MANDATORY IMO PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR PROTECTIVE COATINGS ON SHIPS
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS - For Ballast Tanks
Latest industry news and reports from Safinah Ltd - July 2006
Regulations of concern: SOLAS Reg. II-1/3-2 and XII/6.3
Introduction
There has been much controversy surrounding these regulations and considerable effort has been made by both yards and owners alike to achieve a performance standard for ballast tank coatings, which is acceptable to all.
The end result is a Mandatory Standard that is likely to come into force as soon as December 2006. The time line of implementation has not been finalised but the latest information indicates the plan outlined below.
Additionally, one date, Jan 2007, is proposed by IACS (International Association of Classification Societies) to introduce requirements some 18 months ahead of the IMO agreed timetable.
The proposed time line for implementation is summarised in the table below:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Feb 2006 | Working group meeting to finalise final draft |
| May 2006 | Final details agreed |
| Jul 2006 | SOLAS XII/6.3 comes into force (1st July) |
| Dec 2006 | Draft MSC Resolution to be adopted |
| Jan 2007 | According to Tradewinds article of July 06 IACS will introduce requirements for all new building contracts dated after Jan 1st 2007 |
| July 2008 | From 1st July application for all ships of not less than 500 gross tonnage and double sided skin spaces arranged in bulk carriers of length 150m and upward – IMO MSC proposal |
| Jan 2009 | From 1st Jan 2009 it will apply to keels laid on or after this date. |
| July 2012 | Applicable to vessels delivered after the 1st July 2012. |
A close reading of the standard indicates that there will be many changes required and some considerable challenges to be faced by all parties.
A summary of the key elements for our key customer types is given below. This should serve as an aid to you, which together with the time line above should help ensure that you schedule the changes you need to make in good time to meet the requirements of the standard.
Things to do:
For The Paint Company
- Obtain type approval by any of the methods acceptable for either epoxy or non epoxy coatings
- Demonstrate compatibility of coating systems with Shop primer systems – there is an ambiguity here as to responsibility for this
- Target life 15 years – How to guarantee it?
- No M&R requirements defined – this makes it unclear what the 15 years really means
- Prepare material to insert into Coating Technical File of the ship
- Ensure personnel are suitably qualified
- Update Data sheet information to bring into line with IMO requirements
For the ship owner
- Develop system to record maintenance work in Coating Technical File
- Agree procedures for inspection during new build
- Re-write standard paint schemes in line with requirements.
- Ensure personnel are suitably qualified.
For the shipyard
- Shipyard work records to be retrievable and placed in Coating Technical File.
- Approved inspection procedures to be implemented
- Inspection records to be verified
- Re-write standard yard schemes to be in line with new requirements.
- Ensure all processes meet the requirements for surface preparation and coating application.
- Define new QC procedures for new testing requirements
- Define procedures for repair work during new build period.
- Ensure personnel are suitably qualified
- Identify cost and time impact of adopting new requirements.
- Ensure adequate investment in facilities to meet requirements
It is likely that other standards will shortly follow for voids and although these are likely to be less stringent than those for ballast tanks, we will review them when they arise.
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