1 General

  1.1.1 The Guidelines should apply to all self-propelled bulk carriers of 500 gross tonnage and above having single-side skin construction. Where a bulk carrier has a combination of single- and double-side skin construction, the relevant requirements of parts A and B should apply to that construction, as applicable.

  1.1.2 The Guidelines should apply to surveys of hull structure and piping systems in way of cargo holds, cofferdams, pipe tunnels, void spaces within the cargo length area and all ballast tanks. The surveys should be carried out during the surveys prescribed by regulation I/10 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended.

  1.1.3 The Guidelines contain the extent of examination, thickness measurements and tank testing. The survey should be extended when substantial corrosion and/or structural defects are found and include additional close-up survey when necessary.

  1.2.1 Bulk carrier is a ship which is constructed generally with single deck, top-side tanks and hopper side tanks in cargo spaces, and is intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk and includes such types as ore carriers and combination carriers.

  1.2.2 Ballast tank is a tank which is used for water ballast and includes side ballast tanks, ballast double bottom spaces, top-side tanks, hopper side tanks and peak tanks.

  1.2.3 Spaces are separate compartments including holds and tanks.

  1.2.4 Overall survey is a survey intended to report on the overall condition of the hull structure and determine the extent of additional close-up surveys.

  1.2.5 Close-up survey is a survey where the details of structural components are within the close visual inspection range of the surveyor, i.e. preferably within reach of hand.

  1.2.6 Transverse section includes all longitudinal members such as plating, longitudinals and girders at the deck, side and bottom, inner bottom and hopper side plating, longitudinal bulkheads, and bottom plating in top wing tanks.

  1.2.7 Representative spaces are those which are expressed to reflect the condition of other spaces of similar type and service and with similar corrosion prevention systems. When selecting representative spaces account should be taken of the service and repair history onboard and identifiable critical and/or suspect areas.

  1.2.8 Suspect areas are locations showing substantial corrosion and/or are considered by the surveyor to be prone to rapid wastage.

  1.2.9 Substantial corrosion is an extent of corrosion such that assessment of corrosion pattern indicates a wastage in excess of 75% of allowable margins, but within acceptable limits.

  1.2.10 A corrosion prevention system is normally considered either:

• .1 a full hard coating; or

• .2 a full hard coating supplemented by anodes

Protective coating should usually be epoxy coating or equivalent. Other coating systems may be considered acceptable as alternatives provided that they are applied and maintained in compliance with the manufacturer's specifications. Where soft coatings have been applied, safe access should be provided for the surveyor to verify the effectiveness of the coating and to carry out an assessment of the conditions of internal structures which may include spot removal of the coating. When safe access cannot be provided, the soft coating should be removed.

  1.2.11 Coating condition is defined as follows;

• GOOD condition with only minor spot rusting;

• FAIR condition with local breakdown of coating at edges of stiffeners and weld connections and/or light rusting over 20% or more of areas under consideration, but less than as defined for POOR condition;

• POOR condition with general breakdown of coating over 20% or more of areas or hard scale at 10% or more of areas under consideration.

  1.2.12 Critical structural areas are locations which have been identified from calculations to require monitoring or from the service history of the subject ship or from similar or sister ships to be sensitive to cracking, buckling or corrosion which would impair the structural integrity of the ship.

  1.2.13 Cargo length area is that part of the ship which includes all cargo holds and adjacent areas including fuel tanks, cofferdams, ballast tanks and void spaces.

  1.2.14 Intermediate survey is a survey carried out either at or between the second or third annual survey or between these surveys.

  1.2.15 A prompt and thorough repair is a permanent repair completed at the time of survey to the satisfaction of the surveyor, therein removing the need for the imposition of any associated condition of classification or recommendation.

  1.2.16 Convention means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.

  1.2.17 Specially considered means sufficient close-up inspection and thickness measurements are taken to confirm the actual average condition of the structure under coating.

  1.3.1 Any damage in association with wastage over the allowable limits (including buckling, grooving, detachment or fracture), or extensive areas of wastage over the allowable limits, which affects or, in the opinion of the Administration, will affect the ships structural, watertight or weathertight integrity, should be promptly and thoroughly repaired. Areas to be considered include:

• .1 side shell frames, their end attachments or adjacent shell plating;

• .2 deck structure and deck plating;

• .3 bottom structure and bottom plating;

• .4 watertight or oiltight bulkheads, and

• .5 hatch covers or hatch coamings.

 Where adequate repair facilities are not available, the Administration may allow the ship to proceed directly to a repair facility. This may require discharging the cargo and/or temporary repairs for the intended voyage.

  1.3.2 Additionally, when a survey results in the identification of corrosion or structural defects, either of which, in the opinion of the Administration, will impair the ships fitness for continued service, remedial measures should be implemented before the ship continues in service.

 For bulk carriers of 20,000 tons deadweight and above, two surveyors should jointly carry out the first scheduled renewal survey after the bulk carrier passes 10 years of age, and all subsequent renewal surveys and intermediate surveys. If the surveys are carried out by a recognized organization, the surveyors should be exclusively employed by such recognized organizations.