes –
(i)
the Fifth (Fulminate) Class;
(ii)
the Sixth (Ammunition) Class, Divisions I and III (containing its own means of ignition);
(iii)
the Seventh (Firework) Class;
shall not be stowed in the same vessel with any explosives not of the same Class and Division, unless it is sufficiently separated therefrom to prevent any fire or explosion which may take place in one such explosive being communicated to another; explosives of Classes I to IV inclusive and of Class VI, Division II, may not be stowed together provided that in the cases of explosives of Class VI, Division II, in which there is exposed iron (for example, filled shells), such explosives shall not be stowed in such a manner as to allow of such exposed iron coming in contact with any other explosives or with any case containing the same;
(e)
explosives shall not be stowed in any vessel carrying as cargo matches, petroleum, carbide of calcium, spirits, mineral acides or other articles or substances liable to cause fire or to give off inflammable vapour or to affect injuriously such explosives, unless such precaution are taken by provision of a bulkhead or otherwise as shall effectually prevent danger to the explosives from such article or substance or from the vapour thereof;
(f)
the place of stowage of explosives exceeding one hundred pounds in weight shall be constructed or fitted in such manner as may from time to time directed by the Director:
Provided that where the Port Officer considers any one or more of the provisions contained in this regulation unnecessary for ensuring the safety of life and property in the case of the stowing of any particular explosives, or of any particular cargo or consignment of explosives, he may, in writing exempt the owner from compliance with such provision or provisions.