Skip to main content

Load Line Survey & Its Preparation

A ship will be subject to the following surveys:
  • Initial survey before the ship is put into service
  • Renewal survey at intervals not exceeding five years
  • Annual survey within 3 months either way of the anniversary date of the load line certificate. 
The
 surveyor will endorse the load line certificate on satisfactory completion of the annual survey.
The period of validity of the load line certificate may be extended for a period not exceeding 3 months or the purpose of allowing the ship to complete its voyage to the port in which it is to be surveyed. 

Load Line Certification(5 years):
All ships must be issued with a load line certificate for a period specified by the administration, which shall not exceed 5 years from the date of issue. 

The form of the certificate will depend upon the Assigning Authority as follows: 
  • If the certificate is an International Load Line Certificate it shall be in the form prescribed by the 1966 Convention which is detailed in the IMO publication ‘Load Lines – 2005 Edition’. 

  • If the certificate is the United Kingdom Load Line Certificate (applicable to UK registered ships that must comply with the M. S. (Load Line) Regulations 1998) it shall be in the form prescribed in Schedule 8 of MSN 1752(M).

Preparation for Load Line Survey:
  1. A visual examination of loadline certificate and all other certificates to ensure that they are valid and properly endorsed.
  2. General inspections to ensure NO MODIFICATIONS are carried out to the conditions of assignment of freeboard.
  3. Load line marks are properly placed and painted on the port and starboard sides.
  4. Stability booklet, Loading, and ballasting information are available on board so as to carry out such operations without causing excessive stresses.
  5. Check that all access openings of enclosed structures are in good conditions. All dogs, clamps, and hinges to be free and well greased. All gaskets and watertight seals should be crack free. Ensure that the doors open from both sides.
  6. Check all cargo hatches and access to holds for weather tightness.
  7. Check the efficiency and securing of portable beams.
  8. If portable wooden hatch covers are used check that they are in good condition
  9. If tarpaulins are used at least two should be provided for each hatch and in good condition.
  10. Inspect all machinery space opening on exposed deck
  11. Check that any manholes and flush scuttles are capable of being made watertight
  12. Check that all ventilator openings are provided with an efficient weathertight closing appliance
  13. All air pipe should be provided with satisfactory means for closing and opening
  14. Inspect any cargo ports below the freeboard deck and ensure that all of them are watertight
  15. Ensure that non-return valves on overboard valves are operating in a satisfactory manner
  16. Side scuttles and openings below the freeboard deck must have efficient internal watertight deadlights. Check that all freeing ports are in satisfactory conditions
  17. All guard-rails and bulwarks should be in satisfactory condition
  18. Check that all freeing ports are in satisfactory conditions


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Difference Between A, B & C-Class Divisions?

IMO Symbol A Class Division  IMO Symbol B Class Division  SOLAS has tables for structural fire protection requirement of bulkheads and decks. The requirements depend on the spaces in question and are different for passenger ships and cargo ships. The Administration has required a test of a prototype bulkhead or deck in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code to ensure that it meets the above requirements for integrity and temperature rise. Types of Divisions: "A" Class "B" Class "C" Class "A" Class: "A" class divisions are those divisions formed by bulkheads and decks which comply with the following criteria: They are constructed of steel or equivalent material They are suitably stiffened They are constructed as to be capable of preventing the passage of smoke and flame to the end of the one-hour standard fire test. they are insulated with approved non-combustible materials such that the average tempera

Bilge Injection Valve

Bilge Injection is a valve that enables the engine room bilges to be pumped out directly overboard in the event of an emergency such as flooding. The valve is normally fitted to the end of a branch connection with the main sea water suction line. This enables large main seawater cooling pumps to be used as a bilge pump in an emergency. Emergencies like fire and flooding involve the use of seawater. If there is a fire, seawater is the biggest resource of water available in the sea. Similarly, if it involves flooding of the engine room, cargo spaces or any other place on the ship for that matter; you would again require pumping the sea water out of the ship. In both these cases, you require pumps.  There are two valves in close proximity namely main injection valve and bilge injection valve. Both of them have their own independent controls. The diameter of the bilge injection valve is kept nearly 66% of the main valve diameter which draws water directly from the sea through the

Load Line & Why it is Important

Merchant ships have a marking on their hull know as the Plimsoll line or the Plimsoll mark, which indicates the limit until which ships can be loaded with enough cargo, internationally, the Plimsoll line on a ship is officially referred to as the international load line. Every type of ship has a different level of floating and the Plimsoll line on a ship generally varies from one vessel to another.  All vessels of 24 meters and more are required to have this Load line marking at the centre position of the length of summer load water line. There are two types of Load line markings:- Standard Load Line marking – This is applicable to all types of vessels. Timber Load Line Markings – This is applicable to vessels carrying timber cargo. These marks shall be punched on the surface of the hull making it visible even if the ship side paint fades out. The marks shall again be painted with white or yellow colour on a dark background/black on a light background.  The comp