Section 3 Ship Arrangements

3.1.1 The requirements and provisions laid down in this Section are partly derived from the ADN. They form an integral part of LR’s Rules for Inland Waterways Ships. Reference is made to the general terms described in Pt 4, Ch 4, 1.1 Application and definitions. Further ADN requirements have been included in the Rules for machinery, electrical and control Engineering and Fire Requirements as applicable.

3.2.1 In accordance with ADN requirements, the maximum permissible capacity of a cargo tank shall be determined in accordance with Table 4.3.1 Maximum permissible capacity of cargo tanks where Loa x Boa x D is the product of the main dimensions of the ship, in metres, in accordance with the measurement certificate as issued by the competent National Authorities. For vessels with a trunk, D shall be replaced by D’, where D’ shall be obtained from the following formula:

Attention is drawn to Pt 4, Ch 4, 3.6 Special requirements for Type C tankers concerning the special requirements for Type C tankers.

3.2.2 According to Table 4.3.1 Maximum permissible capacity of cargo tanks, the maximum tank capacity is limited to 380 m³ irrespective of the size of the ship. The ADN, however, offers deviations of the prescribed tank capacities, provided the crash worthiness of the vessel is suitably increased. In this case the increased collision capabilities are to be proven by additional direct and statistical calculations. These calculations should be submitted to, and be approved by, the appropriate Classification Society.

3.2.3 In case of ships not falling under the competence of the ADN the maximum permissible capacity of a cargo tank will be specially considered.

3.2.4 Independent cargo tanks are to be provided with collision chocks and arrangements to prevent floating of the tank in case of ballasting or leakage into the cargo compartment space.

3.2.5 Underdeck service spaces located in the cargo area shall be easily accessible and shall permit the safe operation of all equipment contained therein by persons wearing protective clothing and safety devices. They shall be designed so as to allow injured or unconscious personnel to be removed from such spaces without difficulties by means of fixed equipment.

3.2.6 Cofferdams, double hull spaces, double bottoms, cargo tanks, hold spaces and other accessible spaces within the cargo area shall be arranged so that they can be completely inspected and cleaned in an appropriate way. The dimensions of openings, except for those of double hull spaces and double bottoms which do not have a common boundary with the cargo tanks, shall be sufficient to allow a person wearing breathing apparatus to enter or leave the space without difficulties. These openings shall have a minimum cross-sectional area of 0,36 m² and a minimum width of 0,50 m. They shall be designed so as to allow injured or unconscious personnel to be removed from the bottom of the space without difficulties by means of fixed equipment. In these spaces, the free distance for passage between the reinforcements shall not be less than 0,50 m. In double bottoms, this distance may be reduced to 0,45 m.

3.2.7 Cargo tanks may have circular access openings with a diameter of not less than 0,68 m.

3.2.8 Cargo tank openings shall be located on deck in the cargo area. Cargo tank openings with a cross-section of more than 0,10 m² shall be located not less than 0,50 m above deck.

3.2.9 All accommodation and service spaces are to be provided with natural or mechanical ventilation of sufficient capacity.

3.2.10 Ventilation ducts of under deck service spaces located in the cargo zone shall extend down to 50 mm above the bottom of the service space. The air inlets shall be located not less than 2,00 m above the deck, at a distance not less than 2,00 m from tank openings and 6,00 m from the openings of safety valves. The extension pipes, if necessary, may be of the hinged type. For ventilation of cargo pumprooms, see also Pt 5, Ch 13, 1.7 Cargo pump-room ventilation.

3.2.11 Means are to be provided to prevent spark formation within the cargo zone.

3.2.12 Where a ventilation system ensuring an overpressure in accomodations wheelhouses or service spaces has been fitted and the electrical equipment in these spaces is not of the limited explosion risk type the windows are not to be capable of being opened.

3.2.13 Arrangements are to be made to contain minor spillage of the cargo.

3.2.14 Access to spaces in the cargo zone is to be direct from the upper deck.

3.2.15 Any opening in the deck in way of the cargo zone, such as for tank cleaning, sounding and taking cargo samples, is to be fitted with closing appliances which are oil and gastight at the appropriate test pressures. The number of openings is to be kept to a minimum. See also Pt 3, Ch 11, 5 Hatchways for cargo tanks and Pt 3, Ch 11, 6 Hatch cover securing arrangements and tarpaulins.

