Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Section
Definition(s)
Section
Section means a group of fire detectors and manually operated call points as reported in the indicating unit(s). <Fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems>. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.311(88), amendments to the International Code for Fire Safety Systems, 3 December 2010, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSurface Flash
Definition(s)
Surface Flash
Surface flash means a rapid flash of a flame across the surface of the fabric primarily involving the surface pile finish and often leaving the base fabric in an essentially undamaged condition. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.307(88), International Code for Application of Fire Test Procedures, 2010 (2010 FTP Code), 3 December 2010, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSustained Ignition
Definition(s)
Sustained Ignition
Sustained ignition means the case where after-flame time is 5 s or more. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.307(88), International Code for Application of Fire Test Procedures, 2010 (2010 FTP Code), 3 December 2010, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSustained Flaming
Definition(s)
Sustained Flaming
Sustained flaming means a presence of flames on or over any part of a specimen lasting 5 s or longer. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.307(88), International Code for Application of Fire Test Procedures, 2010 (2010 FTP Code), 3 December 2010, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSingle Operator Action
Definition(s)
Single Operator Action
A procedure achieved by no more than one hard-key or soft-key action, excluding any necessary cursor movements, or voice actuation using programmed codes. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.302(87), Performance standards for bridge alert management, 17 May 2010, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSimple Operator Action
Definition(s)
Simple Operator Action
A procedure achieved by no more than two hard-key or soft-key actions, excluding any necessary cursor movements, or voice actuation using programmed codes. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.302(87), Performance standards for bridge alert management, 17 May 2010, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSpecial Personnel
Definition(s)
Special Personnel
“Special personnel” means all persons who are not passengers or members of the crew or children of under one year of age and who are carried on board in connection with the special purpose of that ship or because of special work being carried out aboard that ship. Wherever in this Code the number of special personnel appears as a parameter, it should include the number of passengers carried on board which may not exceed 12. Special personnel are expected to be able bodied with a fair knowledge of the layout of the ship and to have received some training in safety procedures and the handling of the ship’s safety equipment before leaving port and include the following:- scientists, technicians and expeditionaries on ships engaged in research, non-commercial expeditions and survey;
- personnel engaging in training and practical marine experience to develop seafaring skills suitable for a professional career at sea. Such training should be in accordance with a training programme approved by the Administration;
- personnel who process the catch of fish, whales or other living resources of the sea on factory ships not engaged in catching;
- salvage personnel on salvage ships, cable-laying personnel on cable-laying ships, seismic personnel on seismic survey ships, diving personnel on diving support ships, pipe-laying personnel on pipe layers and crane operating personnel on floating cranes; and
- other personnel similar to those referred to in .1 to .4 who, in the opinion of the Administration, may be referred to this group.
Special Personnel
Special personnel means all persons carried on board a MOU in connection with the special purpose of the MOU or with special work being carried out on the MOU, and who are neither seafarers nor directly or indirectly paying passengers. Source: IMO Resolution A.1079(28), Recommendations for the Training and Certification of Personnel on Mobile Offshore Units (MOUs), Adopted on 4 December 2013, International Maritime Organization, Regulatory GuidanceSubstantially Interested State
Definition(s)
Substantially Interested State
Substantially interested State means a State: .1 which is the flag State of a ship involved in a marine casualty or marine incident; or .2 which is the coastal State involved in a marine casualty or marine incident; or .3 whose environment was severely or significantly damaged by a marine casualty (including the environment of its waters and territories recognized under international law); or .4 where the consequences of a marine casualty or marine incident caused, or threatened, serious harm to that State or to artificial islands, installations, or structures over which it is entitled to exercise jurisdiction; or .5 where, as a result of a marine casualty, nationals of that State lost their lives or received serious injuries; or .6 that has important information at its disposal that the marine safety investigating State(s) consider useful to the investigation; or .7 that for some other reason establishes an interest that is considered significant by the marine safety investigating State(s). Source: IMO Resolution MSC.255(84), Code of the International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident (Casualty Investigation Code), 16 May 2008, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSevere Damage to the Environment
Definition(s)
Severe Damage to the Environment
A severe damage to the environment means damage to the environment which, as evaluated by the State(s) affected, or the flag State, as appropriate, produces a major deleterious effect upon the environment. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.255(84), Code of the International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident (Casualty Investigation Code), 16 May 2008, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSerious Injury
Definition(s)
Serious Injury
A serious injury means an injury which is sustained by a person, resulting in incapacitation where the person is unable to function normally for more than 72 hours, commencing within seven days from the date when the injury was suffered. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.255(84), Code of the International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident (Casualty Investigation Code), 16 May 2008, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSafety Centre
Definition(s)
Safety Centre
Safety centre is a control station dedicated to the management of emergency situations. Safety systems’ operation, control and/or monitoring are an integral part of the safety centre. <Chapter II-1, regulation 3>. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.216(82), amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, 8 December 2006, International Maritime Organization. LegislationSafe Area, in the Context of a Casualty
