Question

(i) Define the'-meaning of the term "conditions of assignment" as applied to ships.

(ii) State how conditions of assignment contribute towards the watertight integrity of ships.

(iii) Give reasons why conditions of assignment need periodic inspection, giving specific instances where they can be found to be less than fully effective.

Answer

(i) Vessels are surveyed annually to ensure that they fulfil the "Conditions of Assignment" as laid down in the Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Rules 1968.

These are conditions which must be met before freeboards are assigned to a ship and a Load Line Certificate issued, which enables the load lines and mark to be engraved in and painted on the side of the ship.

(ii) The conditions are concerned with water tight integrity of the hull and state requirements for the strength, height of sills and coamings and closing arrangements of items such as superstructure end bulkheads, hatchways, machinery space openings, openings in freeboard and superstructure decks, ventilators, air pipes, cargo ports, freeing ports, side scuttles, scuppers, inlets and discharges also means provided for the protection of the crew.

The ship must have sufficient structural strength, stability and in the case of Type A, B-60 and B-100 vessels, the ability to withstand flooding of compartments

(iii) Conditions of assignment need periodic inspection to ensure that the ships condition is such that those conditions of assignment are still being fulfilled.

Examples of items that may no longer fulfil the conditions could be:
Hatch covers, cargo ports, watertight doors scuttles and other closing appliances (corrosion, reduced resilience or damage of seals, locking arrangements damaged)

Coamings of hatches, ventilators, airpipes etc. (corrosion, especially at weather deck level) Freeing ports or scuppers blocked, valves not working. Gangways, rails, bulwarks damaged or not secure