SURVEYS

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Periodical Surveys

To maintain the assigned class the vessel has to be examined by the Society’s

surveyors at regular periods.

The major hull items to be examined at these surveys only are indicated

below.

All steel ships are required to be surveyed at inter-

ANNUAL

SURVEYS

vals of approximately one year. These annual surveys are where practicable

held concurrently with statutory annual or other load line surveys. At the

survey the surveyor is to examine the condition of all closing appliances

covered by the conditions of assignment of minimum freeboard, the free-

board marks, and auxiliary steering gear particularly rod and chain gear.

Watertight doors and other penetrations of watertight bulkheads are also

examined and the structural fire protection verified. The general condition

of the vessel is assessed, and anchors and cables are inspected where

possible at these annual surveys. Dry bulk cargo ships are subject to an

inspection of a forward and after cargo hold.

Instead of the second or third annual survey

INTERMEDIATE

SURVEYS

after building or special survey an intermediate survey is undertaken. In

addition to the requirements for annual survey particular attention is paid

to cargo holds in vessels over 15 years of age and the operating systems of

tankers, chemical carriers and liquefied gas carriers.

Ships are to be examined in dry dock at intervals

DOCKING

SURVEYS

not exceeding 2½ years. At the drydocking survey particular attention is

paid to the shell plating, stern frame and rudder, external and through hull

fittings, and all parts of the hull particularly liable to corrosion and chafing,

and any unfairness of bottom.

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The Society may accept in-water surveys in lieu of

IN

WATER

SURVEYS

any one of the two dockings required in a five-year period. The in-water

survey is to provide the information normally obtained for the docking

survey. Generally consideration is only given to an in-water survey where a

suitable high resistance paint has been applied to the underwater hull.

All steel ships classed with Lloyd’s Register are

SPECIAL

SURVEYS

subject to special surveys. These surveys become due at five yearly intervals,

the first five years from the date of build or date of special survey for classi-

fication and thereafter five years from the date of the previous special survey.

Special surveys may be carried out over an extended period commencing

not before the fourth anniversary after building or previous special survey,

but must be completed by the fifth anniversary.

The hull requirements at a special survey, the details of the compart-

ments to be opened up, and the material to be inspected at any special

survey are listed in detail in the Rules and Regulations (Part 1, Chapter 3).

Special survey hull requirements are divided into four ship age groups as

follows:

1. Special survey of ships—five years old

2. Special survey of ships—ten years old

3. Special survey of ships—fifteen years old

4. Special survey of ships—twenty years old and at every special survey

thereafter.

In each case the amount of inspection required increases and more

material is removed so that the condition of the bare steel may be assessed.

It should be noted that where the surveyor is allowed to ascertain by drill-

ing or other approved means the thickness of material, non-destructive

methods such as ultrasonics are available in contemporary practice for this

purpose. Additional special survey requirements are prescribed for oil

tankers, dr y bulk carr iers, chemical carriers and liquefied gas carriers.

When classification is required for a ship not built under the supervision

of the Society’s surveyors, plans showing the main scantlings and arrange-

ments of the actual ship are submitted to the Society for approval. Also

supplied are particulars of the manufacture and testing of the materials of

construction, together with full details of the equipment. Where plans, etc.,

are not available, the Society’s surveyors are to be allowed to lift the relev-

ant information from the ship. At the special survey for classification all the

hull requirements for special surveys (1), (2), and (3) are to be carried out.

Ships over twenty years old are also to comply with the hull requirements of

special survey (4), and oil tankers must comply with the additional require-

ments stipulated in the Rules and Regulations. During this survey the

surveyor assesses the standard of the workmanship, and verifies  the scant-

lings and arrangements submitted for approval. It should be noted that

the special survey for classification will receive special consideration from

Lloyd’s Register in the case of a vessel transferred from another recognized

Classification Society. Periodical surveys where the vessel is classed are sub-

sequently held as in the case of ships built under survey, being dated from

the date of special survey for classification

Damage Repairs

When a vessel requires repairs to damaged equipment or to the hull it is

necessary for the work to be carried out to the satisfaction of Lloyd’s Register

surveyors. In order that the ship maintains its class, approval of the repairs

undertaken must be obtained from the surveyors either at the time of the

repair or at the earliest opportunity