Annex 12 - Additional Annual Survey Requirements for the Foremost Cargo Hold of Ships Subject to SOLAS Regulation XII/9.1

 In the case of bulk carriers over 5 years of age, the annual survey should include, in addition to the requirements of the annual surveys prescribed in chapter 3 of the present Guidelines, an examination of the following items.

  2.1 For bulk carriers of 5 - 15 years of age:

  2.1.1 An overall survey of the foremost cargo hold, including close-up survey of sufficient extent, minimum 25% of frames, should be carried out to establish the condition of:

• .1 shell frames including their upper and lower end attachments, adjacent shell plating, and transverse bulkheads; and

• .2 areas found to be suspect areas at the previous renewal survey.

  2.1.2 Where considered necessary by the surveyor as a result of the overall and close-up survey as described in 2.1.1 above, the survey should be extended to include a close-up survey of all of the shell frames and adjacent shell plating of the cargo hold.

  2.2 For bulk carriers exceeding 15 years of age:

 An overall survey of the foremost cargo hold, including close-up survey should be carried out to establish the condition of:

• .1 all shell frames including their upper and lower end attachments, adjacent shell plating, and transverse bulkheads; and

• .2 areas found to be suspect areas at the previous renewal survey.

  3.1 Thickness measurement should be carried out to an extent sufficient to determine both general and local corrosion levels at areas subject to close-up survey, as described in 2.1 and 2.2. The minimum requirement for thickness measurements are areas found to be suspect areas at the previous renewal survey. Where substantial corrosion is found, the extent of thickness measurements should be increased with the requirements of annex 10.

  3.2 The thickness measurement may be dispensed with provided the surveyor is satisfied by the close-up survey, there is no structural diminution and the protective coating, where applied, remains effective.

 Where the protective coating, as referred to in the explanatory note below, in the foremost cargo hold is found to be in GOOD condition, the extent of close-up surveys and thickness measurements may be specially considered.

• Explanatory note:

• At the time of new construction, all internal and external surfaces of hatch coamings and hatch covers, and all internal surfaces of the cargo holds, excluding the flat tank top areas and the hopper tanks sloping sloping plating approximately 300 mm below the side shell frame and brackets, should have an efficient protective coating (epoxy coating or equivalent) applied in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation. In the selection of coating due consideration should be given by the owner to intended cargo conditions expected in service.

• For existing bulk carriers, where owners may elect to coat or recoat cargo holds as noted above, consideration may be given to the extent of the close-up and thickness measurement surveys. Prior to the coating of cargo holds of existing ships, scantlings should be ascertained in the presence of a surveyor.