Information Paper

New Hull Survey Requirements for

General Dry Cargo Ships

By
Det Norske Veritas
April 2003

1. Introduction
A major initiative to reduce general cargo ships casualties has been taken by the
International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
In June 2002 IACS Council adopted new unified requirements which introduce tougher
hull surveys for certain general dry cargo ships with requirements for overall and closeup examination and steel thickness measurements at annual, intermediate and renewal
surveys along the lines applied already for bulk carriers and tankers.
Some ship types with relatively favourable casualty records are, however, excluded.
The requirements apply to surveys of hull structures and piping systems in way of cargo
holds, cofferdams, pipe tunnels and void spaces within the cargo area and all ballast tanks
and are additional to the classification requirements applicable to the remainder of the
ship.
The new hull survey requirements are given in the DNV Rules January 2003 and shall
enter into force 1st July 2003.
The purpose of this document is to provide DNV clients and surveyors with information
on application, scope and implementation of the new hull survey requirements.

2. Application
The requirements apply after construction to all self-propelled general dry cargo ships of
500 GT and above carrying solid cargoes (tonnage measured in accordance with
International Convention on Tonnage Measurements of Ships, 1969).
Typical configurations for general dry cargo ships are illustrated in Fig. 1 to 4.
The following ship types are exempted from the new hull survey requirements:
-

dedicated container carriers;

ro-ro cargo ships
pure car carriers
dedicated forestry product carriers
(a fully open hatch vessel with box-shaped cargo holds, double plane transverse bulkheads,
pontoon type weather deck hatch covers and designed primarily for the carriage of pulp, paper
products (newsprint, linerboard etc.), general forestry products, other cargoes in unitised form,
fine granulated non-corrosive cargoes in bulk and containers)

refrigerated cargo ships;

Fig.1 General view of a typical General Dry Cargo Ship

Fig.2 Cargo Hold Structural Configurations of typical General Dry Cargo Ships

Single deck ship

Tween deck ship

Fig.3 Typical Transverse Section in way of Cargo Hold (without tween deck)

Fig.4 Typical Transverse Section in way of Cargo Hold (with one tween deck)

3. Scope
The new requirements define minimum extent of overall and close-up examination, i.e.
within reach of hand, applicable for cargo holds and ballast tanks, and more extensive
requirements for steel thickness measurements.
3.1 Annual Survey
The survey is to consist of an examination for the purpose of ensuring, as far as
practicable, that the hull including hatch covers and coamings are maintained in a
satisfactory condition. Examination of watertight penetrations shall be carried out as far
as practicable.
For examination of cargo holds, the following minimum requirements apply;
For Cargo Ships 10-15 Years of age:
- Overall examination of one forward and one after cargo hold and their
associated tween deck spaces.
For Cargo Ships over 15 years of age:
- Overall examination of all cargo holds and tween deck spaces.
- Close-up examination of sufficient extent, minimum 25% of frames, to
establish the condition of the lower region of the shell frames including
approx. lower one third length of side frame at side shell and side frame
end attachment and the adjacent shell plating in a forward lower cargo
hold and one other selected lower cargo hold.
Where this level of survey reveals the need for remedial measures, the
survey is to be extended to include a Close-up examination of all of the
shell frames and adjacent shell plating of those cargo holds and
associated tween deck spaces (as applicable) as well as a Close-up
examination of sufficient extent of all remaining cargo holds and tween
deck spaces (as applicable).
- All piping and penetrations in cargo holds, including overboard piping,
are to be examined.
3.2 Intermediate Survey:
For examination of cargo holds, the following minimum requirements apply;
For Cargo Ships 5 - 10 Years of age:
- An Overall Survey of one forward and one after cargo hold and their
associated tween deck spaces.
For Cargo Ships 10-15 Years of age:
- An Overall Survey of all cargo holds and tween deck spaces.

