Marine ClassificationSociety Surveying By Peter Broad ii First Published 2009 ISBN 978 1 856093 14 9 All Rights Reserved © Witherby Seamanship International Ltd British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library © Copyright All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher and copyright owner. Notice of Terms of Use While the advice given in this document (‘document’) has been developed using the best information currently available, it is intended purely as guidance to be used at the user’s own risk. No responsibility is accepted by the author Peter Broad or by Witherby Seamanship International Ltd or by any person, firm, corporation or organisation [who or which has been in any way concerned with the furnishing of information or data, the compilation or any translation, publishing, supply or sale of the document] for the accuracy of any information or advice given in the document or any omission from the document or for any consequence whatsoever resulting directly or indirectly from compliance with or adoption of guidance contained in the document even if caused by a failure to exercise reasonable care. Printed and bound in Great Britain by Bell & Bain Ltd, Glasgow Published in 2009 by Witherby Seamanship International Ltd 4 Dunlop Square Livingston, Edinburgh EH54 8SB, United Kingdom Tel No: +44(0)1506 463 227 Fax No: +44(0)1506 468 999 Email: info@emailws.com www.witherbyseamanship.com iii Foreword Foreword It is pleasing to welcome a book that removes a veil of mystery from one important area of the shipping industry. Either because classification can trace its roots back to the 1760s (or perhaps in spite of its long history) there are many for whom its functions remain, at best, vague. This highly accessible work provides an opportunity to broaden knowledge both inside and beyond the industry. Building on personal experience and with a clear logical style, Peter Broad provides the reader with definitions and examples of terminology, processes and certification. The difference between the role of classification societies and statutory authorities, the types of surveys and their periodicity are well described. His personal experience is also particularly evident, as he guides us through the work of the surveyor in a unique profession where complex engineering, fine technical judgement, diplomacy and hard physical labour, often in an uncomfortable environment, are combined. As classification societies have evolved, they have also diversified beyond their traditional purely maritime focus. There are examples here of where classification societies may be found in other industries and an introduction into their research and development roles. This book achieves its aim of increasing understanding of a historic industry that has developed over time to find itself at the leading edge of technology and innovation, and as an essential pillar of the modern shipping industry. Peter Hinchliffe OBE Marine Director International Chamber of Shipping iv Introduction Introduction This book provides an insight into the work conducted by Marine Classification Societies, their purpose, regulation and the types of surveys carried out. There are many Class Societies operating throughout the world and they all have common standards. Discussion of their operation, interpretation and professionalism are not part of this book, neither are the economic and financial influences involved in choosing one society in preference to another. The majority of the information in this book concerns the Class Societies’ rules and regulations for the building and continued operation of merchant ships, yachts, offshore platforms and special service craft (including military vessels), and their work carried out in marine related industries. References are provided at the end of the book to help the reader with any background information for further reading and research. To quote from Lloyd’s Register’s Rules as an explanatory note: “Ship classification may be regarded as the development and worldwide implementation of published Rules and Regulations which, in conjunction with proper care and conduct on the part of the Owner and operator, will provide for: 1. The structural strength of (and where necessary the watertight integrity of) all essential parts of the hull and its appendages; 2. the safety and reliability of the propulsion and steering; and 3. the effectiveness of those other features and auxiliary systems which have been built into the ship in order to establish and maintain basic conditions onboard whereby appropriate cargoes and personnel can be safely carried whilst the ship is at sea, at anchor, or moored in harbour.....” vii Contents Contents Foreword............................................................iii Introduction .......................................................iv Acknowledgements ...........................................v 1 History of Ship Classification Societies ....................................1 2 International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) ....................5 3 General Rules and Definitions ........................9 4 The Role of a Society .....................................13 5 Ship Registries ..............................................19 6 Classification Related Activities ....................23 7 IACS’ Interaction with other Organisations ...27 8 Class Surveys ..................................................31 9 Hull Construction and Equipment .................41 10 Machinery Installations ..................................45 11 Electrical Installations ....................................49 12 Materials .........................................................55 13 Vessel Equipment ...........................................59 14 Fire Protection, Detection and Extinction .....65 15 Intact Stability .................................................75 16 Load Lines .......................................................77 17 Assignment of Freeboard ...............................83 18 Statutory Certification ....................................85 19 Quality System Certification ..........................107 20 The International Safety Management Code ........................................111 21 Technical Services .........................................113 22 Emergency Technical Assistance Services .......................................115 23 Other Business Areas ....................................117 24 Classification Society Publications ...............119 25 Conclusion ......................................................123 References .....................................................124 31 ch.8 Chapter 8 Class Surveys As we have discovered when looking at the work of IACS and the Member