MERCHANT SHIPPING (FIRE APPLIANCES) RULES, 1974 (LI 865).

These Rules shall apply to (a) all sea-going Ghanaian ships; and (b) all ships other than Ghanaian ships while they are in any port or place in Ghana or within the territorial waters of Ghana: Provided that these Rules shall not apply to any ship by reason of its being in a port or place in Ghana or within the territorial waters of Ghana if it would not have been at any such port or place but for the stress of weather or any other circumstance that neither the master, nor the owner, nor the charterers, if any, of the ship could have prevented or forestalled.

For the purposes of these Rules, ships shall be arranged in the following classes, namely: A PASSENGER SHIPS Class I Passenger ships engaged on voyages (not being short international voyages) any of which are long international voyages. Class II Passenger ships engaged on voyages (not being long international voyages) any of which are short international voyages. B SHIPS OTHER THAN PASSENGER SHIPS Class III Cargo ships engaged on long international voyages. Class IV Cargo ships of Class III which are employed in the carriage of unberthed passengers on voyages between ports on the west coast of Central West Africa during the course of which they do not go more than 20 miles from the nearest land. Class V Cargo ships engaged on coastal voyages or on voyages with near neighbouring countries. Class VI Other ships such as tugs, dredgers, hopper barges which do not fall under any of the Classes I to V, aforesaid, and which either ply in and around harbours or proceed to sea for short distances. Class VII Fishing vessels.