Merchant Shipping (Transit of Cattle by Sea) Rules

These Rules may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Transit of Cattle by Sea) Rules.

When cattle are carried on board a vessel for a voyage which on an average takes more than 8 hours, the master and the chin chew shall cause to be provided for such cattle a sufficient amount of food and water and proper accommodation for the storage of food so that the food and water shall not be unduly exposed to the weather at sea.

Cattle and all other livestock shall be protected against injury and against unnecessary suffering from undue exposure to the weather by proper awnings, permanent or otherwise, to the satisfaction of the Inspector*, and shall not be carried on iron decks unless such iron decks are overlaid with wood or some other suitable covering.* The Director of Marine, a Port Health Officer and a surveyor of ships vide section 237(4) of the Act.

Ships’ fittings likely to cause injury or unnecessary suffering shall be properly and securely fenced off.

The master of a vessel shall destroy or cause to be destroyed forthwith any animal that is maimed or seriously injured, or has sustained a broken limb.

Baskets in which pigs are carried shall not be stacked in such manner as to cause injury or suffering to the pigs.

Poultry shall not be carried in baskets or crates in such manner as to cause them injury or unnecessary suffering.

Cattle shall not be carried in any part of the vessel where in ordinary course of navigation they would interfere with the proper management or ventilation of the vessel or with the efficient working of the boats.

Cattle shall not be carried on any hatch above a compartment where other cattle are carried.

Cattle shall be carried in pens, and shall not in any case be overcrowded so as to cause injury or discomfort.

Cattle on board shall be separately and securely tied by the head by ropes passed through eye bolts in the pen frames.

The floor of each pen shall be a flat surface, and in order to prevent slipping shall be fitted with suitable battens or other proper footholds, securely fastened to the deck or floor, and the floors shall be strewn with a proper quantity of sand or other suitable material.

In all enclosed portions of a vessel in which cattle are carried the arrangements shall permit of each pen being accessible to the cattle attendants.

All parts of the vessel on which cattle are carried shall be sufficiently and suitably ventilated.

When cattle are carried on board a steamer carrying passengers the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Survey of Passenger Steamers) Rules [R 4] relating to such cases shall be complied with.

When cattle are carried attendants to the number of one to every 20 heads of cattle carried shall be provided in addition to the crew. Proper accommodation shall be provided for these attendants, and they shall be required to sign the ship articles.

Horses, ponies, mules, asses and other animals shall, if the Inspector so requires be carried in single pens or boxes of suitable dimensions, and such pens shall be padded to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

When cattle are carried within the limits of the port in Singapore pens need not be fitted, but the vessel shall be of such a character as in the opinion of the Inspector sufficiently precludes risk of injury or unnecessary suffering to the cattle.

When cattle are carried in a tongkang beyond the limits of a port they shall be carried in pens of a substantial character and suitable size fitted to the satisfaction of the Inspector, and the cattle shall be separately and securely tied by the head by ropes passed through eye bolts in the pen frames, and shall not be crowded together in such a way as to cause injury or discomfort. Rule 16 shall apply to such pens.DIAGRAMRule 6(2).