The Bahamian Government has notified ClassNK of special requirements for emergency escape breathing device(EEBD) on board the Bahamas flagged vessels as follows.

1. SOLAS Chapter II-2 specifies the carriage requirement for EEBD in accommodation spaces as follows:
(1) Cargo ships : Not less than two;
(2) Passenger ships : Not less than two in each main vertical zone
(3) Passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers : In addition to the number specified in (2) above, not less than 2 in each main vertical zone.
2. The number and location of EEBD to be provided in the machinery spaces is available in IMO Circular MSC/Circ.1081.
3. All ships shall carry spare EEBDs that shall be located in a control station. The number of spares carried on board shall be as follows:
(1) Cargo ships : 1 ;
(2) Passenger ships : 2.
4. Offshore units certified under the MODU Code, or modified MODU Code, or other alternative IMO Code shall be provided with EEBDs as if they were SOLAS certificated.
5. In order to satisfy the SOLAS requirements for on-board training in the use of EEBDs, the vessel shall have either:
(1) at least one separate EEBD clearly marked as designated for training, or
(2) the onboard facility to re-instate the EEBD that was used during the training exercise.
6. With respect to Bahamian ships carrying Liquefied Gas or Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk, the BMA will permit the carriage of the respiratory equipment described in the International Gas Carrier Code (IGC) 14.4.2, International Bulk Chemical Code (IBC) Code 14.3 and Bulk Chemical Code (BHC) 3.16.10, in lieu of EEBD.

For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Material and Equipment Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address: 4-7 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2020
Fax: +81-3-5226-2057
E-mail: eqd@classnk.or.jp