1 ThisguidanceistoassistportStatecontrolofficers(PSCOs)incheckingthestructureaswell as the operational aspects of bulk carriers during port State control inspections.
2 In addition to this guidance, PSCOs should refer to the following documents:
.1 SOLAS chapter XII - Additional safety measures for bulk carriers;
.2 resolutionA.862(20)-CodeofPracticefortheSafeLoadingandUnloadingofBulk
Carriers;
.3 resolutionA.866(20)-Guidancetoships'crewsandterminalpersonnelforbulk carrier inspections; and
.4 resolution A.744(18) as amended - Guidelines on the enhanced programme of inspections during surveys of bulk carriers and oil tankers.
3 PSCOs are further invited to consult the following IACS publications, if available:
.1 Bulk Carriers: Guidelines for Surveys, Assessment and Repair of Hull Structure;
.2 BulkCarriers:GuidanceandInformationonBulkCargoLoadingandDischargingto
Reduce the Likelihood of Over-Stressing the Hull Structure; and
.3 Bulk Carriers ñ Handle With Care.
Documentation
4 Whilecheckingtheship'sdocumentation,PSCOsshouldpayparticularattentiontothe loadingplan,cargodistributionandloading/unloadingsequencestoascertainthattheshipisloaded in accordance with the approved loading manual.
5 PSCOsshouldpayparticularattentiontothetanktoplimitation,thebendingmomentsand shearingforcesaswellasthecargodistribution. Pastexperienceshowsthatshipsoftenloadin patternsnotapprovedinthestabilitymanual. For example, on board a nine-hold bulk carrier, the approvedstabilitymanualoftenhasanannotationstatingthatholds2,4,6and8maybeempty. Thisimpliesthatallevennumberholdsmustbeemptyatthesametime. Inmanycases,ship officersbelievethatsuchanannotationallowsforanycombinationoftheseholdstobeempty, which is not the case.
6 PSCOsshouldrememberthatloadingpatternsnotincludedintheapprovedstabilitymanual shouldnotbeacceptedsincethismightcreateexcessivelocalstresstotheship'sstructureregardless of the fact that the bending moments and shearing forces are within the permissible values.
7 WhenitisestablishedduringaPSCinspectionthatashiploadingpatternisnotperthe approvedstabilitymanuals,thePSCOshouldrequestconfirmationinthefirstinstancebytheship's officers,bytheflagStateadministration,ortherecognizedorganizationworkingonbehalfofthe flagState,thattheproposedloadingplan/distributionisacceptable. Intheeventthatashipisfound non-compliantwiththeapprovedstabilitymanualsduringunloadingoperations,thePSCOshould inform the master and chief officer that future loading should be within the limitation of the approved stability manual.
8 Initially,acheckofthesurveyreportfilemayidentifypossiblesuspectareasrequiring inspection. TheprovisionscontainedinresolutionA.744(18)asamended,requireaspecificsurvey programme which includes access arrangements and, when necessary, the requirements for a close-upsurveyandthicknessmeasurements. Asurvey report file is required to be held on board consisting of:
.1 reports of structural surveys;
.2 condition evaluation reports;
.3 thickness measurement reports; and
.4 survey planning document (or equivalent) containing the following information:
.4.1 main particulars;
.4.2 plan of tanks and holds;
.4.3 list of tanks and holds and usage, corrosion protection and condition of coating;
.4.4 corrosion risk in tanks; and
.4.5 design risk of structures.
Inspection
9 Ideally,inspectionsshouldbecarriedoutbyateamofatleasttwoPSCOsandinclude,at least,onepersonwithanin-depthknowledgeofshipstructures.Inaloadingporttheyshouldbe readytoboardtheshiponarrival. Inadischargeport,informationonthelikelydischargesequences shouldbeobtained,wherepossible,sothattheinspectioncanbecarriedoutwhenholdsbecome available.
10 Accesstotheupperpartsofholdsisproblematic.Laddersmayhelpandexperiencehas shown that using binoculars along with high-powered torches can assist in making an initial assessmentoftheconditionofinaccessibleparts.Iftheconditionofotherpartsoftheholdandthe hull structure in general give rise to concern,theflagState/recognizedorganizationshouldbe consulted to consider the need for a more detailed survey.
11 Theimpressionofhullmaintenanceandgeneralstateondeck,theconditionofitemssuchas ladders, hatches, air pipes, guardrails, visible evidence of previously effected repairs, and the conditionofdeckmachineryshouldinfluencethePSCO'sdecisiononwhethertomakethefullest possible examination of the hull.
12 Special attention should be given to areas of high stress and bending moments, such as:
.1 immediately forward of the engine-roombulkhead;
.2 over the midships half-length; and
.3 no.1 hold side shell framing and top and bottomconnections (panting region).
