1.2 Loadline Convention Flashcards
What is the purpose of having load lines?
- To allot a maximum legal limit up to which a ship can be loaded safely so that it can survive the expected weather conditions in its trading area.
By prescribing such limits, the risk of having the vessel sailing with inadequate freeboard and buoyancy can be limited. A vessel should be having sufficient freeboard at all times.
What is the general applicability of the Loadline Convention 1966?
The 1966 Convention shall apply to:
a) Ships registered in countries the Governments of which are Contracting Governments.
b) Ships registered in territories to which the present Convention is extended.
c) Unregistered ships flying the flag of a State, the Government of which is a Contracting Government.
d) Ships engaged in international voyages.
List the five categories of vessels to which the load line convention does not apply
The load line convention is not applicable to the following vessel categories:
a) Ships of war.
b) New ships of less than 24 metres in length.
c) Existing ships of less than 150 GT.
d) Pleasure yachts not engaged in trade.
e) Fishing vessels.
Note:
New ship means a ship, the keel of which is laid, or which is at a similar stage of construction, on or after the date of coming into force of the present Convention (21 July 1968) for each Contracting Government.
An existing ship means a ship that is not a new ship.
What are the two different types of load lines?
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.
State the general requirements under the ‘Conditions of Assignment’ to be met before any vessel can be assigned a load line.
State the SIX (6) basic ‘conditions of assignment’ of a load line.
- The master must be provided with adequate information to load his vessel and calculate the various stresses imposed on the vessel.
(Loadicator, Manual calculation with intact stability and damage control booklet) - The master must be provided with adequate information to calculate the vessel’s stability at all times.
- The vessel must be watertight from the keel to the freeboard deck.
(Structural requirement) - The vessel must be weather-tight from the freeboard deck up to a height of 4.5m above it.
(Structural requirement) - There must be adequate protection for the crew provided to access all parts of the vessel safely (guardrails, bulwarks, catwalks).
- There must be adequate freeing arrangements to permit the vessel to shed water from the freeboard deck.
(Scuppers, drain pipes, camber structure design)
Note: A ship to which the Convention applies must comply with the requirements for that particular ship and cannot rely on the data for a sister ship. The ‘Conditions of Assignment of Load Line’ issued by the Class/Flag to the vessel will give full detail of all the conditions based on which the ILLC was issued.
Describe and differentiate between Type A and Type B ships under the Convention.
Type A - Tankers
a) High integrity of the exposed deck.
b) High degree of safety against flooding.
Type B - All other ships
The value of the freeboard shall be reduced if a Type B vessel satisfies some additional safety criteria.
As a result, there are ship types B-100, B-60, and B-0 to 60. The number following the letter B signifies the percentage up to which exemption is granted.
Why is there a requirement for ships’s less than 100m in length to increase it’s load line to 50mm for the WNA?
Trading in the North Atlantic during winter months. The estimated distance between waves are 100m. (No exemption)
What is the period of validity of a load line certificate? What is the required survey cycle for a vessel to obtain a load line certificate and thereafter, to maintin its validity.
The load line certificate is a statutory certificate with a maximum period of validity of 5 years.
Initial survey
Annual survey
Renewal survey
What are the obligations of the Master if repairs or modifications to the vessel are required?
After any survey has been completed, no change should be made in the structure, equipment, or other matters covered by the survey without the sanction of the Administration.
After repairs or alterations, a ship should comply with at least the requirements previously applicable and that, after major repairs or alterations, ships should comply with the requirements for a new ship in so far as the Administration deems reasonable and practicable.
(Condition of Class)
What is the required survey cycle for a vessel to obtain a load line certificate and thereafter, to maintain its validity?
Load line requirements have been harmonised with other statutory surveys and also with Classification Surveys under the harmonised system of survey and certification.
The survey cycle to obtain and maintain the validity of a Load Line certificate is:
1. Initial (before the vessel is put into service).
2. Annual Survey every year (within three months on either side of the anniversary date).
3. Renewal Survey - that must be conducted between three months prior to (with no loss of validity) and the fifth-anniversary date.
The renewal Survey leads to the issue of a new certificate
Briefly explain the scope of each of the surveys in relation to load line:
- Initial
- Annual
- Renewal
The initial survey covers everything to do with the load line, from the measurement of the vessel, allocation of freeboard, proof that all of the conditions of assignment have been met, embossing of the load line markings, and checking measurements of the completed marks by the issuing authority.
