Section 126

Unless expressly provided otherwise, this Chapter shall apply to ships the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1st. July, 1998.

For the purpose of this Chapter

"all ships" means ships constructed before, on or after 1st. July, 1998;

and "all cargo ships" and "all passenger ships" shall be construed accordingly;

"ships constructed" means ships the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction;

"similar stage of construction" means the stage at which-

{a} construction identifiable with a specific ship begins; and

{b) assembly of that ship has commenced comprising at least 50

tonnes or 1 o/o of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is less.

For the purpose of this Chapter, a cargo ship, whenever built, which is converted to a passenger ship shall be treated as a passenger ship constructed on the date on which such a conversion commences.

Ships constructed before 1st. July, 1998 shall-

{a} subject to paragraph (b), comply with the requirements which are applicable under Chapter III of the Convention in force prior to 1st. July, 1998 to new or existing ships as prescribed by that

Chapter; and

{b) when the life-saving appliances or arrangements on such ships are replaced or when such ships undergo repairs, alterations or modifications of a major character which involve replacement of, or any addition to, their existing life-saving appliances or arrangements,

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such life-saving appliances or arrangements, in so far as is reasonable and practicable, comply with the requirements of this Chapter. If a survival craft other than an inflatable liferaft is replaced without replacing its launching appliance, or vice versa, the survival craft or launching appliance may be of the same type as that replaced.

Exemptions.