Resolution MSC.125(75)

ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE GUIDELINES ON THE ENHANCED PROGRAMME OF INSPECTIONS DURING SURVEYS OF BULK CARRIERS AND OIL TANKERS
(RESOLUTION A.744(18))

(adopted on 24 May 2002)

 

 

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

 

RECALLING article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,

 

RECALLING ALSO resolution A.744(18) by which the Assembly adopted the Guidelines on the enhanced programme of inspections during surveys of bulk carriers and oil tankers,

 

RECALLING FURTHER article VIII(b) and regulation XI/2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention") concerning the procedure for amending the aforementioned Guidelines,

 

NOTING that the Assembly, when adopting resolution A.744(18), requested the Maritime Safety Committee and the Marine Environment Protection Committee to keep the Guidelines under review and update them as necessary, in the light of experience gained in their application,

 

HAVING CONSIDERED, at its seventy-fifth session, amendments to the Guidelines proposed and circulated in accordance with article VIII(b)(i) of the Convention,

 

1. ADOPTS, in accordance with article VIII(b)(iv) of the Convention, amendments to the Guidelines on the enhanced programme of inspections during surveys of bulk carriers and oil tankers, the text of which is set out in the Annex to the present resolution;

 

2. DETERMINES, in accordance with article VIII(b)(vi)(2)(bb) of the Convention, that the said amendments shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 July 2003, unless, prior to that date, more than one third of the Contracting Governments to the Convention or Contracting Governments the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world’s merchant fleet, have notified their objections to the amendments;

 

3. INVITES SOLAS Contracting Governments to note that, in accordance with article VIII(b)(vii)(2) of the Convention, the amendments shall enter into force on 1 January 2004 upon their acceptance in accordance with paragraph 2 above;

 

4. REQUESTS the Secretary-General, in conformity with article VIII(b)(v) of the Convention, to transmit certified copies of the present resolution and the text of the amendments contained in the Annex to all Contracting Governments to the Convention;

 

5. FURTHER REQUESTS the Secretary-General to transmit copies of this resolution and its Annex to Members of the Organization, which are not Contracting Governments to the Convention.

 

AMENDMENTS TO THE GUIDELINES ON THE ENHANCED PROGRAMME OF INSPECTIONS DURING SURVEYS OF BULK CARRIERS AND OIL TANKERS
(RESOLUTION A.744(18), AS AMENDED)

 

Annex A.

GUIDELINES ON THE ENHANCED PROGRAMME OF INSPECTIONS DURING SURVEYS OF BULK CARRIERS

 

1. The "Contents" are amended as follows:

 

.1 the existing text of 1.3 is replaced by the following:

 

"1.3 Repairs";

 

.2 the following new item is added after the existing 3.5:

 

"3.6 Additional annual survey requirements for the foremost cargo hold of ships subject to SOLAS regulation XII/9.1";

 

.3 the existing text of 4 to 4.4 is replaced by the following:

 

"4. INTERMEDIATE ENHANCED SURVEY

 

4.1 General

 

4.2 Bulk carriers 5-10 years of age

 

4.3 Bulk carriers 10-15 years of age

 

4.4 Bulk carriers exceeding 15 years of age";

 

.4 the existing text of 6 and 6.1 is deleted and 7, 8 and 9 are renumbered as 6, 7 and 8;

 

.5 the following new appendices 4 and 5 are added in annex 8 after appendix 3:

 

"Appendix 4. Ore carriers - Thickness measurement and typical transverse section indicating longitudinal and transverse members

 

Appendix 5. Ore carriers - Thickness measurement and close-up survey requirements";

 

.6 the following new annexes 11 and 12 are added after annex 10:

 

"Annex 11. Guidelines for the gauging of the vertically corrugated transverse watertight bulkhead between holds Nos.1 and 2

 

Annex 12. Additional annual survey requirements for the foremost cargo hold of ships subject to SOLAS regulation XII/9.1"

 

2. The following new paragraphs 1.2.15 and 1.2.16 are added after the existing paragraph 1.2.14:

 

"1.2.15 A prompt and thorough repair is a permanent repair completed at the time of survey to the satisfaction of the surveyor, therein removing the need for the imposition of any associated condition of classification.