3.2.16 Fittings within cargo tanks, pump-rooms and cofferdams are to be effectively secured to the structure.

3.2.17 If below-deck cargo pump-rooms are fitted, easy access is to be provided and ladders should not be arranged vertically. Suitable handrails are to be provided.

3.2.18 Where the vessel is provided with hold spaces, the double bottoms within these spaces may be arranged as liquid fuel oil tanks, provided their depth is not less than 0,60 m.

3.2.19 For air and sounding pipes on cofferdams, see Pt 5, Ch 13, 2.3 Air and sounding pipes.

3.3.1 The vessel shall be designed so as to prevent gases from penetrating into the accommodation and the service spaces. This requirement does not apply to ships of Type N Open.

3.3.2 Pumps, compressors and cargo piping shall be located in the cargo area. Cargo pumps and compressors situated on deck shall be located not less than 6,00 m from entrances to, or openings of, the accommodation and service spaces outside the cargo area. The above requirements do not apply to ships of Type N Open with the exemption of ships of Type N Open carrying corrosive liquids of Class 8.

3.3.3 The distance required by Pt 4, Ch 4, 3.3 Protection against the ingress of gases within accommodations and entrances 3.3.2 may be reduced to 3,00 m if a transverse bulkhead complying with Pt 4, Ch 4, 3.3 Protection against the ingress of gases within accommodations and entrances 3.3.4 is situated at the end of the cargo area. The openings shall be provided with doors.

3.3.4 The lower edges of door-openings in the sidewalls of superstructures and the coamings of access hatches to under-deck spaces shall have a height of not less than 0,50 m above the deck. This requirement need not be complied with if the wall of the superstructures facing the cargo area extends from one side of the ship to the other and has doors with sill heights of at least 0,50 m. The height of this wall shall be not less than 2,00 m. In this case, the lower edges of dooropenings in the sidewalls of superstructures and of coamings of access hatches behind this wall shall have a height of at least 0,10 m. The sills of engine-room doors and the coamings of its access hatches shall, however, always have a height not less than 0,50 m. The above requirements do not apply to ships of Type N Open.

3.3.5 In the cargo zone, the lower edge of hatches and openings in sidewalls of houses or superstructures shall have a height of at least 0,50 m above the deck. This requirement does not apply to openings of sidetanks and double bottoms and to ships of Type N Open.

3.3.6 The engine rooms shall be accessible from the deck; the entrances shall not face the cargo area. Where the doors are not located in a recess whose depth is at least equal to the door width, the hinges shall face the cargo area. This last requirement does not apply to bilge and bunkerboats.

3.3.7 Entrances of engine rooms shall be at a distance of not less than 2,00 m from the cargo area.

3.3.8 Ventilation inlets of the engine room, and when the engines do not take in air directly from the engine room, air intakes of the engines, shall be located not less than 2,00 m from the cargo area.

3.3.9 Accommodation spaces and the wheelhouse shall be located outside the cargo area forward of the fore vertical plane or abaft the aft vertical plane bounding the part of cargo area below deck. Windows of the wheelhouse which are located not less than 1,00 m above the bottom of the wheelhouse may tilt forward.

3.3.10 Entrances to spaces and openings of superstructures shall not face the cargo area. Doors opening outward and not located in a recess the depth of which is at least equal to the width of the doors shall have their hinges face the cargo area. This last requirement does not apply to bilge and bunkerboats.

3.3.11 Entrances and windows of superstructures and accommodation spaces which can be opened as well as other openings of these spaces shall be located not less than 2,00 m from the cargo area. Wheelhouse doors and windows shall not be located within 2,00 m from the cargo area, except where there is no direct connection between the wheelhouse and the accommodation. This requirement does not apply to bilge and bunkerboats.

