1. Introduction
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.836 – Recommendation on Loading Instruments – (Adopted on 6 February 1998) - Annex 2 - No.48 (1997) - Recommendation on Loading Instruments - 1. Introduction

1. Introduction

  1.1 These Recommendations may be used by IACS Member Societies in conjunction with their requirements and procedures when approving loading instruments for ships not yet fitted with an approved loading instrument.

  1.2 These recommendations are applicable to a loading instrument which is a computer based system consisting of a calculation program and the computer hardware on which it runs. Recommendations pertaining to the calculation program's system and functional specifications are contained in sections 3.1 and 4, respectively. Recommendations pertaining to the computer hardware specification for type approval are contained in section 3.2, see also section 1.8.

  1.3 The loading instrument is not a substitute for the approved loading manual.

  1.4 The loading instrument is ship specific onboard equipment and the results of the calculations are only applicable to the ship for which it has been approved.

  1.5 Ships having undertaken major alterations or conversions affecting longitudinal strength, such as lengthening or removal of decks, should be treated as new ships for the purpose of these Recommendations.

  1.6 The loading instrument approval process includes the following procedures for each ship:

  • 1. Data verification which results in Endorsed Test Conditions

  • 2. Approval of computer hardware, where necessary

  • 3. Installation Testing which results in a Program Installation Test Certificate

  1.7 The loading instrument's calculation program may receive general approval from the Society and be issued with a Certificate of Approval. In such cases, some stages of the data verification procedure may be waived for each specific ship as specified in 2.1.7.

  1.8 Hardware approval is intended to ensure that either a single computer is type approved in accordance with section 3.2 or that there are two nominated computers available in case of failure of one. If two nominated computers are available, type approval may be waived but both should be subject to installation testing. In addition, computers which are to be a part of a ship's network should be approved in accordance with the Society's relevant requirements.

  1.9 The calculation program may be issued with a Program Installation Test Certificate after a satisfactory installation test of the loading instrument has been carried out onboard the ship in accordance with the recommendations in section 2.3.

Parent topic: Annex 2 - No.48 (1997) - Recommendation on Loading Instruments
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