 

1.2.16 Convention means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended."

 

3. The existing text of section 1.3 is replaced by the following:

 

"1.3 Repairs

 

1.3.1 Any damage in association with wastage over the allowable limits (including buckling, grooving, detachment or fracture), or extensive areas of wastage over the allowable limits, which affects or, in the opinion of the Administration, will affect the ship’s structural, watertight or weathertight integrity, should be promptly and thoroughly repaired. Areas to be considered include:

 

.1 side shell frames, their end attachments or adjacent shell plating;

 

.2 deck structure and deck plating;

 

.3 bottom structure and bottom plating;

 

.4 watertight or oiltight bulkheads, and

 

.5 hatch covers or hatch coamings.

 

Where adequate repair facilities are not available, the Administration may allow the ship to proceed directly to a repair facility. This may require discharging the cargo and/or temporary repairs for the intended voyage.

 

1.3.2 Additionally, when a survey results in the identification of significant corrosion or structural defects, either of which, in the opinion of the Administration, will impair the ship’s fitness for continued service, remedial measures should be implemented before the ship continues in service."

 

4. The following text is added at the end of paragraph 2.6.1:

 

"Annex 11 provides additional thickness measurement guidelines applicable to the vertically corrugated transverse watertight bulkhead between cargo hold Nos.1 and 2 on ships subject to compliance with regulation XII/6.2 of the Convention."

 

5. The following new paragraph 3.6 is added after the existing paragraph 3.5.1:

 

"3.6 Additional annual survey of the foremost cargo hold of ships subject to regulation XII/9.1 of the Convention in accordance with the requirements of annex 12

 

Ships subject to regulation XII/9.1 of the Convention are those meeting all of the following conditions:

 

.1 bulk carriers of 150 m in length and upwards of single side skin construction;

 

.2 carrying solid bulk cargoes having a density of 1,780 kg/m³ and above;

 

.3 constructed before 1 July 1999; and

 

.4 constructed with an insufficient number of transverse watertight bulkheads to enable them to withstand flooding of the foremost cargo hold in all loading conditions and remain afloat in a satisfactory condition of equilibrium as specified in regulation XII/4.3 of the Convention."

 

6. The existing text of section 4 is replaced by the following:

 

"4. INTERMEDIATE ENHANCED SURVEY

4.1 General

 

4.1.1 Items that are additional to the requirements of the annual survey may be surveyed either at the second or third annual survey or between these surveys.

 

4.1.2 The extent of survey is dependent upon the age of the ship as specified in 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4.

 

4.2 Bulk carriers of 5 to 10 years of age

 

4.2.1 Ballast tanks

 

4.2.1.1 For spaces used for salt water ballast, an overall survey of representative spaces selected by the surveyor should be carried out. If such inspections reveal no visible structural defects, the examination may be limited to a verification that the protective coating remains efficient.

 

4.2.1.2 Where POOR coating condition, corrosion or other defects are found in salt water ballast spaces or where protective coating was not applied from the time of construction, the examination should be extended to other ballast spaces of the same type.

 

4.2.1.3 In salt water ballast spaces other than double bottom tanks, where a protective coating is found in POOR condition and it is not renewed, or where soft coating has been applied, or where a protective coating was not applied from the time of construction, the tanks in question should be examined and thickness measurements carried out as considered necessary at annual intervals. When such breakdown of coating is found in salt water ballast double bottom tanks, where a soft coating has been applied, or where a coating has not been applied, the tanks in question should be examined at annual intervals. When considered necessary by the surveyor, or where extensive corrosion exists, thickness measurements should be carried out.

 

4.2.1.4 In addition to the requirements above, areas found to be suspect areas at the previous periodical survey should be overall and close-up surveyed.

 

4.2.2 Cargo holds

 

4.2.2.1 An overall survey of all cargo holds, including close-up survey of sufficient extent, minimum 25% of frames, should be carried out to establish the condition of:

 

.1 shell frames including their upper and lower end attachments, adjacent shell plating, and transverse bulkheads in the forward cargo hold and one other selected cargo hold; and

 

.2 areas found to be suspect areas at the previous periodical survey.

