# The Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975, Article 29: Oil fuel installations (boilers and machinery)—general


(1) In every vessel of 12 metres in length and over to which these Rules apply oil fuel used in boilers or machinery shall have a flash point of not less than 60°C (Closed Test), except that where the emergency source of electrical power is a generator driven by internal combustion type machinery having an independent fuel supply and with efficient starting arrangements, the oil fuel provided for this machinery shall have a flash point of not less than 43°C.
(2) In every such vessel oil fuel tanks which are not built into the vessel's structure shall be properly constructed and be provided with save-alls or gutters. These tanks shall not be situated directly above boilers, heated surfaces, stairways, ladders, or electrical equipment other than unbroken runs of cable. Prior to installation these tanks shall be subjected to a hydraulic pressure test. Storage tanks or service tanks shall be tested to a head of water 300 millimetres in excess of the greatest head to which the tank may be subject when in service. In the case of a settling tank the required head of water shall not be less than 2.5 metres above the top of the tank.
(3) In every such vessel adequate means shall be provided for sounding oil fuel tanks and means provided to prevent overpressure in such tanks. The sounding arrangements or oil level indicating gear fitted to settling tanks or daily service tanks shall not permit the escape of oil if these tanks are overfilled. Oil level indicators shall not allow oil to escape in the event of their being damaged.
(4) In every such vessel air pipes shall be led from oil fuel tanks to the open air and the outlet shall be situated so that there will be no danger of fire or explosion resulting from the emergence of oil vapour from the pipe. Pipes shall be fitted with detachable wire gauze diaphragms of non-corrodible material.
Where pipes also serve as overflow pipes provision shall be made to prevent the overflow running into or near a boiler room, galley or other space where ignition may occur.
(5) In every such vessel air pipes from oil fuel tanks and levelling pipes attached to tanks shall have a nett cross-sectional area not less than 1.25 times that of the filling pipes.
(6) In every such vessel self-closing type drains shall be provided for the removal of water from oil fuel in storage tanks or settling tanks or in oily water separators.
(7) In every such vessel pipes connected to any oil fuel storage, settling, or daily service tank, not being a double bottom tank, shall be fitted with a valve or cock which shall be secured to the tank to which it is connected and be capable of being closed from a readily accessible position outside the space in which the tank is situated provided that an inlet pipe may be fitted with a nonreturn valve secured to the tank.
(8) In every such vessel valves forming part of the oil fuel system shall be designed and constructed to prevent the cover of the valve chest being slackened back or loosened when the valve is operated.
(9) In every such vessel pumps forming part of the oil fuel system shall be separate from the feed pumps, bilge pumps and ballast pumps and the connection of any such pumps, and shall be provided with an efficient relief valve which shall be in closed circuit.
(10) In every such vessel the means provided for the storage, distribution and utilisation of the fuel shall be such that the effective use of the engines can be maintained under all foreseeable service conditions.
(11) In every such vessel where steam is generated for main propulsion or essential auxiliary machinery by burning oil fuel under pressure, not less than two oil fuel units shall be provided, each comprising a pressure pump, filters and a heater. The pump, filters and heater shall be of efficient design and substantial construction. Provision shall be made to prevent overpressure in any part of the oil fuel units. The parts of these oil fuel units which are subject to oil pressure and the joints thereof shall, before being put into service for the first time, be subjected to a test by hydraulic pressure to 28 kilogrammes force per square centimetre or twice their maximum working pressure, whichever is the greater, and shall at any time thereafter be capable of withstanding such a test. Relief valves fitted to prevent over-pressure in the oil fuel heater shall be in closed circuit. Where steam is used for heating oil fuel in bunkers, tanks, heaters or separators, exhaust drains shall be provided to discharge the condensate into an observation tank fitted with a manually controlled drain.
(12) In every such vessel where a gravity oil fuel system is installed filters shall be provided and shall be capable of being cleaned without interrupting the supply of fuel oil.
(13) In every such vessel equivalent arrangements to those set out in paragraph (12) above shall be provided in the fuel supply lines to main and auxiliary oil engines.
(14) In every such vessel save-alls or gutters shall be provided under every oil fuel pump, filter and heater and in way of the furnace mouths to prevent escaping oil from coming into contact with boilers or other heated surfaces.
(15) In every such vessel where flexible pipes are fitted in such systems, they shall be fit for their intended service.
(16) In every such vessel fuel supply lines to main propulsion and essential auxiliary machinery shall be provided with filters so constructed that they may not be opened during use.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1975/330/article/29 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/fishing-vessels-safety-provisions-rules-1975/article-29
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.