Class Societies & Ship Surveys

1. Class Societies & Ship Surveys MA 3022 Kalyan Chatterjea K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

2. Classification Societies • A cargo shipper and the underwriter requested to insure a maritime risk require some assurance that any particular vessel is structurally fit to undertake a proposed voyage. • To enable the shipper and underwriter to distinguish the good risk from the bad a system of classification has been formulated over a period of some two hundred years. • During this period reliable organizations have been created for the initial and continuing inspection of ships so that classification may be assessed and maintained. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

3. Classification Societies The principal maritime nations have the following classification societies: • Great Britain ‑ Lloyd's Register of Shipping • France ‑ Bureau Ven'tas • Germany ‑ Germanischer Lloyd • Norway ‑ Det Norske Veritas • Italy ‑ Registro Italiano Navale • USA ‑ American Bureau of Shipping • Russia ‑ Russian Register of Shipping • Japan ‑ Nippon Kaiji Kyokai K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

4. Classification Societies • Ships may be built in any country to a particular classification society's rules, • and they are not restricted to classification by the relevant society of the country where they are built. • Classification is not compulsory but the ship owner with an un-classed ship will be required to satisfy governmental regulating bodies • that it has sufficient structural strength for assignment of a load line and issue of a safety construction certificate. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

5. Classification Societies • Steel ships built in accordance with the classification standard, are assigned a class in their class register, • and continue to be classed so long as they are maintained in accordance with the rules & regulation of the particular class society. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

6. Classification Societies: Periodical Surveys • To maintain the assigned class the vessel has to be examined by the Society's surveyors at regular periods. • All ships must have an annual survey, which is carried out by a surveyor employed by the classification society. This survey should preferably take place in a dry-dock but the period between in‑dock surveys may be extended up to 36 months. • Such extension is permitted where the ship is coated with a high resistance paint and an approved automatic impressed current cathodic protection system is fitted. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

7. Classification Societies: Periodical Surveys • In‑water surveys are permitted for ships, which are less than 10 years old and have the paint and cathodic protection systems already referred to. • Special surveys of a more rigorous nature are required every 4 years. • Continuous surveys are permitted where all the various hull compartments are examined in rotation over a period of 5 years between consecutive examinations. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

8. Classification Societies: Periodical Surveys • During an annual survey the various closing appliances on all hatchways and • other hull openings through which water might enter must be checked to be in an efficient condition. • Water‑clearing arrangements, such as scuppers and bulwark freeing ports, must also operate satisfactorily. • Guard rails, lifelines and gangways are also examined. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

9. Classification Societies: Periodical Surveys • When surveyed in dry-dock the hull plating is carefully examined for any signs of damage or corrosion. • The stern-frame and rudder are also examined for cracks, etc. • The wear in the rudder and propeller shaft bearings is also measured. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

10. Classification Societies: Periodical Surveys • The fire protection, detection and extinguishing arrangements for passenger ships are examined every year and for cargo ships every two years. • For a special survey, the requirements of the annual survey must be met together with additional exami­nations. • A detailed examination of structure by removing covers and linings may be made. • Metal thicknesses at any areas showing wastage may have to be checked. The double‑bottom and peak tanks must be tested by filling to the maximum service head with water. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

11. Classification Societies: Periodical Surveys • The decks, casings and superstructures, together with any areas of discontinuity, must be examined for cracks or signs of failure. • All escape routes from occupied or working spaces must be checked. • Emergency communications to the machinery space and the auxiliary steering position from the bridge must also be proved. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

12. Classification Societies: Periodical Surveys • Continuous surveys are permitted during which all compartments of the hull are opened for survey and examination in turn. • An interval of five years is permitted between the examination of each part. Continuous surveys are a means of simplifying special surveys. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

13. Classification Societies: Periodical Surveys • For tankers, additional special survey requirements include the inspection of all cargo tanks and cofferdam spaces. • Cargo tank bulkheads must be tested by filling all, or alternate, tanks to the top of the hatchway. • The greater the age of a ship the greater will be the detail of examination and testing of suspect or corrosion‑prone spaces.. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

