Lloyd's Register Announces Major Changes For 1978

The latest edition of Lloyd's Register of Shipping "Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships" will be issued later this year and become effective on January 1, 1978. In addition to the many major technical Rule changes which have been made, subscribers will see a great difference in the appearance of the publication.

A complete restructuring exercise has transformed the former bound volume into a loose-leaf A4-size style in which the Rules are organized in seven basic parts with 61 individual chapters. Annual publication will cease, and will be replaced by a system of issuing amended sections to subscribers in January and June of each year.

A major change in philosophy is embodied in the 1978 Rules, and this recognizes the need to verify scantlings by direct calculation in certain areas on a wide range of ship types and components.

It has thus been necessary to document many more of Lloyd's Register's calculation procedures and refer to them directly in the Rules. Where direct calculations are required to be carried out, the loads to be applied and the permissible levels of design criteria are presented to the user. As a complementary operation, Lloyd's Register has installed Hewlett Packard 9830A desk top computers at 12 plan approval offices throughout the world. Programs covering both Rules and direct calculation procedures are available for these machines and for compatible machines owned by clients. Subscribers to this service automatically receive updated programs on cassettes embodying any Rule changes as they are incorporated into the Rules.

Bryan Hildrew, managing director of Lloyd's Register, referred to another important change. "In the new Rules, we have adopted a modular system of grouping together all technical information on specific ship types. Within this new format, a separate chapter relates to the midship section of each ship type. This is most important for designers, as they need to prepare the midship section as quickly as possible to enable them to get out estimates of steel weight and costs for tenders. In addition, where the designer is using Lloyd's Register's own direct calculation procedures, he knows that his plans will be approved with the minimum of delay." The modular system of grouping together information on specific ship types also makes it easier to introduce changes without rewriting or affecting other sections of the Rules.

As regards the section on materials for ship and machinery construction, the new Rules have been rearranged in a more logical sequence, with chapters dealing with different product forms.

New sections have been added to cover the Quality Assurance Scheme for Materials, and in addition detailed requirements for low-temperature steels, austenitic stainless steels and special quality plates with specified through thickness properties, have been added.

On the machinery side of the Rules, the requirements for pumping and piping systems have been completely rewritten and updated.

The Rules for main propulsion shafting have been amended, leading to some reductions in allowable shaft diameters, in particular for some propeller shafts, and lengths of bush bearings. In addition, requirements for keyless propellers have been included, and the manufacturing requirements for gearing have been expanded.

Another important change is that the Rules for marine refrigerated cargo installations have been completely revised to take account of advances in refrigeration engineering technology and changing patterns of refrigerated cargo transportation.

The section on fire detection, prevention and extinction has been completely rewritten.

A major revision of the Rules such as this has involved the coordination of an immense amount of effort in technical, editorial and production departments. A steering committee was established in 1974 to study the format of the Rules and to make recommendations for their improvement. It has also met weekly since January 1976 to provide direction and monitor progress.

Mr. Hildrew said: "We recognized the need to present the Rules in a more logical sequence to make them easier for subscribers to use, and while there have been substantial changes to the 1976 Rules (no Rules were issued in 1977—deliberately), the Society hopes the restructuring of the 1978 Rules will enable the user to more effectively expedite his designs." The Rules are now organized in seven basic parts with 61 individual chapters as follows: PART 1. Classification regulations.

PART 2. Requirements for materials used for ship and machinery construction, including requirements relating to steel plates, castings, forgings, pipes and tubes and welding consumables.

PART 3. The basic structural design philosophy of hull construction, longitudinal strength, aft-end s t r u c t u r e s , superstructures, etc.

PART 4. Hull construction requirements for specific ship types, e.g., tugs, ferries, bulk carriers, oil tankers, and containerships.

(Two new class notations have been introduced — "100A1 Bulk Carrier," and 100A1 Container Ship.") PART 5. Main and auxiliary machinery, including shaft vibration and alignment and piping systems for oil and chemical tankers.

PART 6. Automation and control systems, electrical systems, refrigeration systems, and fire prevention systems.

PART 7. Highly specialized ships to which the format of the rest of the Rules cannot easily be applied, e.g., nuclear ships.

The complete set of the 1978 Rules will cost $150, which includes the service of providing updated sections for a period of five years. However, "Extracts" from the Rules will continue to be available at prices from $1.75 to $29.75, depending on the size and content of each extract. The price includes an updating service.

German, French and Spanish editions of the New Rules will be available early next year.