200232 Taking Soundings

Taking Soundings
Report No. 200232

Taking hold bilge and tank soundings is very important at sea for the safety of the vessel. However, is it really possible to do this with the flush deck sounding caps when shipping seas over the decks? No, it is not possible. This is the time when you need to know what is happening in No.1 Hold or in Fore Peak store, especially when sailing on a fully loaded bulk carrier. Some times, in the worst cases it will be more than a week until you can get to take the soundings. We are all aware of the dangerous consequences of not knowing the soundings, which could even lead to the vessel sinking. I strongly suggest that these areas must be provided with a bilge alarm system, so that action can be taken in good time in case of any flooding being detected.

New IACS proposals will extend the application of IACS UR S24 requiring the installation of water ingress detection and alarms in all cargo holds and spaces forward of cargo holds of existing bulk carriers, as well as new buildings with effect from 01/01/03.