CLASSIFICATION AFTER CONSTRUCTION CHANGE OF FLAG

Revision of 27 September 2022

SCOPE

Scope :

It describes the tasks to be carried out for the examination of :

  • intact stability files,

  • grain loading files,

  • damage stability calculations for reduced freeboard, MARPOL 73/78, Chemical and Gas Codes, cargo ships complying with Solas Part B-1, passenger ships, mobile offshore drilling units and other specific units.

INTACT STABILITY FILE

Principles

The intact stability file is requested for the issuance of the class certificate and when Recognised Organisation (RO) is authorized by the flag far the issuance of the ILLC certificate. The principles governing the examination of intact stability files are as follows :

  1. For ships with an international load-line certificate issued by or on behalf of a government having ratified the applicable ILLC, it is assumed that the authority having issued this certificate has checked that Regulation 10(2) of ILLC was complied with.

  2. The owner's responsibility is to supply the Society with a copy of the examined stability documents and a copy of ILLC certificate (For most of the cases, the certificate should be valid ones).

Examination

When the documents are received, the following items should be checked :

  • make sure that an ILLC certificate is requested,

  • make sure that the Society is empowered to examine stability documents (please refer to the database "Flag Code"),

  • make sure that the LPO is empowered to examine stability documents for the ship considered according to the local delegations. If it is not so, send all documents to Head Office / DA-Stab,

  • ascertain whether the necessary documents are "existing" or were drawn up recently and never examined.

If documents are "existing", the following items should be provided by the Marine Center :

  • the ship had a valid ILLC certificate before the change of class or flag ; if not, investigate the CM the reasons. For ships which had a national load line certificate (non convention ships, fishing vessels, ships engaged only in national trade, etc ...) the intact stability file is to be examined as for new buildings,

  • the file is complete. It should at least contain :

    • capacity plan and a table giving for all tanks, their volume, KG, LCG and free surface inertia as a function of the filling level,

    • hydrostatic particulars,

    • cross curves or tables.

    • a set of loading conditions.

    • as far as practicable : justification of the lightship particulars

  • all the loading conditions as displayed satisfy the applicable stability criteria,

  • the loading conditions are consistent with the assigned load-line marks (summer, tropical and timber summer marks if relevant). In practice, this condition is considered as fulfilled if the maximum midship draught of the loading conditions is not less than the freeboard draught by more than 50 mm.

When the file is acceptable, advise CM accordingly for the issuance of the definitive load-line certificate and the definitive class certificate using the form in NOTE TO CM A copy of this form with the documents shall be forwarded to DAStab for filing or uploaded in VPM.

When Recognised Organisation (RO) is requested to issue an attestation for a CAC and/or a change of flag, the form of attestation in Attestation has to be used for ships with a Dutch flag and ATTESTATION for the other flags (except specific prescription as detailed below when an examination report is requested by the flag, instead of an attestation).

When the flag authorities request it (ships flying French, English, Italian or Norwegian (NIS) flag) an examination report is granted and the file is stamped.

If documents are "drawn up recently and never examined", the intact stability file is to be examined as for new buildings.

When the documents are stamped by another flag or classification society with a reference to a letter of approval or a report, a copy of this letter / report is also to be provided.

GRAIN LOADING FILE

Grain loading file

The examination of grain loading file is only performed at the owner's request. When documents forming part of a grain loading file have been transmitted with the intact stability file, the owner should always be advised thereof. He should then be requested to confirm whether the grain loading file is to be examined or not for the new flag, and advised about missing documents or additional copies to be submitted.

Two possibilities may occur :

  1. The grain loading file bears a stamp justifying examination by a recognized Classification Society by Recognised Organisation (RO) (ABS - DNV - GL - LRS - NK - PRS - RINA - SR). Then, the following items should be checked to make sure that :

    • the file is complete. It should at least contain :

      • capacity plan with the geometrical properties of each compartment (Volume, KG, LCG, free surface inertia, frame extension),

      • tables giving the heeling moment for full hold for "trimmed" and "untrimmed ends" if relevant,

      • table or curves giving the heeling moment for slack holds,

      • hydrostatic particulars covering the complete range of draughts,

      • form stability particulars (cross curves) with an indication as to watertight volumes above the freeboard deck which have been considered in the computation of these curves,

      • table of maximum permissible heeling moments,

      • detailed loading conditions with at least the standard conditions with their trim and stability particulars : GMo, draughts above base or under side of keel to be precised, GZ curve, indication of down-flooding angle q f and the heeling moments and grain stability criteria (heel, residual area),

    • the criteria are complied with in all loading conditions,

    • the draught amidships does not exceed the assigned freeboard draught for all loading conditions.

  2. In all other cases, the grain loading file is to be examined completely as for new buildings.

    In all cases, an examination report is drawn up and documents stamped.

