What is the National Standard for Commercial Vessels?
The National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) is the principal technical standard for commercial vessels and will gradually replace the Uniform Shipping Laws Code. It provides a common national standard for the design, construction, crewing and operation of vessels. The NSCV has been developed progressively and work continues to complete the standard.
To which Vessels does it apply?
State-based legislation specifies the standards applying to commercial vessels. The NSCV is being introduced progressively in all jurisdictions. To see which sections of the NSCV currently apply, go to Combined USL/NSCV 2010. To check whether or not the standards are in-force in a particular State or Territory in Australia, you can also check with the local Marine Authority in that jurisdiction.
How does the structure differ from the USL Code?
The following table provides a quick reference to the contents of the NSCV and the USL Code.
|
National Standard for Commercial Vessels
|
Uniform shipping Laws Code
|
| Part A - Safety Obligations | NEW |
| Part B - General Requirements | Section 1 |
| Part C Design & Construction | |
| Section 1 - Arrangement, Accommodation & Personal Safety | Section 6, Section 5 Sub-section C,D & E |
| Section 2 - Watertight & Weathertight Integrity | Section 5 - Subsection C&D, Section 7 |
| Section 3 - Construction | Section 5 Subsection A,B,G,H,K,L,M |
|
Section 4 – Fire Safety |
Section 5 Subsection F, Section 11 |
|
Section 5 – Engineering |
Section 9, New Subsection for LPG for engines |
|
Section 6 – Stability |
Section 8, Subsection A,B,C, Section 5 Subsection C |
|
Section 7 – Equipment |
Sections 10, 12, 13, 16 |
|
Part D – Crew Competencies |
Sections 2 & 3 |
|
Part E – Operational Practices |
Section 15 |
| Part F – Special Vessels | |
|
Section 1 – Fast Craft |
NEW |
|
Section 2 – Hire and Drive |
Section 18 |
|
Section 3 – Novel Vessels |
NEW |
How does the specification differ from the USL Code?
The National Standard for Commercial Vessels has been written to allow flexibility in application. It does this by specifying performance to be achieved in the form of required outcomes. While the required outcomes are mandatory, the means of satisfying the required outcomes are not fixed. In applying the standard, a person may chose to apply the “deemed to satisfy” solution, which is the prescriptive technical solution provided in the NSCV, or an “equivalent performance-based solution” proposed by the applicant.
National Standards
The current version of any National Standard is understood to be the latest edition approved by the ATC and published on the NMSC web site, including any amendments approved by ATC to that edition. An edition becomes effective and supersedes all previous editions of that National Standard on the date of publication stated within the document. For the purpose of this policy, each separately published Part, Section and Sub-Section of the NSCV is treated as a separate National Standard.
The legal instruments applying in each jurisdiction will determine the legal status of any National Standard published by the NMSC, including the point at which particular National Standards become effective under the law (see Legislated Standards). The legal requirement applying in a jurisdiction may not necessarily be aligned to the relevant National Standard published by NMSC.