 

4.2.2.2 Where considered necessary by the surveyor as a result of the overall and close-up survey as described in 4.2.2.1, the survey should be extended to include a close-up survey of all of the shell frames and adjacent shell plating of that cargo hold as well as a close-up survey of sufficient extent of all remaining cargo holds.

 

4.2.3 Extent of thickness measurement

 

4.2.3.1 Thickness measurement should be carried out to an extent sufficient to determine both general and local corrosion levels at areas subject to close-up survey as described in 4.2.2.1. The minimum requirement for thickness measurements at the intermediate enhanced survey are areas found to be suspect areas at the previous periodical survey.

 

4.2.3.2 Where substantial corrosion is found, the extent of thickness measurements should be increased in accordance with the requirements of annex 10.

 

4.2.3.3 The thickness measurement may be dispensed with provided the surveyor is satisfied by the close-up survey, that there is no structural diminution and the protective coating, where applied, remains effective.

 

4.2.3.4 Where the protective coating in cargo holds, as referred to in the explanatory note below, is found to be in GOOD condition, the extent of close-up surveys and thickness measurements may be specially considered by the Administration.

 

Explanatory note:

 

At the time of new construction, all internal and external surfaces of hatch coamings and hatch covers, and all internal surfaces of the cargo holds, excluding the flat tank top areas and the hopper tanks sloping plating approximately 300 mm below the side shell frame and brackets, should have an efficient protective coating (epoxy coating or equivalent) applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation. In the selection of coating, due consideration should be given by the owner to intended cargo conditions expected in service. For existing bulk carriers, where owners may elect to coat or recoat cargo holds as noted above, consideration may be given to the extent of the close-up and thickness measurement surveys. Prior to the coating of cargo holds of existing ships, scantlings should be ascertained in the presence of a surveyor.

 

4.3 Bulk carriers 10 - 15 years of age

 

4.3.1 Ballast tanks

 

4.3.1.1 For bulk carriers:

 

All salt water ballast tanks should be examined. If such inspections reveal no visible structural defects, the examination may be limited to a verification that the protective coating remains efficient.

 

4.3.1.2 For ore carriers:

 

.1 all web frame rings - in one ballast wing tank;

 

.2 one deck transverse - in each of the remaining ballast wing tanks;

 

.3 both transverse bulkheads - in one ballast wing tank;

 

.4 one transverse bulkhead - in each remaining ballast wing tank.

 

4.3.1.3 In addition, the requirements described in 4.2.1.2 to 4.2.1.4 apply.

 

4.3.2 Cargo holds

 

4.3.2.1 An overall survey of all cargo holds, including close-up survey of sufficient extent, minimum 25% of frames, should be carried out to establish the condition of:

 

.1 shell frames including their upper and lower end attachments, adjacent shell plating, and transverse bulkheads of all cargo holds; and

 

.2 areas found to be suspect areas at the previous periodical survey.

 

4.3.2.2 Where considered necessary by the surveyor as a result of the overall and close-up survey as described in 4.3.2.1, the survey should be extended to include a close-up survey of all of the shell frames and adjacent plating of all cargo holds.

 

4.3.3 Extent of thickness measurement

 

4.3.3.1 Thickness measurement should be carried out to an extent sufficient to determine both general and local corrosion levels at areas subject to close-up survey as described in 4.3.2.1. The minimum requirement for thickness measurements at the intermediate enhanced survey are areas found to be suspect areas at the previous periodical survey.

 

4.3.3.2 In addition, the requirements described in 4.2.3.2 to 4.2.3.4 apply.

 

4.4 Bulk carriers exceeding 15 years of age

 

4.4.1 The requirements of the intermediate enhanced survey should be to the same extent as the previous periodical survey required in 2 and 5.1. However, pressure testing of tanks and cargo holds used for ballast is not required unless deemed necessary by the attending surveyor.

