Periodical Surveys

Contents
Section
1 General Requirements
2 Annual Surveys
3 Intermediate Surveys
4 Docking Surveys
5 Special Surveys Hull
6 Special Surveys Machinery
7 Surveys of Propeller Shafts, Tube Shafts and Propellers
8 Planned Maintenance System

Section 1 - General Requirements

1.1 General

1.1.1 All crafts are to be subjected to periodical surveys for the purpose of ascertaining the condition of the
structure, machinery, installations and equipment. Survey notations and survey intervals corresponding to the
main class are given in Table 1.1.1. Where additional class notations have been assigned, surveys are to be
carried out at intervals given in Table 1.1.2.

Where boilers, steam generators, steam pipes and condensers are fitted onboard, they are to be surveyed in
accordance with the requirements given in Rules and Regulations for the Construction and Classification of
Steel Ships Pt.1 Ch.2.

1.1.2 Crafts with additional class notations for which there are no specific survey requirements defined in this
chapter are to have the equipment and/or construction related to this additional class notation examined to the
surveyors satisfaction at each special survey. However, at the time of annual surveys, the continued
effectiveness of operational features, safety devices and control systems are to be verified.

Table 1.1.1 : Periodical survey and intervals for main class notations
Survey Notation
Survey interval in
Survey
years
Main Class
Hull : special survey SSH 5
Hull : continuous survey CSH 5
Machinery : special survey SSM 5
Machinery : continuous survey CSM 5
Intermediate survey IS 2 or 3 1)
Annual survey AS 1 2)
Docking survey

for crafts with HSC notation DS 1

for crafts other than with HSC notation 2.5 5)

Tailshaft Survey
TS(OG) 5 3),6)
with approved oil gland
TS(CL) 5 3),6)
with continuous liner
TS(NC) 5 3),6)
shaft of corrosion resistant material or shaft with
specially approved protection arrangement

with tailshaft condition monitoring

TS(TCM) See Note 4
other than above
TS 2.5
Directional propellers, water jet units, or
DP 5 6)
athwartship thrust propellers
Table 1.1.1 Notes :

1) May be carried out along with 2nd or 3rd AS, or in between.

2) May be carried out within 3 months on either side of the due date.

3) See 7.1.2 for requirements for applicability of 5 years survey interval.

4) Condition monitoring records are to be verified at the time of annual surveys and
during docking survey. No specific time interval is required between complete tailshaft
surveys (See section 7.5).

5) At least 2 surveys are to be carried out within any 5 years, of which one survey is to
be in conjunction with the special survey. The interval between two consecutive surveys
is not to exceed 3 years.

6) Upon request, IRS may extend the survey period to harmonise with docking survey.

Table 1.1.2 : Periodical survey intervals for additional class notations

Survey Notation Survey interval in
Survey
Additional Class years
Unattended machinery spaces

Special Survey SS(SYJ) 5

Annual Survey AS(SYJ) 11

Planned Maintenance System of Machinery

Annual Audit AA(PMS) 12

Note : 1) May be carried out within 3 months on either side of due date.

2) To be carried out in conjunction with annual survey.

Laid up vessels

1.4.1 Survey during lay-up

1.4.2 When a vessel is laid up and IRS is so informed and the attending surveyor has so recommended, the
periodical surveys required by 1.1.1, except Annual Surveys, may be postponed at the discretion of IRS
depending upon the vessel's lay-up location, the maintenance and preservative measures taken during the lay-
up. During lay-up, the vessel is to comply with the following:-

a) The vessel is to be adequately manned in accordance with the statutory requirements prevailing at the
location of lay-up.

b) Adequate power is to be available on board to meet the following requirements:-

- fire fighting;

- bilge pumping;

- lighting;

- communication with shore;

- needs of crew on board, and

- operating anchor and mooring winches within a reasonable time.

c) All Conditions of Class have been suitably dealt with or have been postponed till the next scheduled
general examination.

1.4.3 During lay-up, vessels are to be subjected to a general examination every year.

1.2 Definitions

1.2.1 A Ballast tank is a tank which is being used solely for water ballast. A tank which is used for both cargo
and ballast will be treated as a ballast tank when substantial corrosion has been found in that tank.

1.2.2 A Transverse section includes all longitudinal members such as plating, longitudinals and girders at the
deck, side, bottom, inner bottom and hopper side plating, longitudinal bulkheads and bottom plating in top wing
tanks.

1.2.3 Representative spaces/tanks are those which are expected to reflect the condition of other spaces/tanks of
similar type and service and with similar corrosion protection systems. When selecting Representative
Spaces/Tanks account is be taken of the service and repair history onboard and identifiable Critical Areas and/or
Suspect Areas.

1.2.4 Suspect areas are locations showing Substantial Corrosion and/or considered by the Surveyor to be prone
to rapid wastage.
1.2.5 Critical areas are locations which have been identified from calculations to require monitoring or from
the service history of the subject ship or sister ships (if available) to be sensitive to cracking, buckling or
corrosion which would impair the structural integrity of the ship.

1.9 Alterations

1.9.1 No alterations which may affect classification are to be made to the hull or machinery of a classed craft
unless plans of proposed alterations are submitted and approved by IRS before the work of alterations is
commenced. Such work is to be carried out in accordance with approved plans and tested on completion as
required by the Rules and to the satisfaction of the Surveyor(s).

1.10 Unscheduled surveys

1.10.1 On the event that IRS has reason to believe that it Rules and Regulations are not being complied with
IRS reserves the right to perform unscheduled surveys of the hull or machinery.

1.6 Surveys by Chief Engineers

1.6.1 Continuous machinery Surveys of some machinery items may be carried out, subject to certain conditions,
under the supervision of the Chief Engineer of the ship at ports where IRS is not represented and where
practicable, at sea.

1.6.2 A limited confirmatory Survey should be carried out at the next port of call by an exclusive Surveyor of
IRS. Where IRS Surveyor is not available, such Survey may be carried out by the exclusive Surveyor of a
Society with whom IRS has collaboration agreement in force.

1.6.3 Where an Owner wishes to make use of this type of Survey an application will have to be made by the
Owner stating the name, age, qualifications and experience of the Chief Engineer for the consideration of IRS.

Further particulars of this scheme may be obtained from IRS Head Office

1.7 Surveys for damage

1.7.1 It is the responsibility of the owner/operator of the craft to report to IRS without delay any damage, defect
or breakdown, which could invalidate the conditions for which a classification has been assigned so that it may
be examined at the earliest opportunity by IRS Surveyor(s). All repairs found necessary by the Surveyor are to
be carried out to his satisfaction.

1.8 Repairs
1.8.1 Any damage and / or wastage over the allowable limits (including buckling, grooving, detachment or
fracture), which affects or, in the opinion of the Surveyor, will affect the vessel's structural, watertight or
weathertight integrity, is to be repaired promptly and thoroughly as defined in 1.2.10. Areas to be considered as
relevant, include:

- side structure and side plating;

- deck structure and deck plating;

- bottom structure and bottom plating;

- inner bottom structure and inner bottom plating;

- inner side structure and inner side plating;

- longitudinal bulkhead(s) plating and structure;

- transverse watertight or oiltight bulkheads, plating and structure; and

- hatch covers or hatch coamings.

Where adequate repair facilities are not available, consideration may be given to allow the vessel to proceed
directly to a repair facility. This may require discharging the cargo and/or temporary repairs for the intended
voyage.

Additionally, when a survey results in the identification of substantial corrosion or structural defects, either of
which, in the opinion of the Surveyor, will impair the vessel's fitness for continued service, remedial measures
are to be implemented before the ship continues in service.