Damage/Defect Inspection of Cargo Spaces, Hatch Covers and Ballast Tanks

Question 1

a ship inspection program whereby foreign vessels entering a sovereign state’s waters are boarded and inspected to ensure compliance with various

Answer 1

Port State Control

Question 2

the country in which the ship is registered

Answer 2

Flag State

Question 3

Duty of Flag State

Answer 3

To ensure that the ship entitled to fly its flag is safely constructed, equipped, and subsequently properly maintained and manned as per regulation based on the International Convention developed by IMO for this purpose

Question 4

the country visited by a ship other than the flag state that is port of registry

Answer 4

Port State

Question 5

– involves checking of several aspects of the ship in both deck and engine departments of the ship
– involves important checking of documents, technical details, and structural elements of the ship

Answer 5

Port State Control Inspection

Question 6

Types of Port State Control Inspection

Answer 6

● Initial Inspection
● Expanded Inspection
● More Detailed Inspection
● Concentrated Inspection Campaign

Question 7

General Inspection of the Ship

Answer 7

Initial Inspection

Question 8

Initial Inspection of Certain Type of Ships of Certain Age

Answer 8

Expanded Inspection

Question 9

Detailed Inspection based upon the findings (clear grounds) of non compliance

Answer 9

More Detailed Inspection

Question 10

Any of the three inspections that focus on specific areas where high levels of
deficiencies have been encountered by PSCOs, or where new convention requirements have recently entered into force

Answer 10

Concentrated Inspection Campaign

Question 11

How to conduct a Ballast Tank Inspection

Answer 11

Check for corrosion
Inspection of coating

Question 12

Resolution on Regional co-operation in the control of ships and discharges promoting the conclusion of regional agreements

Answer 12

A.682(17)

Question 13

What percentage of the allowable margin might indicate the need for repairs if the tank surface faces it?

Answer 13

Over 75%

Question 14

Three General Defects that affect the steel structures due to direct wear and tear

Answer 14

● Corrosion
● Deformation
● Fracture

Question 15

– also considered as ‘material wastage’
– the lead cause for structural deformations and fracturing
– by far the most ‘common’ of all other defects directly related to steel and its
components
– if left unattended, is a disaster waiting to happen; either by cargo or fuel oil
contamination, structural losses, pollution and finally, possible loss of the ship itself

Answer 15

Corrosion

Question 16

– a sub-component defect caused due to damage to steel platings or material failure
– could be a change in shape or physical disfigurement of steel that is caused either by implosion (caused due to vacuum build up in tanks) or explosion, excessive dynamic (wave bending / loading) as well as static stress (ship’s hogging and sagging conditions) and strains onto the steel structures, and likewise
– should be noted that deformations observed on the ship’s hull are more likely to affect structures on the interior too

Answer 16

Deformation

Question 17

– due to the propagation of cracks through the steel plating, which has been left unattended
– most of it occurs due to excessive stress concentrated on weakened steel plates throughout the tanks’ dimensions
– along with fatigue, they are important design criteria for ships to ensure a sufficiently
high safety level

Answer 17

Fractures

Question 18

9 Pointers one should specifically identify while inspecting the steel tanks

Answer 18

1. Assessing the Overall Condition
2. Condition of Corrosion Levels
3. Condition of ‘Sacrificial’ Anodes fitted inside the tank
4. Checking for Damages/Cracks/Deformations
5. Pitting Corrosion & Blister Formation
6. Condition of the tank gauging systems
7. Condition of the Safety Devices
8. Condition of Mud or Sludge Build Up
9. Condition of Cargo Equipment

Question 19

Immediately on entering the enclosed space, one can figure out the tank’s well being by considering the state of the accessways and the ladders, paint coatings, and closely observing areas susceptible to corrosion, such as near the weld joints.

Answer 19

Assessing the Overall Condition

Question 20

For example, corrosion on the inner surfaces of the liquid cargo tanks (for example, Crude Oil Tankers) is mainly due to the mixture of corrosive gases, crude oil acids, as well as seawater (Crude oil washing).

Answer 20

Condition of Corrosion Levels

Question 21

To maintain their integrity, anodes have to be checked and inspected closely for excessive wear and tear. A record of material wastage should be maintained for future examination. One must also inspect whether the anodes are well secured to the brackets provided.

Answer 21

Condition of ‘Sacrificial’ Anodes fitted inside the tank

Question 22

Deformations
– may generally not be readily evident when viewed over a larger area
◆ To identify this, it is good to highlight the area using a high beam torch by projecting it parallel to the surface.

Answer 22

Checking for Damages/Cracks/Deformations

Question 23

Pitting Corrosion
– often known to be observed in the bottom plating of ballast tanks, especially near the ‘bell- mouth’, near the ‘bell-mouth’ in a liquid cargo tank, or next to suction wells associated with the submerged pumps fitted within the tanks.

Answer 23

Pitting Corrosion & Blister Information

Question 24

Gauging systems that include gas measuring gauges, pressure gauges, temperature gauges, remote level sensing meters, sounding pipes, as well as striker plates, should be checked for functional abnormalities.

Answer 24

Condition of the tank gauging systems

Question 25

Safety devices fitted in the tanks
– critical for providing the operators a remote indication of an unwanted threat such as water ingress in the bilges of cargo holds due to sweating or any other reason for that matter

Answer 25

Condition of the Safety Devices

Question 26

Accumulation of mud and oily sludge in the tanks
– could be detrimental in terms of hiding away serious defects and also to promote the development of structural deterioration underneath the horizontal/parallel surfaces

Answer 26

Condition of Mud or Sludge Build Up

Question 27

Cargo equipment within the tanks includes heating coils, cargo pumps, crude oil washing machines, remote gauging systems, temperature/heat sensors, etc.

Answer 27

Condition of Cargo Equipment