All equipment and devices installed on a ship must meet the minimum standards set by national and international organizations. There are various classification organizations in the world, most of our country’s ships follow the European classification societies. These standards are applied to the ship during its design and construction. Ship owners and personnel are responsible for maintaining the ship at the initial standard level throughout its life. Therefore, periodic inspections are planned for the devices to ensure that the equipment is maintained at the standard level of the classification societies.
In these periodic inspections, electrical equipment and their operation are also inspected. For example, a ship registered in the United Kingdom must comply with the rules of the following institutions:
During the inspection, there are many electrical items that are inspected, some examples of these items are as follows: Generators and their governors – Main distribution line switches – Distribution board and accessories – Cable condition – Insulation resistance – Electric motor condition – Emergency power equipment – Navigation lamps and their indicators – UMS control system and steering gear control…
When inspecting generators, the first thing the inspector looks for is the cleanliness of the device (this applies to all devices because it indicates that the device has been taken care of). Each main or emergency generator must respond well to command signals and load changes on its own and must also operate stably and without excessive oscillations when in parallel with another generator. The rotor and stator windings must be free of dust or oil.
The emergency generator must be able to connect to the network both manually and automatically, meaning that in the event of a failure of the main generators, this generator must come online in less than 45 seconds and supply essential consumers. In ships where there is also a battery in addition to the emergency generator to provide emergency power, they must have the same capability.
Circuit breakers or main disconnect switches are among the items inspected. At first glance, a switch should operate smoothly without any sparks or unusual heat when making or breaking, whether manual or automatic. These switches are also tested for automatic disconnection in situations such as over current or under voltage.
Insulation resistance surveyors review a list of the latest megger tests taken on motors and cables. This list should include the date and weather conditions at the time of testing (e.g., “hot weather with high humidity…”). After the list is viewed by the surveyor, one or more motors are tested at random.
. The engine is also tested while it is running to assess the amperage and noise condition of the bearings.
On UMS ships, other items are examined, including the fire warning and extinguishing system, engine room alarms, various main engine controls, etc.
If you are interested in more details, read on.
Classification is a type of technical service that is carried out to verify the health and safety of ships. In other words, classification includes the preparation and promotion of rules, regulations and technical standards in the field of ship construction and verification of their compliance with the standards. This activity leads to the issuance of a classification certificate if the ship has no technical defects. If the technical health is maintained and subject to periodic inspections, the ship is considered classified until the end of the certificate’s validity.
The main mission of classification societies is to independently and impartially assess the ship’s seaworthiness according to the rules of the society. In addition, classification societies are selected by the government organizations responsible for maritime affairs of countries and are then authorized to inspect ships registered in that country on behalf of government organizations for compliance with national and international maritime laws and regulations and to issue national or international legal certificates.
Ship classification is one of the necessary insurance conditions in insurance companies; Because ship owners always want to insure their assets, and cargo owners and sea travelers are also interested in using ships that have valid classification certificates and are insured to transport their goods or travel.
Beneficiaries of classification services
The beneficiaries of the services provided by classification societies, including conducting ship inspections and issuing classification and legal certificates, include:
– Insurers
– Ship owners
– Merchants and owners of industries and goods
– Banks and financial and credit institutions
– Human society (reduction of human and financial losses resulting from marine environmental pollution due to ship classification)
Classification Society Rules for Construction and Classification of Vessels
Each classification society has rules and standards that shipyards, marine equipment manufacturers, and marine equipment repairers are required to comply with so that the constructed vessel can be classified by that society. In formulating classification rules, all international maritime safety standards are taken into account so that the constructed vessel is completely safe.
Classification
Classification includes a complete cycle of quality and safety assurance studies, starting with research into the hazards that threaten ships during their sea voyages and ending with the performance of regular inspections of the ship during its operation. These operations are divided into 2 groups:
– Before the issuance of the classification certificate (acceptance to classification)
– After the issuance of the classification certificate (maintenance of classification)
Acceptance to Classification
A similar operation to the quality assurance cycle that is carried out before issuing a classification certificate. This process is carried out in the following order:
– Research into the hazards that threaten the ship and the environment; such as the sea, waves, wind and other natural factors that affect the ship;
– Experimental and theoretical analysis of the various components of the ship and their operation in different situations, starting with calculating the strength of steel and other materials and continuing with testing complex equipment such as electronic and mechanical devices and hydraulic controls;
– Control and review of the ship’s construction drawings for compliance with the classification society’s classification rules and final approval of these drawings;
– Supervision of the procurement of materials used in construction and ensuring their suitability for marine use;
– Inspection and ensuring that the ship is built according to the construction drawings and the classification society’s rules;
– Supervising the testing of ship machinery and its operation on shore and at sea;
– Issuing classification certificates for hull, machinery, refrigeration equipment and the like.
Maintaining the classification
The classification society’s function after issuing the classification certificate is to conduct inspections and control the condition of the ship during the classification period. At this stage, the classification society ensures the repair and maintenance of the ship and its current technical and safety condition by conducting periodic inspections.
Basis for assigning a classification
The assignment of a specific classification means that the classification society:
Before an existing ship is assigned a classification, it must undergo periodic inspections appropriate to its age and type.
Maintenance of Classification
In order to maintain the classification of a ship, the owner must:
– Provide the classification society with complete and accurate information about the ship and its use to assess the condition of the ship in terms of compliance with the rules.
– Subject the ship to the prescribed periodic and reclassification surveys and surveys for damage, repair, conversion and alteration.
– Subject the ship to unscheduled surveys if necessary.
– Correct the defects and deficiencies observed by the classification society inspectors within the specified time period.
Maps required for checking entry into the classification
General arrangement
Midship and framing sections
Capacity plan
Lines and body plan
Scantling profile and scantling deck plans
Bottom construction
Machinery casings
Shell expansion
Engine and main auxiliary foundations
Bow framing
Stern framing
Shaft and propeller
Superstructure and deckhouse and their closing arrangements
Anchor handling arrangements
Docking plan
Stability booklet
Engine room arrangement
Fire and bilge piping system
Fuel oil service and transfer system
Steering gear system
Safety equipment arrangement plan
Power distribution plan
Main engine control system
Alarm system
Shafting and propeller
Fire control plan
Life saving plan
Certificate of Approval of Materials, Parts and Equipment
The materials, parts and equipment used in vessels undergoing classification must either have a factory approval certificate or be tested in accordance with the rules and standards of the classification society and a certificate of approval issued.
Damage Survey
If the hull, machinery or equipment subject to classification suffers damage to such an extent that the classification is conditional, the classification society shall be informed without delay. The ship shall be surveyed at the first port of call or as otherwise directed by the society. The survey shall be to the extent that the surveyor considers necessary to determine the extent of the damage.
Cancellation of classification
– The classification society may cancel the classification of a ship whenever the obligations regarding the maintenance and operation of the vessel or the requirements for maintaining the classification are violated.
– Cancellation of classification can be implemented immediately or within a specified period.
– If the re-classification inspections for the hull, machinery, equipment related to the original classification status are not carried out before the expiry of the certificate or if the delay has not been previously approved by the classification society, the delay is considered unauthorized and the ship’s classification is immediately and automatically cancelled.
– In the event of the transfer of the ship to another country or ownership, the classification documents and inspections carried out on the ship before the transfer must be provided to the transferee. The transferee, if he wishes, can proceed to obtain new certificates by concluding a new contract with the classification society.
If the outstanding debt to the Company is not paid, the Company may cancel the classification by giving one month’s written notice. This also applies to payment obligations of the ship’s manufacturer or previous owner. In exceptional cases, a longer period may be granted.
– Cancellation of classification may be made conditional, so that its implementation will take effect if the owner eliminates the conditions leading to cancellation of classification within the specified period.
Reclassification
If the circumstances leading to the cancellation of the classification are reversed or amended, the classification society may, at the request of the owner, restore the ship’s classification. As a condition, the society may require the owner to carry out certain inspections or make specified amendments.
Inspection and approval of repairs or modifications to a ship
The purpose of inspecting and supervising repairs and modifications is to ensure that any operations are carried out in accordance with the rules and standards of the classification society or based on internationally accepted standards.
Inspections during repairs and modifications are a continuous supervision of all operations, which includes the stages of approving drawings, approving materials used in repairs and modifications, confirming the skills of personnel involved in repairs, confirming the quality of work, testing individual devices, general testing of the vessel and finally handing over the ship.
Types of inspections for classification and entry into class
INITIAL SURVEY
This inspection is a complete inspection of the ship’s hull, all safety and radio equipment, navigation equipment, and all main and auxiliary machinery and electrical systems of the ship, which is carried out before the ship is put into operation and at the time of entry into classification. If the complete safety of the hull and all equipment is confirmed, it leads to the issuance of a certificate of entry into class.
ANNUAL SURVEY CLASS)
This survey is a general survey carried out to ensure that the condition of the vessel is maintained as it was when it entered the class, so that, if approved, the vessel’s class certificates can be extended for another year.
(INTERMEDIATE SURVEY CLASS)
This survey is carried out within 3 months before or 3 months after the second and third years of the safety survey of the ship’s hull or machinery and can be considered in place of one of the annual surveys of the class.
PERIODIC SURVEY
Periodic surveys include inspection and practical testing of the relevant equipment to ensure that the vessel is in a satisfactory condition before the issuance of the certificate. This survey can be carried out annually or three months before or three months after the second and third years of the classification in the case of the vessel’s equipment.
CLASS RENEWAL SURVEY )
In this inspection, all certificates, record books, equipment operation books and other required documents must also be checked and approved.
(DRY DOCK SURVEY OF SHIPS BOTTOM)
This inspection must be carried out twice every 5 years, so that 2 and a half years after the first inspection in the dock, another underwater inspection must be carried out. This inspection can be carried out every 2.5 years, 2 years, 3 years or 3 years, 2 years.
CSM – CONTINUOUS SURVEY OF MACHINERY
The inspection of machinery and equipment is carried out for a period of 5 years. This inspection can be carried out in full during a major overhaul and under the supervision of a classification expert or it can be carried out over a period of 5 years and at appropriate times respectively.
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