 

4.4.2 In application of 4.4.1, the intermediate enhanced survey may be commenced at the second annual survey and be progressed during the succeeding year with a view to completion at the third annual survey in lieu of the application of 2.1.1."

 

7. The existing text of paragraph 5.2.2 is replaced by the following:

 

"5.2.2 Tanks and spaces should be safe for access, i.e. gas-freed, ventilated, and illuminated."

 

8. The text of chapter 6 is deleted and the following chapters 7, 8 and 9 are renumbered accordingly.

 

9. The following new subparagraph 5 is added at the end of existing paragraph 7.3.1 (renumbered paragraph 6.3.1):

 

".5 survey programme as required by 5.1 until such time as the periodical survey has been completed."

 

10. The existing text of section 8.1 (renumbered section 7.1) is replaced by the following:

 

"7.1 General

 

7.1.1 The required thickness measurements, if not carried out by the recognised organization acting on behalf of the Administration, should be witnessed by a surveyor of the recognised organization. The surveyor should be on board to the extent necessary to control the process.

 

7.1.2 The thickness measurement company should be part of the survey planning meeting to be held prior to commencing the survey.

 

7.1.3 In all cases the extend of the thickness measurements should be sufficient as to represent the actual average condition."

 

11. The table in annex 2 is amended as follows:

 

.1 In the second column "5<AGE≤ 10", the existing text of item 6 is replaced by the following:

 

"6. Wind and water strakes in way of transverse sections considered under point 2 above."

 

.2 In the third column "10<AGE≤ 15", the following new item 8 is added at the end:

 

"8. As required by annex 12 for ships subject to compliance with regulation XII/6.2 of the Convention."

 

12. In annex 7, the table headed "Extract of thickness measurements" is amended as follows:

 

.1 The existing text of the heading of the first column is replaced by the following:

 

"Position of substantially corroded tanks/areas or areas with deep pitting"

 

.2 The following new note is added at the end of the table:

 

"3. Any bottom plating with a pitting intensity of 20% or more, with wastage in the substantial corrosion range or having an average depth of pitting of 1/3 or more of actual plate thickness should be noted."

 

13. In annex 8, General, the following new appendices are added to the list of appendices:

 

"Appendix 4. Ore carriers – Thickness measurement and typical transverse section indicating longitudinal and transverse members

 

Appendix 5. Ore carriers – Thickness measurements and close-up surrey requirements"

 

14. In annex 8, the following new appendices 4 and 5 are added after appendix 3:

 

"Appendix 4.
Ore carriers
Thickness measurement and typical transverse section  indicating longitudinal and transverse members

 

 

 

Appendix 5.
Ore carriers
Thickness measurement and close-up survey requirements

 

 

 

15. In annex 10, in the table headed "Deck structure including cross strips, main cargo hatchways, hatch covers, coamings and top side tanks", the existing text of item "a", in the column headed "Extent of measurement", across from the entry "3. Hatch covers" in the column headed "Structural members" is replaced by the following:

 

"a. Side and end skirts, each 3 locations".

 

16. The following new annexes 11 and 12 are added after existing annex 10:

 

"Annex 11.

GUIDELINES FOR THE GAUGING OF THE VERTICALLY CORRUGATED TRANSVERSE WATERTIGHT BULKHEAD BETWEEN HOLDS Nos.1 AND 2

 

1. Gauging is necessary to determine the general condition of the structure and to define the extent of possible repairs and/or reinforcements of the vertically corrugated transverse watertight bulkhead for verification of the compliance with the Bulk carrier bulkhead and double bottom strength standards, defined in regulation XII/1.5 of the Convention.

 

2. Taking into account the buckling model specified in the Bulk carrier bulkhead and double bottom strength standards, defined in regulation XII/1.5 of the Convention, in the evaluation of strength of the bulkhead, it is essential to determine the thickness diminution at the critical levels shown in figures 1 and 2 of this annex.

 

3. The gauging should be carried out at the levels as described below. To adequately assess the scantlings of each individual vertical corrugation, each corrugation flange, web, shedder plate and gusset plate within each of the levels given below should be gauged.

 

Level (a) Ships without lower stool (see figure 1):

 

Locations: