LRA-1-03 Plans and information to be submitted

LR A-1-03a In addition to the plans and information required by the relevant Chapters of the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, the following are to be submitted for assignment of the LFPF(GF, NG) notation:

(a) Design statement that defines the service profile of the ship, together with a description of the arrangements, essential services as agreed by LR and the intended operating capability and functionality of the main propulsion and auxiliary systems that use gases or other low-flashpoint fuels as fuel.
(b) Risk assessment studies undertaken to a recognised standard in accordance with LR’s ShipRight Procedure for Risk Based Certification (RBC) and associated annexes. The studies are to be documented so that the risks and how they are eliminated or mitigated are clearly identified.
(c) Arrangement plans for low-flashpoint fuel bunkering stations, low-flashpoint fuel storage tanks, process equipment and machinery, and their location relative to high fire risk areas, accommodation, service and control spaces, water ballast, oil fuel, and other tanks containing flammable substances.
(d) Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) for all equipment containing low-flashpoint fuel. This is to include all pipework and equipment from the bunker connection through to the engine.
(e) Hazardous area plans (indicating the locations of hazardous areas and their openings, access and ventilation arrangements) and studies are required by Sections 12.3 to 12.5.
(f) Schedule of electrical and mechanical equipment located in hazardous areas.
(g) Fuel system plans. Details are to include the maximum potential generation of gas or vapour and the associated systems to handle it under all envisaged operating conditions.
(h) Plans and details of low-flashpoint fuel storage tanks and pressure vessels, including filling and relief arrangements. For LNG fuel storage tanks, seeChapter LR IV, Information and Plans, of the Rules and Regulations for the Construction and Classification of Ships for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk. Also refer to LR 6.4-01, LR 6.4-05, LR 6.4-27, LR 6.4-29 and LR 6.4-30.
(i) Low-flashpoint fuel process equipment plans (e.g. compressors, heat exchangers, etc.).
(j) Low-flashpoint fuel piping system plans with details of piping design including installation and insulation, ducting, valves and fittings, pressure relief, expansion, and ventilation and purging arrangements.
(k) Evidence of fatigue analysis for all pressurised low-flashpoint fuel piping arrangements as required by LR 7.3-04.
(l) Evidence of piping stress analysis as required by 7.3.4.5 and LR 7.3-03.
(m) Ventilation system plans for the machinery spaces, machinery enclosures or casings including air-locks, ventilation hoods, pipe ducting and any dampers in them, closing appliances and the position of the controls for stopping the system. Plans are to indicate hazardous areas where appropriate.
(n) Enclosure or casing plans for low-flashpoint fuelled machinery/equipment and any airlocks where access is required.
(o) Fixed low-flashpoint fuel gas/vapour detection and alarm system plans.
(p) Description of emergency shutdown arrangements, including a list of control, monitoring and alarm points.
(q) Operating manuals that describe the installation particulars, together with operating and maintenance instructions to cover operating modes, start-up, shutdown and fault conditions. Procedures to update safety, alarm or control systems are to be included and are to comply with the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 1 Control Engineering Systems of Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships. Equipment manufacturers’ instructions are to include the drawings and diagrams necessary for start-up commissioning, maintenance, inspection, checking of correct operation, repair of the machinery, the use of correct spares and tools, and useful instructions with regard to safety.
(r) Description and plans of low-flashpoint fuel control and monitoring systems and fuel changeover arrangements for dual-fuelled machinery, including line diagrams of control circuits and lists of monitoring, control and alarm points.
(s) Quality assurance plans for sourcing, design, installation and testing of all components used in the low-flashpoint fuel system installed with the low-flashpoint fuel machinery.
(t) A concept of operation (ConOp) document, where applicable. This may include a statement of an Owner’s intentions for the operation of the ship, description of ship’s intended service in terms of purpose and function and is to include, but not be limited to, information on the following: crewing, operational speeds, wave heights, displacements, service area, temperatures and motions; arrangements under reasonably foreseeable, normal and abnormal conditions. The ConOp is to be provided by the Owner. LR may accept alternative documents where these provide the information which would be included within the ConOp, in such cases the relevant sections providing the information required to provide equivalence with the ConOp are to be identified.
(u) Evidence of type testing of the engine/turbine with electronic controls. Alternatively, a test plan is to be submitted to verify on board the safe functionality of the electronic control system during all reasonably foreseeable operational conditions as defined in the CONOP document. The test plan is to identify the foreseeable failure modes.
(v) Schedule of testing at engine/turbine builders and commissioning prior to sea trials, to demonstrate that the low-flashpoint fuelled machinery is capable of operating as described in the design statement. The test schedules are to identify all modes of operation and the sea trials are to include typical port manoeuvres under all intended engine/turbine operating modes.
(w) A cause and effect diagram to indicate the results of activation of each shutdown, shut-off and cut-out associated with the low-flashpoint fuel system including engine operation and bunkering.
(x) A suitable inspection and testing plan for fuel bunkering, storage and supply systems including trials and periodical surveys.
(y) Low-flashpoint fuel bunkering arrangement plans, and operation and maintenance instruction manuals.
(z) Safety philosophy description for the prevention of crankcase explosions. See 10.3.
(aa) Structural fire protection plan showing the main fire zones, the fire compartmentation bulkheads and decks within the main fire zones, including fire risk categorisation of spaces and class of all fire divisions; the plan is to also allow identification of different types of space and their use.
(bb) A plan showing the details of construction of the fire protection bulkheads and decks.
(cc) A plan showing the arrangement of fire main system protecting any space included in the fuel storage hold space, fuel containment system, low-flash point fuel storage tanks, and ventilation trunks to such spaces, if any. The plan is to show the layout and construction of the fire main, including the main and emergency fire pumps, isolating valves, pipe sizes and materials, and the cross-connections to any other system.
(dd) A plan showing the arrangement of fire-fighting systems (e.g. waterspray) protecting any space included in the fuel storage hold space, fuel containment system, low-flash point fuel storage tanks, and ventilation trunks to such spaces, if any. The plan is to provide details that include calculations for the quantities of the media used and the proposed rates of application.
(ee) A plan of the dry powder system protecting the bunkering station. The plan is to show details of system arrangements, including calculations for the quantities of the media used and the proposed rates of application.
(ff) A fire control plan meeting the requirements of SOLAS Ch.II-2 Reg. 15.2.4

LR A-1-03b The following are to be submitted for assignment of the GR(NG,A), GR(NG,S), GR(NG,T), GR(NG,P), GR(NG,E) descriptive notes (or combinations thereof):

(a) GR(NG, A) ‘Approval in Principle’
Submitted plans are to be sufficient to demonstrate compliance, including:
- Design screening completed in accordance with ShipRight Procedure for Risk Based Certification (RBC) requirements.
- Risk assessment to demonstrate the elimination or mitigation of risks from new, novel or alternative designs including the following:
  - (i) Machinery space arrangement for all natural gas fuel equipment and pipework.
  - (ii) Vessel General Arrangement (GA) illustrating the location of vent mast, Fuel Storage Hold Space (FSHS), Tank Connection Space (TCS), Gas Valve Unit (GVU), Fuel Preparation Room (FPR), machinery spaces, bunker stations and fuel tanks.
  - (iii) Ventilation arrangements for spaces with natural gas fuel equipment and pipework (including ventilated ducts and double-walled pipework).
- Hazardous area plan.
- Fire protection arrangements.
- Fuel gas system process flow diagram.
- Other plans related to the specific installation, as required by LR, for example:
  - (i) Bridge visibility plan (only applicable with deck mounted tanks).
  - (ii) Preliminary stability impact evaluation (for tank locations proposed high above the waterline).
(b) GR(NG,S) ‘Structural Reinforcement Installed’
Full details of the structural reinforcement required to support the proposed natural gas fuel tanks are to be submitted. This is to include details of the proposed fuel tank type, size, location and loadings (dynamic and static) to allow verification of the submitted structural design and calculations for the tank support arrangements. Special consideration will be given for designs using Type B and membrane tanks and additional information may be required.
(c) GR(NG, T) ‘Tank installed’
Full details of the tank design are to be submitted as required by the LR Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels, in addition to the tank design; the scope of appraisal shall include all valves directly connected to the tank, tank connection space and pressure relief arrangements. For tanks in under deck locations, the ventilation arrangements and FSHS arrangements are also to be reviewed. The following information is to be submitted:
- Details of the proposed fuel tank type, size, location and loadings (dynamic and static) to allow verification of the submitted structural design and calculations for the tank support arrangements. Special consideration will be given for designs using Type B and membrane tanks, and additional information may be required.
- Detailed design of tank, pressure relief arrangement and master isolation valve(s).
- P&ID for all piping integral to the tank (applicable to Type C tanks).
- Ventilation for tank connection space and fuel storage hold space (if applicable).
- Inert gas and inter-barrier space vent piping plans (if applicable).
- Fire protection (if applicable) and cofferdam arrangement (if applicable), if deviating from prescriptive requirements of SOLAS II-2, Risk assessment in accordance with MSC/Circ.1002.
- Hazardous area plan for tank location and associated ventilation arrangements, including details of electrical equipment to be installed in the identified hazardous areas.
- Risk assessment of the tank design to the extent required for RBC.
(d) GR(NG, P) ‘Piping installed’
Full details of the piping design are to be submitted as required by the LR Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels; the scope of appraisal for this associated character includes all piping from the bunker manifold to the gas storage tank and from the tank master isolation valve to the gas-fuelled consumer(s) including all processing equipment. The following items are to be submitted as a minimum:
- Piping design – bunker piping, natural gas fuel delivery piping.
- Natural gas fuel processing system design.
- Double wall arrangement and GVU (double block and bleed unit(s)).
- Pipe stress analysis (where applicable).
- High pressure analysis (where applicable).
- Structural fire protection plan for fuel preparation room/tank connection space.
- Bunker station and GVU/Gas Combustion Unit (GCU) location and associated hazardous area assessment including details of electrical equipment to be installed in the identified hazardous areas.
- Risk assessment of the piping design to the extent required for RBC.
(e) GR(E) ‘Equipment and Machinery installed’
Full details of the natural gas fuelled equipment and machinery , for which the descriptive note is assigned, are to be submitted in accordance with the plans and information required by the relevant Chapters of the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels and the Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships including details of exhaust gas ducting arrangements and details of associated control and electrical systems.