The following provides a brief overview of some of the most significant changes that have taken place in the Rules for Classification of Ships in the July 2006 issue.
Pt.1 Ch.1 General Regulations
Main changes coming into force 1 July 2006
• Sec.2 Scope of Rules and Class Notations
A new Service and Type Notation, SSC (Probabilistic Damage Stability) has been introduced in Table B3. SSC means that the ship has been built in compliance with the sub-division and damage stability requirements in accordance with revised SOLAS Ch.II-1(IMO MSC194 (80).
The new class notations NAUT-OSV(A) and NAUT-OSV(T) have been introduced in Table B36. The notations address nautical safety for offshore support vessels.
Main changes coming into force 1 January 2007
• Sec.2 Scope of Rules and Class Notations
A new ice class notation ICE-E has been added to Table B2, for which, similarly, as the present class notation ICE-C, the strengthening is limited to the forward ice belt region. ICE-E is intended for sporadic operation in local light drift ice areas.
The new class notation RATE-A has been added to Table B37. RATE-A has been introduced due to an increasing demand in the market for higher standards, in particular for oil tankers. RATE-A will, for tankers, cover both ESP and CAP Hull simultaneously. The rule requirement for the existing NAUTICUS( Operation) will be adjusted to be aligned with the content of the new version of Nauticus Ship Maintenance Toolbox.
The Special Feature notations COW and NLS have been included in Table B38. They cover crude oil washing for vessels less than 20,000 dwt and transport of noxious liquid substances according to MARPOL Annex II.
Pt.3 Ch.1 Hull Structural Design, Ships with Length 100 metres and above
Main changes coming into force 1 July 2007
Sec.5, item B103 has been extensively modified and a new item B105 has been inserted. The reason for the change is to align the rules with changes introduced in IACS Unified Requirements S11, Rev.5.
Pt.3 Ch.3 Hull Equipment and Safety
Main changes coming into force 1 July 2007
Under Sec.2, item B101 has been revised to align with IACS Unified Requirements S6, Rev.4.
In accordance with current scope of class, Sec.10 ‘Lifesaving Arrangement’ has been deleted. Sec.11 ‘Internal Communication’ has been re-numbered Sec.10.
Pt.4 Ch.4 Rotating Machinery, Power Transmission
Main changes coming into force 1 July 2007
Under Sec.1 E300, TMON for podded propulsion has been withdrawn.
Pt.4 Ch.6 Piping Systems
Main changes coming into force 1 January 2007
• General
The requirements for flexible hoses and mechanical joints have been aligned with IACS UR P2.7.4.
Certification requirements for piping and pumps for offshore supply vessels, previously held in Pt.5 Ch.7, have been added.
Requirements for remote stop of pumps and fans, already in Pt.4 Ch.9, have been deleted.
Pt.4 Ch.10 Fire Safety
Main changes coming into force 1 July 2006
• General
Means of escape will be covered by statutory services.
IMO requirements that shall be complied with when DNV is authorised by the flag administration, are covered in Appendix A ‘Interpretations and clarification to SOLAS Ch.II-2’.
SOLAS definitions in Sec.1 D have been deleted and replaced by a SOLAS reference.
References to Guidelines No.17 ‘Definitions of plan approval documentation types used in DocReq, ships and offshore units/installations’ for the Nauticus Production System (NPS), have been included.
According to Appendix A H400 a fixed fire extinguishing system is required for incinerator room. Hence, Ch.7 Sec.3 C102 has been rephrased.
Pt.5 Ch.1 Ships for Navigation in Ice
Main changes coming into force 1 January 2007
• Sec.1 General Requirements
• Sec.2 Basic Ice Strengthening
Sec.1 and Sec.2 have been modified to cover a new additional, basic class notation ICE-E. As a consequence, the notation ICE-C becomes an intermediate notation between the ICE-1C and the ICE-E notations.
• Sec.3 Ice Strengthening for the Northern Baltic
The rules have been aligned with the new guidelines of the Finnish Maritime Authorities.
• Sec.6 Winterization
This section has been amended to make the requirements for CP propellers, electric propulsion and stainless steel propellers applicable to vessels with Winterized Arctic notation instead of vessels with Winterized notation. As a consequence, item B102 and item B103 have been deleted and relocated as item E102 and item E103. Also, sub-section element E300 has been deleted and item E301 has been moved to E104.
• Sec.7 DAT(-X°C)
The DAT(-XºC) requirements, previously found in Sec.4, have been collected and made more visible in a separate new section, Sec.7.
Pt.5 Ch.2 Passenger and Dry Cargo Ships
Main changes coming into force 1 July 2006
• Sec.2 Passenger Ships
Sub-section G, ‘Life Saving Appliances and Arrangements’ has been removed as part of the main class rules. It will be replaced by the new ‘Statutory interpretation document’.
• Sec.11 Damage Stability Cargo Ships and Passenger Ships – Class Notation SSC
This is a new Section introducing a new voluntary class notation SSC aligned with the requirements of revised SOLAS Ch.11-1 (IMO-MSC194(80)) entering into force 1 January 2009. The new class notation implies that the ship is built in compliance with the subdivision and damage stability requirements in accordance with the revised convention.
Pt.5 Ch.3 Oil Carriers
Main changes coming into force 1 January 2007
• General
The concept of ‘Gas Safe/Dangerous Zones and Spaces’ has been replaced by ‘Non-hazardous/Hazardous Areas of Zone 0, 1 and 2’.