13 Particularattentionshouldbegiventoareaswherefracturing,cracks,distortionorexcessive wastagecanoccur. Theseareasareillustratedinthediagramsinappendices1and2*.Theweather tightintegrityofhatchesandclosuresisparticularlyimportantonorecarrierswithminimalreserve buoyancy.
14 Common defects are:
.1 cracking at hatch corners;
.2 plate panel buckling of cross deck strips and stiffening structure;
.3 cracking of hatch coamings;
.4 cracking at intersection of the inner bottomplating and the hopper plating;
.5 grab and bulldozer damage to the side shell frames lower brackets;
.6 grab damage to the inner bottomplating, hopper and lower stool plating;
.7 cracking at side shell frame bracket toes;
.8 both general and localized corrosion of side shell frames and brackets;
.9 cracking at fore and aft extremities oftopside tank structures;
.10 corrosion within topside tanks; and
.11 general corrosion and cracking of transverse bulkheads.
15 If tanks or holds are to be inspected, the PSCO should ensure it is safe to enter. The requirementsoftheCodeofSafePracticeforSolidBulkCargoes,AppendixF,apply. Additional safeguards could include carrying personal devices capable of determining the safety of tank atmospheres or employing the services of a chemist to check the atmosphere.
16 Permanentseawaterballasttanksrepresentoneofthemostlikelyproblemareasand,if inspected, the following aspects should be considered:
.1 thepaintconditionincoatedballasttanksandconditionofanodes. Inballasttanks, ratesofcorrosionintheorderof1mmperyearmaybeencountered,dependingon whethertheyarecoatedorprotectedbyanodes. Insomeships,onlytheullagespace
iscoatedwiththeremainderprotectedbyanodes. Duringemptyperiods,thiscan result in corrosion on uncoated structures, which remain wet;
.2 intanksusedforballastthatmaybesubjecttovariabledepthsofseawater,for exampleforepeaktanks,itisoftenthecasethatthereislittlewastagetopandbottom, butsignificantwastageovercentralregions.Attentionshouldbepaidtolongitudinal stiffeners and brackets at the collision bulkhead to shell junction;
.3 longitudinalshellstiffenersindedicatedballasttanks,particularlyinareasadjacent to bulkheads and web frames; and
.4 underdecklongitudinalsinballasttanks.Wastageisusuallythemostseverecloseto thedeckhead. Thismayresultinthefilletwelds,attachinglongitudinalstothedeck, being wasted thus leading to detachment of the longitudinals and consequent buckling of deck plates.
17 Whereafracture,whichhasnotbeencausedbycontactdamage,isfoundinthemainhull structureononesideofaship,thecorrespondingstructureontheoppositesideshouldbeexamined toseeifasimilarfailurehasoccurred. Fracturesofthisnatureareofconcern,especiallywhere corrosion is associated with the failure and may have been a contributing factor.
18 Ifrelevant,thePSCOmaycheckthatthenecessarycalculationshavebeenmadetoensure bendingandshearstressesaremaintainedwithinmaximumlimitsbothduringloading/dischargeand theensuingvoyage.Thisisespeciallyimportantwherehighdensitycargoesarecarriedorwherethe loading/ballastingarrangementisofadifferentconfigurationtothatdescribedintheship'sloading manual.
19 Inreachinganydecisionregardingadetention,thePSCOshouldconsidertheseaworthiness andnottheageoftheship,makingallowanceforfairwearandtearovertheminimumacceptable scantlings. Wherethereisdoubt,theclassification society should advise the accepted diminution ratesofstructuralmembers. Damagenotaffectingseaworthinessshouldnotconstitutegroundsfor judgingthatashipshouldbedetained,norshoulddamagetemporarilybuteffectivelyrepairedfora voyagetoaportforpermanentrepairs. However,inhisassessmentoftheeffectofdamages,the PSCO should have regard to the location of crew accommodation and whether the damage substantially affects its habitability.
20 Anyproposalsfrom theflagStateorclassificationsocietyshouldbeconsideredcarefully.
Specificationofrepairsistheresponsibilityoftheclassificationsocietysurveyorandneedonlybe agreedtobythePSCO. Intheeventthattheproposalsareacceptable,careshouldbetakentoensure thattheflagStateandclassificationsocietyoverseetherepairsandcleartheshipbeforearequestto
lift the detention is made.
21 AnyproposalbytheflagStatetoallowtheshiptomakeasinglevoyagetoarepairyard should be in accordance with chapter 4.7 of resolution A.787(19) as amended by resolution A.882(21) on Procedures for port State control.
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* DiagramsintheappendicesarereproducedwiththekindpermissionofIACS,Lloyd'sRegisterandNipponKaijiKyokai.