3 Annual survey

 Annual surveys shall be held within three months before or after the anniversary date from the date of the initial survey or of the date credited for the last renewal survey. The annual survey shall consist of an examination for the purpose of ensuring, as far as practicable, that the hull weather decks, hatch covers, coamings and piping are maintained in a satisfactory condition and shall take into account the service history, condition and extent of the corrosion prevention system of ballast tanks and areas identified in the survey report file.

  3.2.1 An examination of the hull plating and its closing appliances shall be carried out as far as can be seen.

  3.2.2 An examination of watertight penetrations shall be carried out as far as practicable.

  3.3.1 It shall be confirmed that no unapproved changes have been made to the hatch covers, hatch coamings and their securing and sealing devices since the last survey.

  3.3.2 A thorough survey of cargo hatch covers and coamings is only possible by examination in the open as well as closed positions and shall include verification of proper opening and closing operations. As a result, the hatch cover sets within the forward 25% of the ship's length and at least one additional set, such that all sets on the ship are assessed at least once in every five-year period, shall be surveyed open, closed and in operation to the full extent in each direction at each annual survey, including:

• .1 stowage and securing in open condition;

• .2 proper fit and efficiency of sealing in closed condition; and

• .3 operational testing of hydraulic and power components, wires, chains and link drives.

The closing of the covers shall include the fastening of all peripheral, and cross joint cleats or other securing devices. Particular attention shall be paid to the condition of hatch covers in the forward 25% of the ship's length, where sea loads are normally greatest.

  3.3.3 If there are indications of difficulty in operating and securing hatch covers, additional hatch cover sets above those required by 3.3.2, at the discretion of the surveyor, shall be tested in operation.

  3.3.4 Where the cargo hatch securing system does not function properly, repairs shall be carried out under the supervision of the Administration. Where hatch covers or coamings undergo substantial repairs, the strength of securing devices shall be upgraded to comply with annex 11.

  3.3.5 For each cargo hatch cover set, at each annual survey, the following items shall be surveyed:

• .1 cover panels, including side plates, and stiffener attachments that may be accessible in the open position by close-up survey (for corrosion, cracks, deformation);

• .2 sealing arrangements of perimeter and cross joints (gaskets for condition and permanent deformation, flexible seals on combination carriers, gasket lips, compression bars, drainage channels and non-return valves);

• .3 clamping devices, retaining bars, cleating (for wastage, adjustment, and condition of rubber components);

• .4 closed cover locating devices (for distortion and attachment);

• .5 chain or rope pulleys;

• .6 guides;

• .7 guiderails and track wheels;

• .8 stoppers;

• .9 wires, chains, tensioners and gypsies;

• .10 hydraulic system, electrical safety devices and interlocks; and

• .11 end and interpanel hinges, pins and stools where fitted.

  3.3.6 At each hatchway, at each annual survey, the coamings, with plating, stiffeners and brackets shall be checked for corrosion, cracks and deformation, especially of the coaming tops including close-up survey.

  3.3.7 Where considered necessary, the effectiveness of sealing arrangements shall be confirmed and may be proved by hose or chalk testing supplemented by dimensional measurements of seal compressing components.

  3.3.8 Where portable covers, wooden or steel pontoons are fitted, the satisfactory condition of the following shall be confirmed, where applicable:

• .1 wooden covers and portable beams, carriers or sockets for the portable beam, and their securing devices;

• .2 steel pontoons, including close-up survey of hatch cover plating;

• .3 tarpaulins;

• .4 cleats, battens and wedges;

• .5 hatch securing bars and their securing devices;

• .6 loading pads/bars and the side plate edge;

• .7 guide plates and chocks; and

• .8 compression bars, drainage channels and drain pipes (if any).

  3.3.9 The flame screens on vents to all bunker tanks shall be examined.

  3.3.10 Bunker and vent piping systems, including ventilators, shall be examined.

  3.4.1 For double-side skin bulk carriers of 10 to 15 years of age, the following shall be carried out:

• .1 overall survey of two selected cargo holds;

• .2 when considered necessary by the surveyor, or where extensive corrosion exists, thickness measurements shall be carried out. If the results of these thickness measurements indicate that substantial corrosion is found, the extent of thickness measurements shall be increased in accordance with annex 10. These extended thickness measurements shall be carried out before the survey is credited as complete. Suspect areas identified at previous surveys shall be examined. Areas of substantial corrosion identified at previous surveys shall have thickness measurements taken. For bulk carriers built under the IACS Common Structural Rules, the annual thickness gauging may be omitted where a protective coating has been applied in accordance with the coating manufacturer's requirements and is maintained in GOOD condition; and

• .3 all piping and penetrations in cargo holds, including overboard piping, shall be examined.

  3.4.2 For double-side skin bulk carriers over 15 years of age, the following shall be carried out:

• .1 overall survey of all cargo holds;

• .2 when considered necessary by the surveyor, or where extensive corrosion exists, thickness measurements shall be carried out. If the results of these thickness measurements indicate that substantial corrosion is found, the extent of thickness measurements shall be increased in accordance with annex 10. These extended thickness measurements shall be carried out before the survey is credited as complete. Suspect areas identified at previous surveys shall be examined. Areas of substantial corrosion identified at previous surveys shall have thickness measurements taken. For bulk carriers built under the IACS Common Structural Rules, the annual thickness gauging may be omitted where a protective coating has been applied in accordance with the coating manufacturer's requirements and is maintained in GOOD condition; and

• .3 all piping and penetrations in cargo holds, including overboard piping, shall be examined.

 Examination of ballast tanks shall be carried out when required as a consequence of the results of the renewal survey and intermediate survey. When considered necessary by the Administration, or where extensive corrosion exists, thickness measurements shall be carried out. If the results of these thickness measurements indicate that substantial corrosion is found, the extent of thickness measurements shall be increased in accordance with annex 10. These extended thickness measurements shall be carried out before the survey is credited as complete. Suspect areas identified at previous surveys shall be examined. Areas of substantial corrosion identified at previous surveys shall have thickness measurements taken. For bulk carriers built under the IACS Common Structural Rules, the annual thickness gauging may be omitted where a protective coating has been applied in accordance with the coating manufacturer's requirements and is maintained in GOOD condition.

  3.6.1 For ships complying with the requirements of regulation XII/12 of the Convention for hold, ballast and dry space water level detectors, the annual survey shall include an examination and a test, at random, of the water ingress detection systems and of their alarms.

  3.6.2 For ships complying with the requirements of regulation XII/13 of the Convention for the availability of pumping systems, the annual survey shall include an examination and a test, of the means for draining and pumping ballast tanks forward of the collision bulkhead and bilges of dry spaces any part of which extends forward of the foremost cargo hold, and of their controls.