Most of the fire safety items have been deleted and replaced by reference to Pt.4 Ch.10.
Pt.5 Ch.4 Chemical Carriers
Main changes coming into force 1 January 2007
• General
The concept of ‘Gas Safe/Dangerous Zones and Spaces’ has been replaced by ‘Non-hazardous/Hazardous Areas of Zone 0, 1 and 2’. This mainly affects Sec.1, Sec.10 and Sec.12, which have been revised accordingly.
Most of the fire safety items have been deleted and replaced by reference to Pt.4 Ch.10.
Pt.5 Ch.7 Tugs, Supply Vessels and other Offshore/Harbour Vessels
Main changes coming into force 1 January 2007
Under Sec.7, sub-section D has been revised as follows: The stability requirements applicable for the CRANE notations has been made mandatory for all vessels where crane lifting is the main, or one of the main purposes, of the ship. Further, the stability requirements for the notation CRANE have been updated, taking into account that many of these ships are specialised and carry out the lifts within operational and environmental limitations.
Pt.5 Ch.11 Carriage of Dangerous Goods
• Sec.1 General Requirements
Under A200, items regarding issuance of statutory certificates have been added.
Definition of classes of dangerous goods has been shortened, corresponding to the definitions in IMDG Code.
Definitions of the terms ‘Hazardous area’ and ‘Extended hazardous area’ have been added.
• Sec.2 Requirements for Carriage of Dangerous Goods in Various Types of Cargo Spaces
B300 has been rewritten and updated to be in line with MSC/Circ. 1120, UISC79 and IEC60092-506.
B500 has been restructured and aligned with MSC/Circ. 1120 and UISC89.
B600 has been restructured to be more user friendly. No technical changes.
Under B700, item covering medical oxygen has been added.
B900 has been aligned with UISC103.
In subsections B and C, the references in ‘tables of requirements’ have been updated.
• Sec.3 Dangerous Goods Permitted in Passenger Ships, Including Car Ferries with more than 25 Passengers
This section has been deleted.
Pt.6 Ch.4 Additional Fire Protection (F-AMC)
Main changes coming into force 1 January 2007
• General
The scope of this revision is to implement the experience gained with the new F-M class, revise the F-A part (accommodation) and to develop new rules for the F-C part (cargo spaces).
• Sec.1 General Requirements
Item A101 has been amended to further clarify the applicability of the optional class notation F-AMC.
Sub-section element B100 Manuals and particulars, has been amended with respect to requirements to plans and documents that shall be submitted.
Sub-Section C Manuals has been modified and requirements to signboards have been deleted.
Sub-section D Firefighter’s Outfits, has been completely revised to reflect current safety objectives.
• Sec.2 Accommodation
The entire section has been revised. Requirement for A-60 transversal division of accommodation and A-60 protection of standard HVAC rooms and service trunks have been deleted. This is not an important part of the F-A additional class notation but has through the years been the root of several discussions. The above has been compensated by introducing self-closing cabin doors and use of optical smoke detectors in accommodation spaces. By experience fire hazard laundries shall now have A-class boundaries (B-class accepted under SOLAS).
• Sec.3 Machinery Spaces
The entire section has been revised. Some items not considered to be cost-efficient with respect to fire safety have been deleted. Among these are the additional requirements for escape hatches from the engine room and DNV’s requirements for CO2 valves being of all stainless steel. Some of the existing requirements such as dead ship condition, centralised controls for shut down and release of fire extinguishing systems have been further clarified. Components known to have reliability problems have been specified to a higher standard or requirements introducing robust back-up arrangements have been added.
• Sec.4 Cargo Decks and Cargo Spaces
The entire section has been revised. The requirements have been re-organised and each ship type given its part in order to make clear and user-friendly rules. The rules for tankers (oil/chemical and LPG/LNG) have been revised to suit today’s expectations whereas new rules have been implemented for car carriers/ro-ro vessels, dry cargo/bulk and container carriers. The rules for these ship types were either no longer relevant or not available under the 2001 edition of F-C additional class notation.
Pt.6 Ch.14 Fuel Treatment and Conditioning Systems
Main changes coming into force 1 July 2006
• General
Minor adjustments to the rule text have been done, modifying the text in accordance with new knowledge, and practical arrangements. The consequences of these rule changes for DNV customers are assumed small, yet it is intended that the modifications now proposed will make the rules more suitable – for both owners and building yards alike.
PART 7 SHIPS IN OPERATION
• Revised structure of rules for Ships in Operation – Part 7
The following principles were in focus in order to settle a revised structure for the rules;
Simple and logic structure.
Main class survey requirements are grouped, one section for each main class survey.
Optional class notations have been grouped. One letter for each survey.
The rules for periodical surveys are gathered within one rule chapter.
• Part 7 has been restructured as follows:
Chapter 1 Survey Requirements – Includes all requirements in the present chapters 1, 2, 7 and 8 – i.e.
Chapter 1 – General Requirements, except section 6 – ‘Retroactive requirements’
Chapter 2 – Periodical Survey Requirements
Chapter 7 – NAUTICUS Class Notations
Chapter 8 – Machinery Survey Arrangements.
Chapter 2 – Retroactive Requirements – Includes retroactive requirements from the previous Pt.7 Ch.1 Sec.6.
(Content as today – except for the Pt.7 Ch.1 Sec.6 G – where some changes were based upon revised IACS S31)
Chapter 3 – Management of Safety and Environmental Protection (SEP) – Includes the requirements in the previous chapter 5.
Date: 2006-10-12