14. Classification Societies: Periodical Surveys (liquefied gas tankers) • They have requirements for annual surveys, as mentioned earlier, and several additional items. • All tanks, cofferdams, pipes, etc., must be gas freed before survey • Where the maximum vapour pressure in the tanks is 0‑7 bar or less the inner tank surfaces are to be examined. • In addition, the tanks must be water tested by a head of 2.45 m above the top of the tank. All tank level devices, gas detectors, inerting arrangements, etc., must be proved to be operating satisfactorily. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

15. Classification Societies: Periodical Surveys (liquefied gas tankers) • The special survey requirements are as previously stated, together with the examination internally and externally where possible of all tank areas. • Tank mountings, supports, pipe connections and deck sealing arrangements must also be checked. • Samples of insulation, where fitted, must be removed and the plating beneath examined. • Pressure‑relief and vacuum valves must be proved to be efficient. • Refrigeration machinery, where fitted, must be examined. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

16. Classification Societies: Periodical Surveys • All ships must be surveyed annually to ensure that they comply with the conditions of assignment as stated in the Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Rules of 1968. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

17. Classification Societies: Annual Surveys • All steel ships are required to be surveyed at intervals of approximately one year. • These annual surveys are where practicable held concurrently with statutory annual or other load line surveys. • At the survey the surveyor is to examine the condition of all closing appliances covered by the conditions of assignment of minimum free­board the freeboard marks, • and auxiliary steering gear particularly rod and chain gear. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

18. Classification Societies: Annual Surveys • Watertight doors and other penetrations of watertight bulkheads are also examined and the structural fire protection verified. • The general condition of the vessel is assessed and anchors and cables are inspected where possible at these annual surveys. • Dry bulk cargo ships are subject to an inspection of a forward and after cargo hold. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

19. Classification Societies: Intermediate Surveys • Instead of the second or third annual survey after building or special survey an intermediate survey is undertaken. • In addition to the requirements for annual survey particular attention is paid to cargo holds in vessels over 15 years of age and the operating systems of tankers, chemical carriers and liquefied gas carriers. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

20. Classification Societies: Docking Surveys • Ships are to be examined in dry dock at intervals not exceeding 2.5 years. • At the dry docking survey particular attention is paid to the shell plating, stern frame and rudder, external and through hull fittings, • and all parts of the hull particularly liable to corrosion and chafing, and any unfairness of bottom. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

21. Classification Societies: In-water Surveys • The classification society may accept in‑water surveys in lieu of any one of the two dockings required in a five‑year period. • The in‑water survey is to provide the information normally obtained for the docking survey • Generally consideration is only given to an in‑water survey where a suitable high resistance paint has been applied to the underwater hull. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

22. Classification Societies: Special Surveys • All steel ships under class are subject to special surveys. • These surveys become due at five yearly intervals, • the first five years from the date of build or date of special survey for classification • and thereafter five years from the date of the previous special survey. • Special surveys may be carried out over an extended period • commencing not before the fourth anniversary after building or previous special survey, • but must be completed by the fifth anniversary. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

23. Classification Societies: Special Surveys • Special survey hull requirements are divided into four ship age groups as follows: • Special survey of ships ‑ five years old • Special survey of ships ‑ ten years old • Special survey of ships ‑ fifteen years old • Special survey of ships ‑ twenty years old and at every special survey thereafter. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic

24. Classification Societies: Special Surveys • In each case the amount of inspection required increases and more material is removed so that the condition of the bare steel may be assessed. • It should be noted that where the surveyor is allowed to ascertain by drilling or other approved means the thickness of material, non‑destructive methods such as ultrasonics are available in contemporary practice for this purpose. • Additional special survey requirements are prescribed for tankers, chemical carriers and liquefied gas carriers. K. Chatterjea, Feb. 2004 SMA, Singapore Polytechnic