Section 1 General

1.1.1 The requirements of this Chapter are applicable to the Periodical Surveys set out in Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys. Except as amended at the discretion of the Committee, the periods between such surveys are as follows:

1. Annual Surveys, as required by Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.3.

2. Intermediate Surveys as required by Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.4.

3. Bottom Surveys as required by Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.6 and Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.7.

4. Special Surveys at five-yearly intervals, see Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.11. For alternative arrangements, see also Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.12, Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.13 and Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.18.

5. Complete Surveys of machinery at five-yearly intervals, see Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.20. For alternative arrangements, see also Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.21, Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.23, Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.26 and Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.27.

1.1.2 For craft assigned the Laid-up notation, in order to maintain the craft in class a general examination of the hull and machinery is to be carried out in lieu of the Annual Survey/Intermediate Survey and in addition an Underwater Examination (UWE) is to be carried out in lieu of the Special Survey, see Pt 1, Ch 3, 2.1 General 2.1.3, Pt 1, Ch 3, 5.1 General 5.1.4 and Pt 1, Ch 3, 7.1 Annual, Intermediate and Bottom Surveys 7.1.3.

1.1.3 When it has been agreed that the complete survey of the hull and machinery may be carried out on the Continuous Survey basis, all compartments of the hull and all items of machinery are to opened for survey in rotation to ensure that the interval between consecutive examinations of each part will not exceed five years, see Ch 2,Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.19 and Pt 1, Ch 2, 4.5 Existing service craft and yachts - Periodical Surveys 4.5.23.

1.1.4 For the frequency of surveys of screwshafts, tube shafts, propellers and water jet units, see Pt 1, Ch 3, 11 Screwshafts, tube shafts, propellers and water jet units.

1.2.1 At any time when a craft is undergoing alterations or damage repairs, any exposed parts of the structure normally difficult to access are to be specially examined, e.g. if any part of the main or auxiliary machinery is removed for any reason, the hull structure in way is to be carefully examined by the Surveyor, or when cement in the bottom or sheathing on decks is removed, the structure in way is to be examined before the cement or sheathing is relaid.

1.3.1 In the event that Lloyd’s Register (hereinafter referred to as ‘LR’) has cause to believe that its Rules and Regulations are not being complied with, LR reserves the right to perform unscheduled surveys of the hull and machinery as well as the applicable statutory requirements whether or not the appropriate statutory certificate has been issued by LR.

1.3.2 In the event of significant damage or defect affecting any craft, LR reserves the right to perform unscheduled surveys of the hull or machinery of other similar craft classed by LR and deemed to be vulnerable.

1.4.1 Surveys are to be held either by LR when so appointed, or by the Exclusive Surveyors to a National Administration or by an IACS Member when so authorised by the National Authority, or, in the case of Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificates or Safety Management Certificates, by any organisation authorised by the National Authority. In the case of dual classed craft, Convention certificates may be issued by the other Society with which the craft is classed provided this is recognised in a formal Dual Class Agreement with LR and provided the other Society is also authorised by the National Authority.

1.5.1 A Ballast Tank is a tank which is used solely for salt water ballast. A tank which is used for both cargo and salt water ballast will be treated as a salt water ballast tank when substantial corrosion has been found in that tank.

1.5.2  Spaces are separate compartments such as holds, tanks, cofferdams and void spaces bounding cargo holds, decks and the outer hull.

1.5.3  Enclosed space. An enclosed space is any place of an enclosed nature where there is a risk of death or serious injury from hazardous substances or dangerous conditions. Examples include, but are not limited to: boilers, pressure vessels, cargo spaces (cargo holds or cargo tanks), cargo space stairways, ballast tanks, double bottoms, double hull spaces, fuel oil tanks, lube oil tanks, sewage-tanks, pump-rooms, compressor rooms, cofferdams, void spaces, duct keels, inter-barrier spaces, engine crankcases, excavations and pits.

1.5.4  Suspect areas are locations within the hull structure vulnerable to increased likelihood of structural deterioration and may include:

1. For steel hulls, areas of substantial corrosion and/or fatigue cracking.

2. For aluminium alloy hulls, areas of fatigue cracking and areas in the vicinity of bimetallic connections.

3. For composite hulls, areas subject to impact damage.

4. For high speed craft (as defined in Pt 1, Ch 2, 2.2 Definitions 2.2.7), areas of the bottom structure forward prone to slamming damage.