While an Annual Survey may check any item of the load line convention’s requirements, the Annual Survey will always involve checking that the embossed marks have not been tampered with and that no structural changes have been made to the vessel that might affect the assignment of freeboard. Done 3 months before or after the anniversary date, and inspected for the following items:
- Protection of openings (Cargo hold, hatches or watertight doors.)
- Guard rails
- Freeing ports (Scuppers)
- Means of access to crew’s quarters. (Emergency doors and staircases.)
The Renewal Survey will check every item that led to the original issue of the first load line certificate in respect of a particular vessel. This will usually include check measurements of the load line markings, proof of watertight and weather-tight integrity of all openings above and below the freeboard deck, and an examination of all arrangements installed for the protection of the crew.
Note:
- There is no requirement for an Intermediate Survey for the load line.
- Loadicator to be class-approved and tested monthly.
- If there is structural changes to the vessel, the tonnage and load line certificates and loadicator should be changed respectively.
Describe the documentation and records that the Master has to maintain onboard for compliance with the Convention (LL)
- Certificates
Load Line Certificate (LLC) or Load Line Exemption Certificate (LLEC). - Record of particulars
Ship’s particulars detailing the dimensions, tonnage, plans. - Record of freeboards
Record of the actual freeboards for each and every voyage entered and signed by the person in charge (Master or Mate). This is normally recorded in the official log book or the deck log book. - Information relating to the stability and loading of the ship. Prepared by the Master or Mate after each loading and unloading of the vessel. Arrival and departure stability and cargo load figures are normally attached to each cargo plan.
i. Intact stability (Regular day-to-day)
ii. Damage stability and damage control plan (Damage to hull)
iii. Function to switch between (i) and (ii) within the loadicator.
List the documents the Master would need for annual and renewal load line survey.
- Check and keep certificates ready for inspection.
- Check for any remarks or observations from previous surveys and ensure they are rectified.
- Check the conditions of the assignment of the load-line form and check each item to ensure any modifications made thereafter have been endorsed.
- Ensure information relating to the stability and loading of the ship are available and approved by the class.
- Ensure records available for the drafts and arrival departure stability conditions.
- Ensure the class-approved loadicator has been tested and records of routine test results are available. Approved loadicator manual is available.
- The updated load line chart is available to the Master and is in use.
List the physical checks that the Chief Mate would need to undertake prior to the annual and renewal load line survey.
General steps:
- Documentation expiry date.
- Requesting for survey when nearing expiry date.
- Prepare for survey.
- Ensure proper record keeping.
- Accompanying the surveyor during survey.
Physical checks:
1. Check load line and draft marks (repaint as necessary).
2. Ensure the vessel is watertight from the keel to the freeboard deck and weather-tight from the freeboard deck up to a height of 4.5 m above it. Various tests, including hose test, chalk test, ultrasound gun scanner test, etc., can be used to detect flaws.
3. Check all cargo hatches and access to holds for weather tightness. Tank domes on tankers need to be oil-tight.
4. Guard railings, ladders, bulwarks, and crew shelters on deck were checked to be in good condition.
5. Water-freeing arrangements on each deck, including scupper plugs, should be checked.
6. Inspect machinery space and other ventilator openings on the exposed deck for tight closing.
7. Sounding and air pipes fitted with satisfactory means of closing and opening.
8. Pilot doors, stern ramps, etc., are operating correctly and sealing tight.
9. Test non-return arrangements on overboard discharge valves.
10. Open areas are free of slip and trip hazards and marked appropriately.
When should a vessel (to which the Convention applies) comply with the load line marks?
The appropriate load lines on the sides of the ship, corresponding to the season and to the zone or area in which the ship may be, must not be submerged at any time when the ship puts to sea, during the voyage or on arrival.
If a port is situated on the boundary between 2 load-line zones, which load line should the vessel adhere to?
A port standing on the boundary line between two zones or areas shall be regarded as within the zone or area from which the ship arrives or into which she departs.
Refer to the load line chart above. A and B are two ports that are located on the border between two load line zones.
When the vessel is sailing from A to B in July, Port A would be considered to be in the Tropical Zone as the vessel is departing into the Tropical zone and Port B would be considered a Winter Zone as the vessel is arriving from the Winter Zone.
