The Bahamian Administration has issued BMA Marine Notice 81 (Ver.1.1) regarding emergency escape breathing devices (EEBD), which revises previously issued versions to clarify that risk assessment is required only when the location or number of EEBDs in machinery spaces is changed.
This ClassNK Technical Information supersedes our previous Technical Information No. TEC-1252 dated 1 December 2021.

1. Marine Notice 81 applies to all Bahamian ships and offshore units to which SOLAS applies.

2. Offshore units certified under the 1979, 1989 or 2009 Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU Code) shall be provided with EEBDs as if they were SOLAS certified.

3. SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 13.3.4 specifies the following minimum carriage requirement for EEBDs in accommodation spaces:
(1) Cargo ships: 2 EEBDs
(2) Passenger ships carrying not more than 36 passengers: 2 EEBDs in each main vertical zone
(3) Passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers: 4 EEBDs in each main vertical zone.

4. The number of EEBDs to be provided in the machinery spaces is available in IMO MSC/Circ.1081. The Bahamian Administration requires the ship management company, which is responsible for the management of the ship in accordance with the ISM Code, to carry out a risk assessment whenever the location and/or number of EEBDs in the machinery spaces is changed. The risk assessment must consider the size and layout of the machinery spaces, the number of persons normally present, the length of the escape routes and any other relevant factors. Documentation related to the risk assessment results/conclusions is to be maintained onboard.

A risk assessment, however, is not required when a ship is delivered with EEBDs already in place, unless the new ship management company wishes to change the locations and/or number of EEBDs.

Please contact the ClassNK Material and Equipment Department when a risk assessment is carried out by the ship management company due to a change in the location and/or number of EEBDs in machinery spaces.

(To be continued)