3.3.12 Where a ventilation system ensuring an overpressure in accommodation, wheelhouses or service spaces has been fitted and the electrical equipment in these spaces is not of the limited explosion risk type, the windows are not to be capable of being opened.

3.3.13 Cofferdams shall be accessible through an access hatch having a coaming of at least 500 mm. If the cofferdam is integral with the double hull side tanks it may also be accessed through the sidetank.

3.4.1 The air pipes of all fuel oil tanks shall be led to 0,50 m above the open deck. The outlets of funnels shall be located not less than 2,00 m from the cargo area. Arrangements shall be provided to prevent the escape of sparks and the entry of water.

3.4.2 Where it is intended to carry cargoes which react hazardously with one another, they are to be separated by cofferdams, pump-rooms, void spaces, other cargo tanks or slop tanks which separate the two cargo tanks completely. In addition, there is to be corresponding segregation of the pumping and piping systems and tank vent systems.

3.5.1 The ratio of the cargo tank length over the diameter is not to exceed seven.

3.5.2 In the cargo area, the hull shall be designed as follows:

1. As a double-hull and double-bottom vessel. The internal distance between the sideplatings of the vessel and the longitudinal bulkheads shall not be less than 0,80 m, the height of the double bottom shall be not less than 0,60 m, the cargo tanks shall be supported by saddles extending between the tanks to not less than 20° below the horizontal centreline of the cargo tanks. Refrigerated cargo tanks shall be installed only in hold spaces bounded by double-hull spaces and double-bottom;

   or

   As a single hull vessel whereby the sideshell has been stiffened by stringers fitted over the full depth of the ship at a maximum spacing of 0,60 m, supported by web frames at a maximum spacing of 2,00 m. The side stringers and the web frames shall have a height of not less than 10 per cent of the depth, with a minimum of 0,30 m. The side stringers and web frames shall be fitted with flatbars made of flat steel and having a crosssection of not less that 7,5 cm² and 15 cm², respectively;

   The distance between the sideplating of the vessel and the cargo tanks shall not be less than 0,80 m. The distance between the bottom of the vessel and the cargo tanks shall not be less than 0,60 m. The distance between the bottom of the vessel and the suction well shall not be less than 0,50 m.

   The distance between the suction well of the cargo tanks and the bottom structure shall not be less than 0,10 m.

   or

   A different design of the hull in the cargo area can also be considered, provided proof can be supplied by means of direct calculations that in the event of a lateral collision with another vessel having a straight bow, an energy of 22 MJ can be absorbed without any rupture of the cargo tanks and the piping leading to the cargo tanks.

   The cargo tanks shall be supported by stools extending at least to a level of 10° below the horizontal centreline of the tanks.

2. The cargo tanks shall be fixed in such a way that they cannot float.

3. The capacity of a suction well shall be limited to 0,10 m³. For pressure cargo tanks, however, the capacity of a suction well may amount to 0,20 m³.

4. Profiles or struts connecting structural members of the sideshell with structural members on the longitudinal bulkhead are prohibited.

5. Profiles or struts connecting structural members of the bottom shell with structural members on the inner bottom are prohibited.

3.5.3 Hold spaces shall comply with the following:

1. The hold spaces shall be separated from the accommodation and service spaces outside the cargo area below deck by bulkheads provided with a Class A-60 fire protection insulation according to SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 3 - Definitions. A space of not less than 0,20 m shall be provided between the cargo tanks and the end bulkheads of the hold spaces. Where the cargo tanks have plane end bulkheads, this space shall be not less than 0,50 m.

2. The hold spaces and cargo tanks shall be capable of being inspected.

3. All spaces in the cargo area shall be capable of being ventilated. Means for checking their gas-free condition shall be provided.

3.5.4 Service spaces below deck shall comply with the following:

1. A space in the cargo area below deck may be arranged as a service space, provided that the bulkhead bounding the service space extends vertically to the bottom and the bulkhead not facing the cargo area extends from one side of the vessel to the other in one frame plane. This service space shall only be accessible from the deck.

2. The service space shall be watertight with the exception of its access hatches and ventilation inlets.

3.6.1 In the cargo area (except in way of the cofferdams) the vessel shall be designed as a flush-deck double-hull vessel, with double-hull spaces and double bottoms, but without a trunk. Cargo tanks independent of the vessel’s hull as well as refrigerated cargo tanks may only be installed in a hold space which is bounded by double-hull spaces and double bottoms in accordance with Pt 4, Ch 4, 3.6 Special requirements for Type C tankers 3.6.5. The cargo tanks shall not extend beyond the deck.

3.6.2 If sloptanks or tanks for residual cargo are fitted, their capacity is not to exceed 30 m³.

3.6.3 Where independent cargo tanks are installed in the cargo space, a space of not less than 0,50 m shall be provided between such tanks and the end bulkheads of the cargo space. In this case an insulated end bulkhead meeting at least the definition for Class ‘A-60’ according to SOLAS 74, Chapter II-2, Regulation 3 - Definitions, shall be deemed equivalent to a cofferdam. For pressure cargo tanks, the distance of 0,50 m may be reduced to 0,20 m.

3.6.4 A cofferdam, the centre part of a cofferdam or another space below deck in the cargo area may be arranged as a service space, provided the bulkheads bounding the service space extend vertically to the bottom. This service space shall only be accessible from the deck. The service space shall be watertight with the exception of its access hatches and ventilation openings.

3.6.5 For double hull ships whereby the cargo tanks are integrated in the ship’s structure, the distance between the side shell and the longitudinal cargo tank bulkhead shall be not less than 1,00 m. This distance may be reduced to 0,80 m, provided the following reinforcements are provided:

1. 25 per cent increase in the thickness of the deck stringer plate;

2. 15 per cent increase in the sideshell plating thickness;

3. Arrangement of a longitudinal framing system at the vessel’s side, where the depth of the longitudinals shall be not less than 0,15 m and the longitudinals shall have a face plate cross-sectional area of at least 7,0 cm².

4. Stringers or longitudinals are to be supported by web frames spaced not more than 1,80 m apart. This distance may be increased if the longitudinals are strengthened accordingly.

When a vessel is built according to the transverse framing system, an additional stringer system shall be arranged. The distance between the stringers shall not exceed 0,80 m and their depth shall not be less than 0,15 m, provided they are completely welded to the frames. The cross-sectional area of the facebar or faceplate shall not be less than 7,0 cm². The mean depth of the double bottoms shall not be less than 0,70 m. At no location however, shall the depth be less than 0,60 m. The depth below the suction wells should not be less than 0,50 m.

3.6.6 Special attention is drawn to the additional ADN requirements of Part 9 Section 9.4 whereby the width of the double hull can be varied in relation to additional strengthenings and deviations from the maximum tank capacity as prescribed by the ADN. Alternative arrangements will be specially considered and should be backed-up by additional direct and statistical calculations as required by the ADN. These calculations should be submitted for approval.

3.6.7 When a vessel is built with independent or refrigerated cargo tanks, the width of the side tanks and the depth of the double bottom should not be less than 0,80 and 0,60 m respectively.

3.6.8 Profiles or struts connecting structural members of the sideshell with structural members on the longitudinal bulkhead are not allowed.

3.6.9 Profiles or struts connecting structural members of the bottom shell with structural members on the bottom of the cargo tank are not allowed.

3.6.10 When the vessel is provided with pressure cargo tanks, these tanks shall be designed for a working pressure of 400 kPa (4 bar).

3.6.11 For vessels with a length of not more than 50,00 m, the length of a cargo tank shall not exceed 10 m. For vessels with a length of more than 50,00 m, the length of a cargo tank shall not exceed 0,20L. This provision does not apply to vessels with independent built-in cylindrical tanks having a length to diameter ratio ≤ 7.

3.6.12 The capacity of a suction well shall not exceed 0,10 m³.

3.6.13 The cargo tanks shall be separated from the accommodation, engine room and service spaces below deck outside of the cargo area, or from the ship’s end in the absence of such spaces, by cofferdams of at least 0,60 m in width.

3.6.14 The test pressure for the cargo tanks and residual cargo tanks shall not be less than 1,3 times the design pressure. The test pressure for the cofferdams and open cargo tanks shall not be less than 10 kPa (0,10 bar) gauge pressure. The testing of cargo tanks and cofferdams is to be in accordance with Pt 3, Ch 1, 7.3 Acceptance testing on completion.

3.6.15 Where fitted, the capacity of slop tanks or residual cargo tanks is not to exceed 30 m³. For further requirements regarding these tanks, see Pt 5, Ch 13, 3.10 Slop tanks and vessels intended for slops for Type C tankers and Type N tankers.

3.7.1 On double hull ships with integrated cargo tanks or independent cargo tanks, the distance between the side shell and the cargo tank bulkhead is to be at least 0,60 m. The distance between the bottom of the ship and the cargo tank bottom is to be at least 0,50 m. This height may be reduced to 0,40 m in way of the pump suctions. The vertical distance between the pump suction of a cargo tank and the bottom structure is to be at least 0,10 m. Where a vessel is constructed with hold spaces containing cargo tanks which are independent of the structure of the vessel, the double hull space is to comply with the above. If the minimum required dimensions of openings for inspection of the cargo tank as per Pt 4, Ch 4, 3.2 Hold spaces, cargo tanks and service spaces 3.2.6 are not feasible, it shall be possible to remove the cargo tanks easily for inspection.

3.7.2 When the vessel is provided with pressure cargo tanks, these tanks shall be designed for a working pressure of 400 kPa (4 bar).

3.7.3 For vessels with a length of not more than 50,00 m, the length of a cargo tank shall not exceed 10 m. For vessels with a length of more than 50,00 m, the length of a cargo tank shall not exceed 0,20L. This provision does not apply to vessels with independent built-in cylindrical tanks having a length to diameter ratio ≤ 7.

3.7.4 The cargo tanks shall be separated from the accommodation, engine room and service spaces below deck outside of the cargo area, or from the ship’s end in the absence of such spaces, by cofferdams of at least 0,60 m in width.

3.7.5 Where independent cargo tanks are installed in the cargo space, a space of not less than 0,50 m shall be provided between such tanks and the end bulkheads of the cargo space. In this case an insulated end bulkhead meeting at least the definition for Class ‘A-60’ according to SOLAS 74, Chapter II-2, Regulation 3 - Definitions, shall be deemed equivalent to a cofferdam. For pressure cargo tanks, the distance of 0,50 m may be reduced to 0,20 m.

3.7.6 A cofferdam, the centre part of a cofferdam or another space below deck in the cargo area may be arranged as a service space, provided the bulkheads bounding the service space extend vertically to the bottom. This service space shall only be accessible from the deck. The service space shall be watertight with the exception of its access hatches and ventilation openings.

3.7.7 Cargo tank openings shall be fitted with gastight closures closing devices capable of withstanding the test pressure in accordance with Pt 3, Ch 1 General.

3.7.8 The test pressure for the cargo tanks and residual cargo tanks shall not be less than 1,3 times the design pressure. The test pressure for the cofferdams and open cargo tanks shall not be less than 10 kPa (0,10 bar) gauge pressure. The testing of cargo tanks and cofferdams is to be in accordance with Pt 3, Ch 1, 7.3 Acceptance testing on completion.

3.7.9 Where fitted, the capacity of slop tanks or residual cargo tanks is not to exceed 30 m³. For further requirements regarding these tanks, see Pt 5, Ch 13, 3.10 Slop tanks and vessels intended for slops for Type C tankers and Type N tankers.

3.7.10 Any underdeck service space located in the cargo zone is to be provided with mechanical ventilation. The capacity is to be at least 20 air changes per hour. The ventilation exhaust ducts shall extend down to 50 mm above the bottom of the service space. The air inlets shall be located not less than 2,00 m above the deck, at a distance not less that 2,00 m from tank openings and 6,00 m from the openings of safety valves. The extension pipes, if necessary, may be of the hinged type.

3.7.11 Internal combustion engines for the vessel’s propulsion as well as internal combustion engines for auxiliary machinery shall be located outside the cargo area.