The common rules for tankers is one of the most fundamental changes in classification history. The aim of the Joint Tanker Project (JTP) is to develop a set of unified rules and procedures for the determination of the structural requirements for oil tankers.
By employing the combined experience and resources of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Lloyd's Register (LR) and Det Norske Veritas (DNV) to develop a single common standard, competition between class societies with regard to structural requirements will be eliminated.
This will benefit the industry by affording greater transparency to the technical background of the rules, and reducing costs with only one set rules to apply.
The new rules have now been sent out for hearing to the industry through the technical committees of the three societies, and are expected to come into force in July 2005.
On the new web site www.jtprules.com you will be able to access and download the draft rules, supporting tools and documentation. The site also provides users with the opportunity to comment on the draft rules or any of the supporting documents.
The move by the American Bureau of Shipping, Lloyd's Register and Det Norske Veritas to develop and implement these rules has been applauded and welcomed by the industry. However, several questions have been raised related to the consequences on hull scantlings, the tight implementation schedule and to the maturity of the development. Such comments and questions are expected, and the participants of the Joint Tanker Project consider this as valuable input to increase the quality and usefulness of the final rules.