For Cargo Ships over 15 years of age:

- The requirements of the intermediate survey shall be substantially to the
same extent as for the previous renewal survey
(note: in lieu of dry-docking as required for the renewal survey, an in-water survey may
be considered as equivalent, tank testing is not required unless deemed necessary by the
attending surveyor).
3.3 Renewal Survey
The survey is to include examination, tests and checks of sufficient extent to ensure that
the hull and related piping are in a satisfactory condition and that the ship is fit for its
intended purpose, subject to proper maintenance and operation and to periodical surveys
being carried out when due.
All cargo holds, salt water ballast tanks, including double bottom tanks, pipe tunnels,
cofferdams and void spaces bounding cargo holds, decks and outer hull are to be
examined, and this examination is to be supplemented by thickness measurement and
testing as deemed necessary, to ensure that the structural integrity remains effective.
All piping systems within the above spaces are to be examined and tested under working
conditions to ensure that the condition remains satisfactory.
A survey of the ship in dry-dock is to be a part of the renewal survey.
The close-up examination requirements are introduced at the 1st renewal survey (age 5),
becoming more extensive with age such that at the 3rd renewal survey (age 15) they take
in;
-

All shell frames in the forward lower cargo hold and 25% of the shell
frames in each of the remaining cargo holds and tween deck spaces,
including upper and lower end attachments and adjacent shell plating.

All cargo hold transverse bulkheads and all transverse bulkheads in

ballast tanks (including stiffening systems).

All transverse webs with associated plating and framing in each ballast
tank.

All cargo hold hatch covers and coamings.

All deck plating inside line of cargo hold hatch openings.

All areas of inner bottom plating.

At the 4th renewal survey, this is further increased to include all shell frames in all cargo
holds and tween decks.
Structural members subject to close-up examination shall be thickness measured for
general assessment and recording of corrosion pattern.

4. Implementation
4.1 Schedule
The new requirements are applicable at annual, intermediate or renewal surveys
commenced on or after 1st July 2003.

4.2 Procedure
A Memo to Owner (MO) will be issued for the ship stating applicability of the new
requirements.

5. References
5.1 DNV Rules for Classification of Ships, January 2003 (Part 7 Chapter 2)
5.2 IACS Recommendation No.55* - GENERAL CARGO SHIPS
Guidelines for Surveys, Assessment and Repair of Hull Structure
*Available on the Intranet under the IACS Blue Books, Recommendation No.55 or
ordered from Witherby & Co. Ltd. in London - www.witherbys.com

For further information, please contact Ships in Operation, Hull department MTPNO864, E-mail:
(MTPNO864@dnv.com)

Enclosure A Minimum Extent of Close-Up Examination at Renewal Survey

Renewal survey No. 1
Age 5

Renewal survey No. 2

5 < Age 10

Renewal survey No. 3

10 < Age 15

Renewal survey No.4

Age > 15

Selected shell frames in one

forward and one aft cargo
hold and associated tween
deck spaces

Selected shell frames in all

cargo holds and tween deck
spaces

All shell frames in the forward

lower cargo hold and 25% of
shell frames in each of the
remaining cargo holds and
tween deck spaces including
upper and lower end
attachments and adjacent shell
plating

All shell frames in all cargo

holds and tween deck spaces
including upper and lower end
attachments and adjacent shell
plating

One selected cargo hold

transverse bulkhead

One transverse bulkhead in

each cargo hold

All cargo hold transverse

bulkheads

All cargo hold transverse

bulkheads

All cargo hold hatch covers

and coamings

All cargo hold hatch covers

and coamings

All cargo hold hatch covers

and coamings

All cargo hold hatch covers

and coamings

Forward and aft transverse

bulkhead in one side ballast
tank, including stiffening
system

All transverse bulkheads in all

ballast tanks, including
stiffening system

All transverse bulkheads in all

ballast tanks, including
stiffening system

One transverse web with

associated plating and framing
in two representative ballast
tanks of each type (i.e.
topside, hopper side, side tank
or double bottom tank. Peak
tanks to be included, if
applicable)

All transverse webs with

associated plating and framing
in each ballast tank (i.e.
topside, hopper side, side tank
or double bottom tank. Peak
tanks to be included, if
applicable)

All transverse webs with

associated plating and framing
in each ballast tank (i.e.
topside, hopper side, side tank
or double bottom tank. Peak
tanks to be included, if
applicable)

Selected areas of deck plating

inside line of hatch openings
between cargo hold hatches

All deck plating inside line of

hatch openings between cargo
hold hatches

All deck plating inside line of

hatch openings between cargo
hold hatches

Selected areas of inner bottom

plating

All areas of inner bottom

plating

All areas of inner bottom

plating

Note:
Close-up examination of cargo hold transverse bulkheads is be carried out at the following levels:
Immediately above the inner bottom and immediately above the tween decks, as applicable.
-

About mid-height of the bulkheads for holds without tween deck.

