Section 24

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, 1986.

532

{2)

For the purpose of this Chapter -

"all ships 11 means ships constructed before, on or after 1st. July, 1986.

"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% of the estimated mass of all structural material, which-ever 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.

Unless expressly provided otherwise, ships constructed before 1st. July, 1986 shall comply with the requirements which are applicable under this Chapter.

All ships which undergo repairs, alterations, modifications and out-fitting related thereto shall continue to comply with at least the requirements previously applicable to these ships. Such ships if constructed before 1st. July,

1986 shall, as a rule, comply with the requirements for ships constructed on or after that date to at least the same extent as they did before undergoing such repairs, alterations, modifications or outfitting. Repairs, alterations and modifications of a major character and outfitting related thereto shall meet the requirements for ships constructed on or after that date in so far as the Director considers reasonable and practicable.

Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-regulation (5), passenger ships which undergo repairs, alterations and modifications to meet the requirements of regulation 37 shall not be deemed to have undergone repairs, alterations and modifications of a major character.

The Director may, if he considers that the sheltered nature and conditions of the voyage are such as to render the application of any specific requirements of this Chapter unreasonable or unnecessary, exempt from those requirements individual ships or classes of ships which, in the course of their voyage, do not proceed more than 20 miles from the nearest land.

A passenger ship shall not be less than 24 metres in length unless specifically approved by the Director.

533

Interpretation.