In-depth | CLASSIFICATION Extended drydocking schemes on the way
A leading ship registry and a classification society are both proposing schemes to extend drydocking intervals, in a move which could hit the global shiprepair sector quite hard.
a bid to help provide the flexibility required by shipowners and operators in the current difficult economic climate. Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and classification society regulations provide that a minimum of two exterior inspections of the ship’s bottom should be held during the five-year validity period of the Safety Construction Certificate. However, the Liberian Registry claims it is widely recognised, by classification societies and by others, that hull coatings have advanced over the years and that new products are now available which are more durable and which last longer than the products and technology which were available when these rules were draſted. A statement from the registry, one of the world’s largest, said: “Te result is a reduction in the need for frequent drydocking to maintain and repaint, and a recognition that drydocking cycles are no longer inexorably linked to class renewal cycles.” Te Liberian Registry programme defines
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the requirements which need to be fulfilled so that owners can keep their ships in lay-up with valid statutory certificates, or keep them running in order to earn money. Te class renewal would be done via in-water surveys and the ships could get authorisation to be drydocked later. The scheme will permit a qualified ship to be drydocked every 7.5 years, provided that two consecutive in-water surveys are satisfactorily conducted during the intervening period. According to the Liberian Registry, the
scheme would continue until the ship reaches fifteen years of age, but could possibly be extended to twenty years, subject to satisfactory service experience. Flag administration and classification society approval would be required in each case. Preparatory reviews, suitably documented, would be required prior to the introduction of the scheme, covering items such as service experience with high-resistance hull coating systems and with applicable rudder and stern-bearing
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he Liberian Registry has developed a pilot scheme to extend compulsory drydocking intervals to 7.5 years, in
Drydocking intervals may increase to 7.5 years under proposals submitted by the Liberian Registry and GL.
arrangements, and a range of condition and maintenance reports. Meanwhile Germanischer Lloyd (GL) has
unveiled its new extended dry-docking (EDD) option for container vessels, general cargo ships and multi-purpose dry cargo vessels. Tis also offers owners and operators the chance to extend the dry-docking period from five to 7.5 years. According to Matthias Galle, GL’s vice president for classification and technical matters, “We are convinced that owners who implement the current technological options, and who maintain a stringent planned maintenance programme, can take advantage without undermining quality or safety.” To assure the highest levels of quality
and safety, only ships meeting GL’s entry requirements are allowed into the programme. These requirements include flag state programme approval and the fitting out of the ship with GL class notation IW (in-water). All ships must have a GL-approved planned maintenance system for the hull, such as GL HullManager, as well as for machinery. In addition, the ship must be fitted with a shaſt bearing and sealing system of approved design with implementation of regular monitoring procedures.
For newbuildings, the hull dry film
thickness must be a minimum of 300µm, excluding anti-fouling, and the ship must be fitted with anodes prepared for 7.5 years and/ or have an impressed current system installed and maintained. For fleet in service ships, ballast water tanks must maintain a “good” condition according to IACS Rec. 87, and the vessel must be free of any condition of class concerning underwater parts. In all cases, GL reserves the right to suspend the programme at any time if it is determined that an out-of- water inspection is necessary. In addition, if there is a change in owner or flag, EDD approval may be waived and a dry-docking immediately required. For companies interested in getting more
detailed knowledge of GL’s EDD programme, GL Academy is offering a half-day seminar, aimed mainly at fleet managers and superintendents. During this seminar, programme requirements, criteria and all necessary documentation will be presented in detail, and an example of the complete process from initial application for entry into the programme through to acceptance will be explained. Te first training dates will be available in early May 2010. SRCT
Shiprepair and Conversion Technology 2nd Quarter 2009
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