4 Definitions and Technology
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Assembly - IMO Resolution A.866(20) – Guidance for Ships' Crews and Terminal Personnel for Bulk Carrier Inspections – (Adopted on 27 November 1997) - Annex - Guidance for Ships' Crews and Terminal Personnel for Bulk Carrier Inspections - 4 Definitions and Technology

4 Definitions and Technology

  4.1 Bulk Carrier: a bulk carrier is a cargo ship intended for carriage of dry bulk cargoes such as grain, coal, ore, etc., provided with topside tanks at both shoulders and bilge hoppers in both double bottom wings in the cargo space. Below is a typical midship section and general arrangement .

Figure 1 Typical midship section and general arrangement

  4.2 Topside tank: tanks provided in cargo spaces at both shoulders as the space (1) shown in the drawing above.

  4.3 Bilge hopper: a conventional bulk carrier has hopper structures at the both bottom wings in cargo holds. This part of cargo hold is called "bilge hopper". Double bottom tanks in way of bilge hopper are often called "bilge hopper tank". In the diagram, the space is shown as (2).

  4.4 Girder and floor in double bottom: provided in double bottom tanks, "girder" usually indicates a strong frame usually with the full depth provided in ship's longitudinal direction. The girder fitted on the center line is called "center girder", while the others are called "side girders". "Floor" means strong framing in ship's transverse direction provided in double bottom. In double bottom beneath cargo holds, floor plates are usually solid ones with full depth of the tank. In this regard, solid ones are called "solid floors" distinctively from the others.

  4.5 Transverse web in topside tanks: strong framing provided in topside tanks in transverse direction, also called "transverse ring". Of a transverse ring in a topside tank, the part supporting the upper deck is called deck transverse, the part attached to the side shell is called side transverse and the part attached to the bottom is called (topside) bottom transverse.

  4.6 Transverse web in bilge hopper tanks: strong framing provided in the transverse direction in a bilge hopper tank. Transverse webs are called "bilge hopper transverse", "side transverse" and "bottom transverse" in accordance with the name of the hull members to which they are attached.

  4.7 Framing of various kinds: on a typical bulk carrier, framing is designed as a longitudinal system in topside and double bottom tanks and as transverse system at cargo hold side shell. Framing fitted in ship's longitudinal direction is called "longitudinals". To identify them in detail, the name of the plate they are attached to is added such as "deck longitudinals", "side longitudinals", "bottom longitudinals", etc. Framing attached to the side shell in the cargo holds are called "hold frames", "side frames", "main frames", "shell frames", etc.

Figure 2 Typical cross section of cargo ship (bulk carrier)


Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.