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Bulk
Carrier Safety
FSA
and HAZID Studies
In
light of the continuing U.K. coordinated effort in undertaking an
international collaborative formal safety assessment of single deck
bulk carriers with topside and hopper tanks and recognizing that
an objective of the study is to better inform IMO with regard to
future decisions on measures to improve the safety of bulk carriers,
the MSC proposed that the scope of the study be modified to include
operational aspects related to life-saving appliances, ballast water
exchange at sea and machinery configurations. Discrete tasks, based
on IMO FSA guidelines, will be carried out over a two year period.
The
IACS hazard identification study on the watertight integrity of
the fore end structure of bulk carriers, including the design and
operation of closures and systems serving cargo holds and tanks
in the fore end of bulk carriers including hatchcovers, airpipes,
ventilation trunks, bilge alarms and sounding and emergency pumping
systems, was considered by the MSC to provide useful input to the
FSA effort. 4.16
BC
Code Amendments
The
Code of Safe Practice of Solid Bulk Cargoes was amended by approval
of a new MSC/Circ.921. The Circular provides characteristic properties
and stowage and separation requirements for peat moss and brown
coal (lignite) briquettes. 8.6
Interpretations
of SOLAS Chapter XII
The
MSC adopted the following interpretations relative to bulk carriers
under SOLAS Chapter XII.
Double
sides
- The MSC adopted resolution MSC.89(71) defines bulk carriers
of single side skin construction as a bulk carrier where
one or more holds are bounded by the side shell only or by an internal
second boundary spaced at a distance from the side shell of less
than 760mm for bulk carriers built before 1 January 2000 and 1000
mm for bulk carriers built on/after that date.
Bulk
carriers of single side skin construction which are built before
1 July 1999 are subject to flooding of the foremost cargo hold and
must, inter alia, satisfy the damage stability and structural survivability
requirements of SOLAS XII/Regs 4.2 & 6. Bulk carriers of single
side skin construction built on or after 1 July 1999 are subject
to flooding of each cargo hold and must satisfy the requirements
of SOLAS XII/Regs. 4.1 & 5. 4.14
Cargo
density -
On/after 1 July 1999, the declaration of solid bulk cargo density,
when between 1250 to 1780 kg/m3, must be verified by
an accredited testing organization when being carried by existing
bulk carriers built before 1 July 1999, unless the ship fully complies
with SOLAS Chapter XII for bulk carriers carrying cargoes with densities
of 1780 kg/m3 and above. To facilitate a uniform method
of testing and recording the density and characteristics of bulk
cargoes, the MSC adopted recommended performance specifications
as contained in MSC/Circ.908. 4.15
A
decision whether or not bulk carriers carrying break bulk cargoes
(with stowage factors of 0.56 m3/ton or less) should
be subject to the provisions of SOLAS Chapter XII has been held
in abeyance pending the outcome of the collaborative formal safety
assessment study of bulk carriers as noted above. 4.17
Restricted
Loading Designation
– The MSC clarified the criteria for determining when the solid
triangle shown below is to be assigned to the sides of existing
bulk carriers built before 1 July 1999 as per regulation XII/8.3.
The triangle is required if -- in order to achieve compliance with
the structural survivability requirements of SOLAS XII/6 -- operating
restrictions either limit the ship’s deadweight/draft or specify
homogeneous or specific distribution of cargo in the forward two
holds. General restrictions on homogenous loading or on the mass
of packaged goods do not constitute a basis for assignment of the
triangle. 4.14
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