[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR62.50-20]

[Page 309-310]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 62_VITAL SYSTEM AUTOMATION--Table of Contents
 
          Subpart 62.50_Automated Self-propelled Vessel Manning
 
Sec. 62.50-20  Additional requirements for minimally attended machinery 
plants.

    Note: Minimally attended machinery plants include vessel machinery 
plants and spaces that are automated, but not to a degree where the 
plant could be left unattended. Emphasis is placed on the centralized 
remote control and monitoring of the machinery plant and machinery 
spaces.

    (a) General. (1) Navigating bridge propulsion control must be 
provided.
    (2) An ECC must be provided and must include the automatic and 
remote control and monitoring systems necessary to limit the operator's 
activity to monitoring the plant, initiating programed control system 
sequences, and taking appropriate action in an emergency.
    (3) The ECC must include control and monitoring of all vital 
engineering systems, including--
    (i) The propulsion plant and its auxiliaries;
    (ii) Electrical power generation and distribution;
    (iii) Machinery space fire detection, alarm, and extinguishing 
systems; and
    (iv) Machinery space flooding safety systems, except the valves 
described in paragraph (e)(4) of this section.
    (4) ECC control of vital systems must include the ability to place 
required standby systems, auxiliaries, and power sources in operation, 
unless automatic transfer is provided, and to shut down such equipment 
when necessary.

    Note: ECC remote control need not include means for a single 
operator to bring the plant to standby from a cold plant or dead ship 
condition or controls for non-vital systems or equipment.

    (b) Alarms and instrumentation. (1) A personnel alarm must be 
provided and must annunciate on the bridge if not routinely acknowledged 
at the ECC or in the machinery spaces.
    (2) Continuous or demand instrumentation displays must be provided 
at the ECC to meet the system and equipment monitoring requirements of 
this part if the ECC is to be continuously attended. If the 
watchstander's normal activities include maintenance, a roving watch, or 
similar activities in the machinery spaces but not at the ECC, both 
alarms and instrumentation must be provided.
    (3) All required audible alarms must annunciate throughout the ECC 
and machinery spaces.
    (c) Fire detection and alarms. An approved automatic fire detection 
and alarm system must be provided to monitor all machinery spaces. The 
system must activate all alarms at the ECC, the navigating bridge, and 
throughout the machinery spaces and engineers' accommodations. The ECC 
and bridge alarms must visually indicate which machinery space is on 
fire, as applicable.

    Note: For purposes of this part, the specific location of fires that 
are not in machinery spaces need not be indicated.


[[Page 310]]


    (d) Fire pumps. (1) The ECC must include control of the main 
machinery space fire pumps.
    (2) Remote control of a required fire pump must be provided from the 
navigating bridge. Where one or more fire pumps is required to be 
independent of the main machinery space, at least one such pump must be 
controlled from the navigating bridge.
    (e) Flooding safety. (1) Machinery space bilges, bilge wells, shaft 
alley bilges, and other minimally attended locations where liquids might 
accumulate must be monitored from the ECC to detect flooding angles from 
vertical of up to 15[deg] heel and 5[deg] trim.
    (2) The ECC must include the controls necessary to bring at least 
one independent bilge pump and independent bilge suction required by 
Sec. 56.50-50(e) of this chapter into operation to counter flooding.
    (3) Where watertight doors in subdivision bulkheads are required in 
the machinery spaces, they must be Class 3 watertight doors and must be 
controllable from the ECC and the required navigating bridge control 
location.
    (4) Controls must be provided to operate the sea inlet and discharge 
valves required by Sec. 56.50-95(d) of this chapter and the emergency 
bilge suction required by Sec. 56.50-50(f). These controls must be 
arranged to allow time for operation in the event of flooding with the 
vessel in the fully loaded condition. Time considerations must include 
detection, crew response, and control operation time.
    (f) Communications. (1) A means must be provided at the ECC to 
selectively summon any engineering department member from the 
engineering accommodations to the ECC.
    (2) The voice communications system required by Sec. 113.30-5(a) of 
this chapter must also include the engineering officers' accommodations.
    (g) Electrical systems. (1) The ECC must include the controls and 
instrumentation necessary to place the ship service and propulsion 
generators in service in 30 seconds.
    (2) The main distribution and propulsion switchboards and generator 
controls must either be located at the ECC, if the ECC is within the 
boundaries of the main machinery space, or the controls and 
instrumentation required by part 111 of this chapter must be duplicated 
at the ECC. Controls at the switchboard must be able to override those 
at the ECC, if separate. Also see Sec. 111.12-11(g) and Sec. 111.30-1 
regarding switchboard location.
    (h) Maintenance program. (1) The vessel must have a planned 
maintenance program to ensure continued safe operation of all vital 
systems. Program content and detail is optional, but must include 
maintenance and repair manuals for work to be accomplished by 
maintenance personnel and checkoff lists for routine inspection and 
maintenance procedures.
    (2) The planned maintenance program must be functioning prior to the 
completion of the evaluation period for reduced manning required by 
Sec. 62.50-1(b)(5).
    (3) Maintenance and repair manuals must include details as to what, 
when, and how to troubleshoot, repair and test the installed equipment 
and what parts are necessary to accomplish the procedures. Schematic and 
logic diagrams required by Sec. 62.20-1 of this part must be included 
in this documentation. Manuals must clearly delineate information that 
is not applicable to the installed equipment.

[CGD 81-030, 53 FR 17838, May 18, 1988; 53 FR 19090, May 26, 1988; 53 FR 
24270, June 28, 1988; USCG-2004-18884, 69 FR 58346, Sept. 30, 2004]