Societies in Chapter 3, the work of Classification is to prepare and publish a set of defined standards to which a ship should be maintained. This starts with the building process, so ships are built in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of a Classification Society. The Society approves the construction drawings, processes and materials of construction, and checks the actual construction of the hull structure, all major machinery components and electrical and navigational equipment by clearly defined sampling processes at the manufacturing units and within the ship building yards. With these controls, a ship can be said to be built ‘under Class’ and the Classification Society will issue a certificate on completion of construction, known as the ‘Certificate of Class for Hull and Machinery’. At the time the ship is delivered by the building yard, trading and statutory certificates are also issued. These have a validity of 5 years and must be endorsed every year on completion of an ‘Annual Survey’. The survey cycle, know as the ‘Special Survey Cycle’, is shown in the diagram. The survey carried out at the end of 5 years is the ‘Special Survey’ and is more stringent than those of the preceding 4 years. As a ship becomes progressively older, each Special Survey will become more stringent, so the first Special Survey after 5 years is less stringent than the second after 10 years, the third after 15, and so on. The main areas of concern during a Special Survey, and those that become more stringent with the age of a ship, primarily deal with the hull structure. It is the Owner’s responsibility to ensure that his ships are prepared and submitted for survey when necessary and, in the normal course of events, Classification Society Surveyors only attend onboard when they are requested to do so by the Owner or his representative. It can be seen from the special survey diagram that there is a 6 month window at the time of each annual survey. This allows 3 months either side of the annual survey anniversary for the surveys to be completed, an allowance provided to enable the Owner, Operator or Charterer to take the ship out of trade at the most convenient time to reduce any loss of earnings. Surveys may be part held during this 6 month window, so long as they are completed by the end of the 15th month, at which time the Class Certificate will be endorsed by the attending Surveyor. Docking surveys will normally be carried out every 2-3 years. Where a Class Society is responsible for the technical condition of a ship, the Flag State may delegate responsibility for the people onboard, their safety, environment and communication to them as well. This 32 ch.8 means it is often the case that the Class Society will issue and maintain the Statutory Certification. See Chapter 18 for a more detailed explanation of the Statutory Certification. The terms and conditions of Survey, explained below, are mainly extracted from Lloyd’s Register, but should be considered as general guidance and not Class specific as some variation may be found between different Class Societies. Types of Classification Society Surveys: • Hull • annual • intermediate • special • docking (in-water) • rudder stock and pintles • damage repairs • main and auxiliary machinery • annual • docking • engine special survey • continuous survey machinery • pumping and piping arrangements • air compressors, air receivers and starting air pipes • means of communication • bridge and other remote control systems • explosion relief devices • inert gas systems • steering gear • screwshafts • propellers (including directional and transverse thrusters) • sternbushes • boilers, thermal oil heaters and hot water heaters • steam pipes Initial Max 5 years 6 months6 months6 months6 months Intermediate 1st annual2nd annual3rd annual4th annualSpecial Docking or IWS Docking Tail Shaft Continuous Survey Machinery Continuous Survey Hull ISM/ISPS Special Survey Cycle 33 ch.8 • control engineering systems • annual • periodic • UMS (Unmanned Machinery Systems notation) • CCS, denotes that the machinery may be operated with continuous supervision from a centralised control room • ICC, denotes that the ship’s control and supervision functions are computer based • DP (Dynamic Positioning notation) • testing and survey of microprocessor systems • vapour detection systems • electrical installations • annual • intermediate • complete • modification or damage and repair • electrical equipment in dangerous zones and spaces • refrigeration installations • survey of existing installations • systems for the carriage of insulated cargo containers • ships for liquefied gas. Now to look at these in more detail: Hull Surveys: • Annual Survey (AS), Intermediate Special Survey (ITSS) and Special Survey (SS): • General Class requirements for Annual and Intermediate Survey for cargo hold and cargo tank structural examination dependent on ship type. • General Class requirements for Periodical Surveys of salt water ballast tanks and salt water ballast holds. In general, the Surveyor must be satisfied that the ship’s structure remains satisfactory for safe continued operation for a further twelve months. This will include surveys of the hatchways on the freeboard deck and superstructure decks, weather deck plating, ventilator coamings and air pipes, exposed casings, skylights, deckhouses and companionways, superstructure bulkheads, side, bow and stern doors, side scuttles and deadlights, chutes and other openings, together with all closing appliances and flame screens. • Docking Surveys (DS): These are required by SOLAS regulation (Chapter 1, Regulation 10-V), which requires that the ship’s bottom shall be inspected at least twice in every five years. One of the two DSs required in each five year period should coincide with the SS. When this is the case, in addition to the requirements set out for normal ASs, the chain lockers, anchors and anchor chain cables must also be surveyed. If there are no repairs to be carried out to the hull, a Class Society Surveyor will make a simple examination of the underwater parts (rudder, rudder pintle clearances, propeller, stern gland seal, propeller shaft bearing weardown, sea inlet/outlet gratings, sea connections and overboard discharges, bilge keels, anodes, bow/stern thrusters, stabilisers, hull shell plating and antifouling paint coating, etc). It is an opportunity for marine growth to be cleaned from the ship and, where necessary, a new application of antifouling paint to be applied. An important consideration for the owner is the requirement for a Tailshaft Survey, which has to be carried out every five years and needs to coincide with the docking period unless the ship has been assigned in-water survey notation.