Definition(s)
Safe Area, in the Context of a Casualty
Safe area in the context of a casualty is, from the perspective of habitability, any area(s) which is not flooded or which is outside the main vertical zone(s) in which a fire has occurred such that it can safely accommodate all persons onboard to protect them from hazards to life or health and provide them with basic services. <Chapter II-1, regulation 3>. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.216(82), amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, 8 December 2006, International Maritime Organization. LegislationSteering Gear Control System
Definition(s)
Steering Gear Control System
Steering gear control system is the equipment by which orders are transmitted from the navigating bridge to the steering gear power units. Steering gear control systems comprise transmitters, receivers, hydraulic control pumps and their associated motors, motor controllers, piping and cables. <Chapter II-1, regulation 3>. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.216(82), amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, 8 December 2006, International Maritime Organization. Legislation Source: Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Mobile Offshore Units, Part 5, Main and Auxiliary Machinery, June 2013, Lloyd’s Register, Global StandardsSubdivision Length (Ls)
Definition(s)
Subdivision Length (Ls)
Subdivision length (Ls) of the ship is the greatest projected moulded length of that part of the ship at or below deck or decks limiting the vertical extent of flooding with the ship at the deepest subdivision draught. <Chapter II-1, regulation 2>. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.216(82), amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, 8 December 2006, International Maritime Organization. LegislationShip Security Officer
Definition(s)
Ship Security Officer
Ship security officer means the person on board the ship, accountable to the master, designated by the Company as responsible for the security of the ship including implementation and maintenance of the ship security plan and liaison with the Company security officer and port facility security officers <Chapter I, regulation I/1>. Source: IMO Resolution A.1079(28), Recommendations for the Training and Certification of Personnel on Mobile Offshore Units (MOUs), Adopted on 4 December 2013, International Maritime Organization, Regulatory Guidance Source: IMO Resolution MSC.203(81), amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, 18 May 2006, International Maritime Organization. LegislationSimplified Voyage Data Recorder (S-VDR)
Definition(s)
Simplified Voyage Data Recorder (S-VDR)
Simplified Voyage data recorder (S-VDR) means a complete system, including any items required to interface with the sources of input data, for processing and encoding the data, the final recording medium, the power supply and dedicated reserve power source. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.163(78), Recommendation on Performance Standards for Shipborne Simplified Voyage Data Recorders (S-VDRs), 17 May 2004, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSpecial Act
Definition(s)
Special Act
“Special Act” means (a) an Act of Parliament that authorizes a person named in the Act to construct or operate a pipeline or that is enacted with special reference to a pipeline that a person is by such an Act authorized to construct or operate, and (b) letters patent issued under section 5.1 or 5.4 of the Canada Corporations Act, chapter C-32 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, except for the purpose of paragraph 115(b) of this Act; loi spéciale. Source: National Energy Board Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. N-7, Canada, current to April 29, 2013. LegislationSuperstructure Deck
Definition(s)
Superstructure Deck
Superstructure deck. A superstructure deck is a deck forming the upper boundary of a superstructure. <Chapter I, regulation 3>. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.143(77), amendments to Annex B to the 1988 Load Lines Protocol, 5 June 2003, International Maritime Organization. LegislationSuperstructure
Definition(s)
Superstructure
any additional structure which is above a baseline EXAMPLE Hull. Source: IEC 61892-6, Mobile and fixed offshore units – Electrical installations – Part 6: Installation, Third Edition, December 2013. Global StandardsSuperstructure
Superstructure (a) A superstructure is a decked structure on the freeboard deck, extending from side to side of the ship or with the side plating not being inboard of the shell plating more than 4% of the breadth (B). (b) An enclosed superstructure is a superstructure with: (i) enclosing bulkheads of efficient construction; (ii) access openings, if any, in these bulkheads fitted with doors complying with the requirements of regulation 12; (iii) all other openings in sides or ends of the superstructure fitted with efficient weathertight means of closing. A bridge or poop shall not be regarded as enclosed unless access is provided for the crew starting from any point on the uppermost complete exposed deck or higher to reach machinery and other working spaces inside these superstructures by alternative means which are available at all times when bulkhead openings are closed. (c) The height of a superstructure is the least vertical height measured at side from the top of the superstructure deck beams to the top of the freeboard deck beams. (d) The length of a superstructure (S) is the mean length of the part of the superstructure which lies within the length (L). (e) Bridge. A bridge is a superstructure which does not extend to either the forward or after perpendicular. (f) Poop. A poop is a superstructure which extends from the after perpendicular forward to a point which is aft of the forward perpendicular. The poop may originate from a point aft of the aft perpendicular. (g) Forecastle. A forecastle is a superstructure which extends from the forward perpendicular aft to a point which is forward of the after perpendicular. The forecastle may originate from a point forward of the forward perpendicular. (h) Full superstructure. A full superstructure is a superstructure which, as a minimum, extends from the forward to the after perpendicular. (i) Raised quarterdeck. A raised quarterdeck is a superstructure which extends forward from the after perpendicular, generally has a height less than a normal superstructure, and has an intact front bulkhead (sidescuttles of the non-opening type fitted with efficient deadlights and bolted man hole covers) (see figure 3.4). Where the forward bulkhead is not intact due to doors and access openings, the superstructure is then to be considered as a poop.
<Chapter I, regulation 3>.
Source: IMO Resolution MSC.143(77), amendments to Annex B to the 1988 Load Lines Protocol, 5 June 2003, International Maritime Organization. Legislation