Page 18: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2015)

SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

Tankers & Bulkers & the increased need for software solutions

BY HENDRIK BRUHNS delivery and existing tankers will need Booklet or Loading Manual. However, cant number of tankers during a “spot

Tankers to comply at the ? rst scheduled renewal during actual operations many tank ships check” could not show compliance with

IMO/adopted guidelines for the man- survey after 1 January 2016 (1 July 2016 are loaded to conditions which signi? - stability requirements and thus may pose datory carriage of damage stability veri- for Gas Carriers) but no later than 1 Jan- cantly differ from these standard load- a risk to the environment. It is generally ? cation instruments (software, comput- ers, etc.) onboard all (new and existing) uary 2021. ing conditions. A survey by the MCA understood that since most tank vessels indicated that “more than 50% of vessels use computer programs to evaluate sta- tankers beginning in January 2016.

The Issue are operating in conditions which are not bility and strength for any loading con-

All tank vessels on international voy- in the approved Stability Information dition, there no longer is a practical in-

IMO ages must meet the International Mari- Booklet.” centive to stay with the standard loading

IMO has adopted guidelines and ap- plicable IMO Code amendments for time Organization’s (IMO) requirements In 2010 the Paris Memorandum on conditions. for damage stability. These regulations Port State Control carried out a Con- the mandatory carriage of damage sta- bility veri? cation instruments onboard are contained in the MARPOL Conven- centrated Inspection Campaign to verify Special Dispensation new and existing tankers. Amendments tion for general purpose tankers, the IBC correct damage stability on oil tankers, The Flag Administration may give to MARPOL Annex I, BCH Code, IBC and BCH Codes for bulk chemical carri- chemical tankers and gas carriers. The special dispensation from the provisions

Code, IGC Code and to the Survey ers, and the GC and IGC for gas carriers. reasons for this Concentrated Inspec- of a stability instrument in the following

In 2005 several Port States, led pri- tion Campaign included that inspections instances:

Guidelines under HSSC to mandate the marily by the UK’s Maritime and Coast showed tankers frequently sailing when • tankers where stability is remotely provision of a computer program capable

Guard Agency (MCA), recognized that not complying with damage stability re- veri? ed by a means approved by the Ad- of calculating the applicable damage sta- many tank vessels had onboard docu- quirements or had no means of assess- ministration; bility requirements were agreed. The ap- proval generally applies to the software, mentation to demonstrate compliance ing damage stability or were sailing in • tankers on a dedicated service, with but may include hardware, for example, with these damage stability requirements a loading condition not covered by the a limited number of permutations of when the instrument receives input from only when the ships were loaded in ac- approved Stability Booklet or Loading loading such that all anticipated condi- cordance with the ships standard load- Manual. The Concentrated Inspection tions have been approved; sensors for the contents of tanks.

New tankers will need to comply on ing conditions in the approved Stability Campaign Report stated; that a signi? - • tankers which are loaded within an 18 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • DECEMBER 2015

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