Article 90 of the NFPA page 7 para 90.2 sub para B states that ths standard does not cover installation on ships, and water craft.

Does anyone know why and if there is a standard that does apply.

Utility transmission systems also have the exception. The thought is there are instances where these systems can not always comply with NFPA 70 or NFPA 70E. Although my experience is they try to comply as best they can. With some installations, space is an issue which can cause conflicts with the standards.

This is in keeping with the structure that exists in the states.

Utilities, maritime, mining, and construction (to a degree) have distinctly separate regulatory requirements under U.S. regulations. For instance, ANSI C2 (NESC) is the rule set for utilities and has it's own associated OSHA regulations (1910.269). As a general rule, "mixing" causes all kinds of regulatory snafus. Thus it is a long standing practice that the NFPA 70 series (70 aka NEC equivalent to CEC, NFPA 70B, NFPA 70E) specifically exempt these other specialized areas. The one except that has a regulatory though not safety standard exception is that construction is distinctly different under regulatory codes but not under safety standards.

We do not by the way have a direct equivalent to M421, especially for surface mines. There are so many gaps in the MSHA (equivalent to OH&S's mining regulators) regulations that most mines adopt NEC & NFPA 70E as safety standards just to fill in the gaps that leave them open to interpretive arguments with inspectors without choosing a more restrictive consensus safety code.

46 CFR Subchapter J

A quick search of US Coast Guard leads to 46 CFR Subchapter J.

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5213/electrical.asp

The OP has a BC address, perhaps the Canadian Coast Guard has a similar document.

Thanks Everyone, The info is great. It is difficult to get people, who work in the ships and dockyard to take the new regulations sirously when they state they do not pertain to ships.