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Signage

periodically thereafter’ and ‘to provide warning signs at all “Where that seems to have had an effect on us is that we
entrances to spaces exceeding a noise level of 85dB (A), entry have seen sales of signs for enclosed spaces increase. We have

to such areas is to be controlled.’revised one of our posters totally and changed the title at the
top so it is now ‘Enclosed Space Hazard Awareness’.For many years now, Maritime Progress has been

producing a range of posters designed to assist management in “In much legislation, the signs are already there but the

bringing safety and operational issues to the attention of crew legislation brings it to the attention of the ship’s owner and the
members and its poster 1072 ‘Control of Noise’ forms part of crew onboard. Therefore, you get a spike where you tend to get

its ISM Safety Works series which have been developed since more enquiries. It maybe shouldn’t be like that but it’s a fact.”
the company was formed in 1985.Mr Goldsmith said along with an increase in enquiries

“During this year the IMO Noise Code has become concerning legislation there had been a lot of activity in the
mandatory for new vessels (from 1st July) so that has brought offshore sector.

certain obligations on to owners of new ships but it also says “When a ship is working in the offshore industry it is
within it that all vessel owners and managers are encouraged invariably in someone’s territorial waters, therefore there is a

to review their responsibilities in relation to this code,” he said.certain amount of control over that particular ship. They inspect
“We have noticed a rise in enquiries about people with ear the ships to make sure they are up to scratch and inspect them a

muffs on their ears – saying ‘ear protection must be worn in lot more regularly than if they were world trading ships. They

this area’ and that type of thing.”look at their signage to see whether it is correct or not.”
He said the more responsible owners and managers were He added: “One of the things that is happening at the

probably already bringing this to the attention of their moment is there’s a lot of work going on in Brazil offshore, so
seafarers but “this has just put it into legislation from the IMO we find a lot of ships from Europe go down to Brazil and then

that this should be done.”they are working within Brazilian waters and want Portuguese
signage on the ships. It has become a big thing recently and we Commenting on the posters, Mr Goldsmith said: “We feel

are getting a lot of Portuguese signs that we are getting they set us aside from other signage companies. The whole
technically translated. The signs then become part of our idea of posters is that they bring the attention of the crew to

library in effect and it has grown quite a lot in recent times.”this sort of issue. The poster pre dates this IMO Noise Code or
the mandatory part of the part of the Noise Code.The offshore sector is an area he can foresee growing even

more, not just in Brazil but in the Gulf of Mexico where signs Another issue which has caused an increase in enquiries is

are translated into Spanish.the amendments to SOLAS Regulation III/19 which added a
new requirement for mandatory enclosed space entry and It is only really within offshore that the signs are tailored to

rescue drills.the local language as with shipping the language is global and
therefore the common language is English.From 1st January 2015 all persons involved in enclosed

space entries, and/or assigned enclosed space duties, will be But, as with many signs, text is often not even used –
required to take part in enclosed space entry and rescue drills “that is the beauty of the symbols within signs – you don’t

at intervals not exceeding two months.need a language.” u

Issue 63 2014
32 The SHIP Supplier