Section 1 General

1.1.1 The requirements of this Chapter apply to tankers equipped with bow/stern loading arrangements to facilitate the transfer of cargo oil from offshore loading terminals, such as loading platforms, loading buoys, FPSOs and FSUs, and are additional to those applicable in other Parts of the Rules. These requirements also apply to submerged turret loading systems where applicable.

1.1.2 Requirements additional to these Rules may be imposed by the National Authority with whom the ship is registered and/or by the Administration within whose territorial jurisdiction the ship is intended to operate.

1.1.3 The materials used are to be suitable for the intended service conditions.

1.2.1 Ships complying with the requirements of this Chapter will be eligible to have one of the following special features notations included in the class notation:

1. Ships fitted with a bow loading system, BLS.

2. Ships fitted with a stern loading system, SLS.

3. Ships fitted with submerged turret loading systems, TLS.

1.3.1 The survey of these items is to be arranged to coincide with hull and machinery surveys, see Pt 1, Ch 3 Periodical Survey Regulations.

1.4.1 In addition to the plans and information required by other relevant Sections of the Rules, the plans and information detailed below are to be submitted:

1. Bow/stern loading:

   Detail drawing(s) showing:

   • Cargo loading equipment.
   • Manifold position and pipeline connections.
   • Mooring equipment layout, including design loads and supporting structure.
   • Fire safety arrangements.
   • Control station(s).

2. Systems and arrangements:

   General arrangement. Plans showing the general arrangement of all areas where the piping systems are located, together with ventilation arrangements and details of openings for any enclosed spaces at the fore and/or aft part of the ship.

   Diagrammatic arrangement. Plans indicating all piping systems arrangements associated with loading systems between cargo tank area and manifold. The plans are to include details of means of isolation, manifold arrangement, means of draining, inerting, cleaning and gas freeing of the cargo piping. Also details of manifold drip tray arrangements with means of drainage, together with any stripping line arrangements, are to be submitted. If the ship is to be installed with a vapour emission control system, plans showing details of piping arrangements are also to be submitted.

   Piping system specification. Piping design information which includes the materials specifications, design pressure, maximum allowable transfer rate, corrosion allowance, and design ambient weather conditions. Also the design forces and moments for which the presentation manifold, together with the terminal flange and associated supporting arrangements have been designed, are to be submitted.

   Operating Manuals. Operating Manuals are to be submitted for approval and provided on board. The Manuals are to include the following information:

   • Particulars of piping arrangements and control systems.
   • Operating criteria.
   • Procedures for connecting/disconnecting the cargo hose, isolation arrangements, inerting, cleaning, gas freeing of the pipe line and drainage of the drip tray.
   • Procedures to be followed during cargo handling operations. These are to include guidance on procedures to be followed in the event of sudden closure of the terminal valve.
   • Detailed communication sequence concerning pre-mooring, mooring, pre-loading, loading and tanker departure phases.

   Where the ship is fitted with dynamic positioning and/or a positional mooring system(s), the information required by Pt 7, Ch 4, 1.3 Information and plans required to be submitted 1.3.7 and Pt 7, Ch 8, 1.5 Plans and data submission 1.5.6 is also to be submitted as applicable.

3. Submerged turret loading:

   Detail drawing(s) showing:

   • Arrangement of turret room, including receiving structure, locking mechanism and traction winch equipment with associated supporting structure and design loadings.
   • Turret hatch and operating equipment, including hydraulic power pack and control systems, and cargo loading equipment.
   • Turret room fire safety arrangements.
   • Turret room electrical installations.
   • Piping arrangements for all systems associated with the turret loading.