Page 29 - Practical Design Ships and Floating Structures

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important. In addition to safety requirement, there are increasing demand from shipping companies for
operability and economy, which poses challenge to design technology.

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has been working hard in this respect
and set up new standards regarding roho ships, bulk carriers, tankers and materials application. IACS
is playing a significant role in reducing maritime disasters. Some of its technical standards have been
incorporated into the mandatory requirements of the International Maritime Organizations(IM0).

In 1999, IMO decided, as part of its safety objective for the new millenium (W. O'neil, 1999), to take
effective measures to identify at an early stage the factors affecting maritime safety, which is one of the
most far-reaching policies ever established since mid 90s in 20"' century. This means that Formal
Safety Assessment (FSA) will be adopted as a methodology to assess rule-making process in the areas
to which IMO attaches great importance. The key of FSA is to carry out risk assessment and
management to human element, ship type, especially passenger ships including high -speed crafts,
bulk carriers and tankers. IMO is endeavoring to increase the awareness of safety culture and
environmental protection, not to make new rules but improve the implementation of the existing rules.

IMO's endeavor has been firmly supported among shipping industries. An effective way towards
better implementation is to have dialogue with the experts from classification societies. The focus of
discussions is as follows :

How to define substandard ship
How to reduce maritime accidents arising from the fact that new construction of bulk carriers
engaged in unrestricted navigation areas is slowing down and existing bulk carriers that
cannot be alternated are in poor condition.
Shipbuilders adopt class rules as minimum construction standards to reduce costs while cost
will increase once ship owners raise the standards.
Absence of unified loading manual.
Upon delivery of vessels, the scope of application such as sea condition restrictions, corrosive
environment, is not in line with the requirements of ship owners
Absence of powerful computer software designed for loadinghnloading operations
Whether and how can class be involved in the safety guarantee and conditions of delivered
vessels provided by shipbuilders.
How to solve the inconsistency between corrosion margin and reduction of structural
scantlings resulting from direct calculation.
How to solve the decrease of structural fatigue strength as a result of new design approach.
Ballast exchange and induced cracks

Insurers are also concerned when facing such serious situation (M. Marshell, 1999). The International
Underwriting Association (IUA) put forward its definition of substandard ships. "Substandard" cannot
be defined by degree of compliance with rules and regulations. "Substandard" is the status of the ship
that poses threat to safety. To be specific, it includes the following implications:
- the events leading to accidents or vessels failing to survive harsh environment such as heavy
seas.
- the events deteriorating accidents if happens.