1.5.5  Substantial corrosion is wastage of individual steel or aluminium plates and stiffeners in excess of 75 per cent of allowable margins, but within acceptable limits.

1.5.6  Protective coatings for steel craft should usually be hard coatings. Other coating systems (e.g. soft coating) may be considered acceptable as alternatives provided they are applied and properly maintained in compliance with the manufacturer's specification.

1.5.7  Coating condition for steel craft is defined as follows:

1.5.8 A Prompt and Thorough Repair is a permanent repair completed at the time of survey to the satisfaction of the Surveyor, therein removing the need for the imposition of any associated condition of class or recommendation.

1.5.9  Air pipe heads installed on the exposed decks are those extending above the freeboard deck or superstructure decks.

1.6.1 Any damage in association with wastage over the allowable limit (including buckling, grooving, detachment or fracture), or extensive areas of wastage over the allowable limits, which affects or, in the opinion of the Surveyor, will affect the craft’s structural, watertight or weathertight integrity, is to be promptly and thoroughly repaired. Areas to be considered include, (where fitted):

• side shell frames, their end attachments and adjacent shell plating;
• deck structure and deck plating;
• bottom structure and bottom plating;
• side structure and side plating;
• inner bottom structure and inner bottom plating;
• inner side structure and inner side plating;
• watertight or oiltight bulkheads;
• hatch covers and hatch coamings;
• the weld connection between air pipes and deck plating;
• air pipe heads installed on the exposed decks;
• ventilators, including closing devices.

For locations where adequate repair facilities are not available, consideration may be given to allow the craft to proceed directly to a repair facility. This may require discharging the cargo and/or temporary repairs for the intended voyage.

1.6.2 Additionally, when a survey results in the identification of structural defects or corrosion, either of which, in the opinion of the Surveyor, will impair the craft’s fitness for continued service, remedial measures are to be implemented before the craft continues in service.

1.6.3 Where the damage found on structure mentioned in Pt 1, Ch 3, 1.6 Repairs 1.6.1 is isolated and of a localised nature which does not affect the craft’s structural integrity (as, for example, a localised, isolated and very minor hole in a cross-deck strip), consideration may be given by the Surveyor to allow an appropriate temporary repair to restore watertight or weathertight integrity after careful evaluation of the surrounding structure and impose an associated Condition of Class with a specific short-term time limit in order to complete the repair and retain classification.

1.7.1 In order to enable the attending Surveyor(s) to carry out surveys, provisions for safe access and for surveys are to be agreed between the Owner and LR. Attention is drawn to the applicable recommendations in the IACS PR37 and/or IMO Recommendations For Entering Enclosed Spaces Aboard Ships, Resolution A.1050(27).

1.7.2 Means are to be provided to enable the Surveyor to examine the structure in a safe and practical way. Where the provisions of safety and required access are determined by the Surveyor not to be adequate, then the survey of the space(s) involved is not to proceed.

1.7.3 Spaces are to be made safe for access and surveys and are to be sufficiently cleaned, illuminated and ventilated.

1.7.4 In preparation for surveys, thickness measurements and to allow for a thorough examination, cleaning is to include removal from surfaces of all loose accumulated corrosion scale. Spaces are to be sufficiently clean and free from water, scale, dirt, oil residues, etc. to reveal corrosion, deformation, fractures, damages or other structural deterioration, as well as the condition of the protective coating. However, those areas of structure whose renewal has already been decided by the Owner need only be cleaned and descaled to the extent necessary to determine the limits of renewed areas.

1.7.5 Where soft or semi-hard coatings have been applied, safe access is to be provided for the Surveyor to verify the effectiveness of the coating and to carry out an assessment of the conditions of internal structures which may include spot removal of the coating. When safe access cannot be provided, the soft or semi-hard coating is to be removed.

1.7.6 Prior to entering an enclosed space, it is to be verified by a competent person using a calibrated multi-gas meter that the atmosphere in that space is free from hazardous gas and contains sufficient oxygen.

1.7.7 Emergency equipment and personnel are to be available in case of an emergency or rescue operation.

1.7.8 Information on procedures, equipment operating instructions and safety checklists is to be available.

1.7.9 During the survey, ventilation is to be ensured and periodic testing is to be carried out as necessary to verify that the atmosphere remains safe for access.