QUESTION

To ensure that a ship remains worthy of its 100 Al classification, annual and special surveys are carried out by classification surveyors. Detail the parts of the ship that should be examined during EACH of the following:

Annual survey;

Special survey.

SOLUTION.

(a) The ship is examined as far as necessary and practical (i.e. as far as can be seen) to establish that the general condition and documentation is satisfactory. Condition is satisfied by inspecting:

The condition of the hull and closing appliances including: weather decks, hatchways, vents, air pipes, casings, scuttles, scuppers, guard rails, freeing ports, gangways, walkways, permanent fittings for cargo;

Anchor and mooring equipment;

Watertight bulkhead penetrations;

Fire protection arrangements;
hatch closing arrangements;

Ballast tank surfaces.

Main and auxiliary machinery

Emergency escape routes.

(b) All the requirements of the Annual Survey must be complied with but in addition greater attention is paid to internal structure, masts and rigging, anchors and cables etc. Special and Annual Surveys become more stringent as the ship becomes older.
Ships less than 5 years old

Ships placed on blocks in dry dock and the following inspections carried out:
Rudder lifted for pintle examination; deep tanks, machinery spaces cleared and cleaned as necessary; bilges cleared; platform plates in machinery spaces lifted;
ceiling, linings and pipe casings removed; paint and rust removed from platework to be gauged.

Ships between 5 and 10 years old

As above plus: Remove ceiling over pillar feet, bottom plating of bulkheads and tunnel sides; chain locker to be cleaned internally; chain cables ranged with anchors for cleaning and inspection.

Ships between 10 and 15 years old

As above plus: Casings of air, sounding, steam and other pipes, ceiling and lining in way of scuttles to be removed; all double bottom and other tanks cleaned before inspection, portions of wood sheathing on decks removed.

Ships between 15 and 20 years old

As above plus: Arrangements for gauging of plating between light and load waterlines (boot topping) and strength deck plating outside the line of openings. Gauging to be done in at least 2 places (paint and rust free) in each strake on each side of the ship within the midship half-length. Ships greater than 20 years old As above plus:

Additional gauging in the remainder of the shell in the boot topping and strength deck plating outside the line of openings (paint and rust free) within the midship half-length.