DAMAGE STABILITY FOR REDUCED FREEBOARD

Damage stability for reduced freeboard

The conditions of calculation of damage stability are defined in Regulation 27 of ILLC 1966 or in IMO Resolutions A.320 and A.514(13). These calculations are of no use for the Master to estimate the ship's stability, according to Regulation 10 (2) and are not often on board the ship but can be collected from the previous class society.

The lines plan is to be submitted.

The following items shall be checked :

  • find out whether the calculations have been carried out according to Regulation 27 or to Resolution A.320,

  • make sure that the statutory loading condition at the summer draught is provided,

  • make sure that the worst statutory damage cases have been calculated,

  • make sure that the criteria are complied with.

If the above checks lead to a positive conclusion, advise CM and send the documents to DA-Stab for filing or upload them in VPM.

If the owner cannot supply with satisfactory documents a letter / statement from the previous class society can be requested or new calculations are to be carried out.

MARPOL 73/78 and AMENDEMENTS

MARPOL 73/78 and amendements

Two possibilities may occur :

  1. If the ship has not been modified and the damage stability file bears a stamp justifying an examination by a recognized Classification Society by Recognised Organisation (RO) (ABS - DNV - GL - LR - CCS - KR - RS - CRS - IRS - PRS - NK - RINA) the following items shall be checked :

    • make sure that the lines plan has been provided,

    • make sure that the submitted loading cases are the same as those included in the intact stability booklet,

    • make sure that the worst loading conditions and damage cases have been calculated,

    • make sure that the criteria are complied with.

    The following documents are also to be requested :

    • previous valid IOPP certificate,

    • when applicable : letter / report referenced on the approval stamp of the previous flag / classification society.

    If the above checks lead to a positive conclusion, advise CM for granting of relevant certificate and send the documents to DA-Stab for filing or upload them into VPM.

    If the ship's flag has changed an examination report is drawn up and the file is stamped. Advise CM for granting the relevant certificate and send the documents to DA-Stab for filing or upload them into VPM.

  2. In all other cases, the damage stability documents are to be examined completely as for new buildings.

IBC CODE - IGC CODE and AMENDEMENTS

IBC Code - IGC Code and amendments :

Two possibilities may occur :

  1. If the ship has not been modified and the damage stability file bears a stamp justifying an examination by a recognized Classification Society by Recognised Organisation (RO) (ABS - DNV - GL - LR - CCS - KR - RS - CRS - IRS - PRS - NK - RINA) the following items shall be checked :

    • make sure that the lines plan has been provided,

    • make sure that the submitted loading cases are the same that these included in the intact stability booklet,

    • make sure that the worst loading conditions and damage cases have been calculated,

    • make sure that the criteria are complied with.

    The following documents are also to be requested :

    • previous valid Fitness Certificate,

    • when applicable : letter / report referenced on the approval stamp of the previous flag / classification society.

    If the above checks lead to a positive conclusion and if the ship's flag has not changed,advise CM for granting the relevant certificate and send the documents to DAStab for filing or upload them into VPM.

    If the ship's flag has changed an examination report is drawn up and the file is stamped. Advise CM for granting the relevant certificate and send the documents to DAStab for filing or upload them into VPM.

  2. In all other cases, the damage stability documents are to be examined completely as for new buildings.

CARGO SHIPS (Part B-1 of SOLAS)

Cargo ships :

Two possibilities may occur :

  1. If the ship has not been modified and the damage stability file bears a stamp justifying an examination by a recognized Classification Society by Recognised Organisation (RO) (ABS - DNV - GL - LR - CCS - KR - RS - CRS - IRS - PRS - NK - RINA) the following items shall be checked :

    • make sure that the lines plan has been provided,

    • make sure that the deepest subdivision draught is the same as the one in the intact stability booklet corresponding to the summer draught,

    • make sure that the minimum GM curve / maximum KG curve is also inserted in the intact stability booklet and covers both intact and damage stability requirements. If the loading conditions are not drawn up on the curves, make sure that the loading conditions are located on the permissible side of the curve.

    The following documents are also to be requested :

    • previous valid Safety Construction certificate,

    • when applicable : letter / report referenced on the approval stamp of the previous flag / classification society.

    If the above checks lead to a positive conclusion, advise CM for granting of relevant certificate and send the documents to DA-Stab for filing or upload them into VPM.

    If the ship's flag has changed an examination report is drawn up and the file is stamped. Advise CM for granting the relevant certificate and send the documents to DA-Stab for filing or upload them into VPM.

  2. In all other cases, the damage stability documents are to be examined completely as for new buildings.

PASSENGER SHIPS, MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS and OTHER SPECIFIC UNITS

Passenger ships, mobile offshore drilling units and other specific units:

For passenger ships, mobile offshore drilling units and other specific units :

Apply to Head Office.

Appendix — NOTE TO CM

NOTE TO CM

Please see attached file (Note to CM Appendix this procedure.doc).

Appendix — ATTESTATION

Attestation :

Please see attached file (ATTESTATION CAC REV 1.doc).

Appendix — Attestation

Attestation

Please see attached file (ATTESTATION CAC CHANGE OF FLAG TO NL.doc)