98030 Bulk Carrier Problems

Bulk Carrier Problems
Report No. 98030

The publication of the last DERBYSHIRE report gives more weight to the claims that the actual hatch cover design strength is insufficient for large bulk carriers to meet stormy conditions safely. This was previously highlighted by Lord Donaldson and many other concerned members of the shipping industry such as Professor D Faulkner. This weakness comes in addition to some other recognised design handicaps of bulk carriers - reduced scantlings, vulnerability of single side shells, weak corrugated bulkheads and lack of a protective forecastle.

These deficiencies are themselves aggravated by factors like fatigue, cracking, local stresses, corrosion, stevedore malpractice, high local inertia, etc. The result is that the seaworthiness of many bulk carriers can now be questioned and that serious hazardous conditions are present as per the spirit and the letter of the ISM Code. In the long run, the IMO will probably address those issues but in the meantime, something has to be done by the bodies which have the best knowledge of a dangerous accumulation of hazardous conditions - the Classification Societies.

They maintain information data banks which are growing daily and which are not generally available to masters. They are employing experts who are supposed to be among the most competent to assess the value of the new fact. Furthermore, as recently stressed by Lord Donaldson, only IACS is in the position to issue drastic new recommendations on a basis broad enough to cope with the most competitive advantage and is now doing this regarding the strengthening of hatch covers on new built ships. Regarding, for instance, the recent mistrust about the provisions of the Load Line Convention of 1966, if the concern is so severe that these provisions must be changed, those who are now aware of the risk should, as soon as possible, issue a recommendation to increase the freeboard on all existing ships concerned.

Perhaps it is also worth studying a better cargo distribution to reduce longitudinal inertia. Lives are at stake and IACS, through its member societies is able to reach and quickly warn the Designated Persons concerned with the management of vulnerable bulk carriers.