Immediately below the main deck and immediately below the tween deck, as applicable.

Enclosure B Minimum Extent of Thickness Measurements at Renewal Survey

(text in bold indicates the additional requirements for general dry cargo ships)
Renewal survey No. 2
5 < Age 10

Renewal survey No. 1

Age 5
Suspect areas

Renewal survey No. 3

10 < Age 15

Renewal survey No.4

Age > 15

Suspect areas

Suspect areas

Suspect areas

One transverse section of deck

plating abreast of a cargo hold
within 0.5L amidship.

Two transverse sections

within the cargo length area,
where at least one section
abreast of a cargo hold within
0.5 L amidship.

Three transverse sections

within the cargo length area,
where at least two sections
abreast of two different cargo
holds within 0.5 L amidship,
as applicable.

Measurement, for general

assessment and recording of
corrosion pattern, of those
structural members subject
to close-up examination, i.e.

Measurement, for general

assessment and recording of
corrosion pattern, of those
structural members subject
to close-up examination, i.e.

Measurement, for general

assessment and recording of
corrosion pattern, of those
structural members subject
to close-up examination, i.e.

Selected shell frames in

all cargo holds and
tween deck spaces
One transverse bulkhead
in each cargo hold
All cargo hold hatch
covers and coamings
Forward and aft
transverse bulkhead in
one side ballast tank,
including stiffening
system
One transverse web with
associated plating and
framing in two
representative ballast
tanks of each type
Selected areas of deck
plating inside line of
hatch openings between
cargo hold hatches
Selected areas of inner
bottom plating

All shell frames in the

forward lower cargo
hold and 25% of shell
frames in each of the
remaining cargo holds
and tween deck spaces
including upper and
lower end attachments
and adjacent shell
plating
All cargo hold
transverse bulkheads
All cargo hold hatch
covers and coamings
All transverse bulkheads
in all ballast tanks,
including stiffening
system
All transverse webs with
associated plating and
framing in each ballast
tank
All deck plating inside
line of hatch openings
between cargo hold
hatches
All areas of inner bottom
plating

All shell frames in all

cargo holds and tween
deck spaces including
upper and lower end
attachments and
adjacent shell plating
All cargo hold transverse
bulkheads
All cargo hold hatch
covers and coamings
All transverse bulkheads
in all ballast tanks,
including stiffening
system
All transverse webs with
associated plating and
framing in each ballast
tank
All deck plating inside
line of hatch openings
between cargo hold
hatches
All areas of inner bottom
plating

Each deck plate outside line

of cargo hatch openings
within the cargo area.

All exposed main deck plates

full length.

All wind and water strakes

within the cargo length area.

All wind and water strakes

full length of ship.

Selected wind and water

strakes outside the cargo
length area.

Renewal survey No. 1

Age 5

Renewal survey No. 2

5 < Age 10

Renewal survey No. 3

10 < Age 15

Renewal survey No.4

Age > 15
Each bottom plate, including
lower turn of bilge, within
the cargo length area.
Duct keel or pipe tunnel
plating and internals within
the cargo length area.
All keel plates full length
Selected bottom plates in way
of cofferdams, machinery
space and tanks outside the
cargo length area.

Internals in forepeak tank.

Internals in forepeak tank and

after peak tanks.
Representative exposed
superstructure deck plating
(poop, bridge and forecastle).
Plating of sea chests.
Shell plating in way of
overboard discharges as
considered necessary by the
surveyor.

Air pipes and ventilators on

fore deck (forward quarter
length).

Air pipes and ventilators on

fore deck (forward quarter
length).

Air pipes to day tanks and

selected air pipes and
ventilators aft of forward
quarter length.

Air pipes to day tanks and

selected air pipes and
ventilators aft of forward
quarter length.

Notes:
1) Thickness measurement locations should be selected to provide the best representative sampling of areas likely to be most
exposed to corrosion, considering cargo and ballast history and arrangement and condition of protective coatings.
2)

For ships less than 100 m in length, the number of transverse section required at renewal survey no. 3 may be reduced to one
(1), and the number of transverse sections at subsequent renewal surveys may be reduced to two (2).

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