Tripartite 2009

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Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Ian Harrison

Intercargo Technical Manager

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Introduction

Operational and Regulatory Challenges ↔ Design Challenges

Examples:

• Cargo Residues• Excessive Loading Rates• IMSBC Code

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

MARPOL Annex V (Garbage) and Cargo Residues

Definitions• Cargo Residue is defined as garbage in guidelines• Cargo hold washing water not defined – although interpreted as

garbage

Requirements• Must be discharged when greater than 12 nm from shore• Cannot be discharged in a special area

Special Areas a Problem• Bulk carriers generally not design to handle washing water• Adequate port reception facilities for washing water

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

MARPOL Annex V (Garbage) and Cargo Residues

Recent special areas• Gulfs Area became effective in August 2008• Mediterranean Area became effective May 2009

Reception Facilities in Special Areas (Gulf and Med)• PRF must be in place before special area becomes effective• MEPC 59 Intercargo and BIMCO paper• Circular issued (MEPC.1/Circ. 675)

Next steps• Continuation of review of Annex V • Possible IMSBC Code reference to discharge requirements?

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Design Issues

Handling hold washing water

• Can be problematic– Holding tanks

– Pumps – large particles

– Cargo properties

– Coatings (PSPC?)

– Ballast water management systems

• Hold cleaning systems

• Possible treatment systems

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Design Issues

Images courtesy of EMS Ship Supply

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Design Issues

Courtesy of EMS Ship Supply

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Bulk Carrier Loading Rates

• Terminal requirements• Buoyant market → queuing → optimising loading

• Ponta da Madeira - Brazil– 16 000 t/hr

– Minimum ballast

– 14 hr turnaround

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Intercargo Survey

Key Findings:

• 85% of masters indicated that they considered such a rate of loading to be beyond the safe operational limits of their vessel:

– Manoeuvrability

– Hull structure

• Two thirds of respondents stated they had concerns with regard to structural stresses if loading at such a rate.

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Validation of Masters Views

• Manoeuvrability Study – BMT SeaTech– Concurred with Masters opinion

• ABS study – Confirmed many risks

• Submission of paper to IMO MSC 84 (MSC 84/INF.8)– Referred to DSC 13

– Considered by Correspondence Group reviewing BLU Code

– Reports to DSC 14 next week

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Outcome of Correspondence Group

• Reports to DSC 14 (DSC 14/7)

• Proposes an MSC Circular providing guidance:– Time taken for loading

– Arrival Condition

– Loading sequence

– During loading

– Consequences of failure to apply BLU Code• IACS Recommendation 46

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Design Issues

De-ballasting capacity

Typically two 2000-2500 M3/hr pumps (4000-5000 M3/hr total)

• Should this be increased?• Pump size• Power requirements• Piping systems (water and air)• BWM treatment systems

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Information

• IACS UR S1A

• Sample sequences often not realistic

• Information provision should be reviewed

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

IMSBC Code (formally BC Code)

• Revised and updated• Voluntary from Jan 2009• Mandatory from Jan 2011• New Schedules

– DRI

– Sulphur (formed)

• DSC 14 (next week)– Coal and ‘hot areas’

– DRI…

– Survey and certification

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Direct Reduced Iron (DRI)

What is it?• Iron Ore Pellets subjected to a reducing gas in a reactor• Oxygen chemically removed• Fe content increased from ~65% to ~85%• Pellets then formed – cold or hot moulded

What are the dangers?• Process is reversible – Fe re-oxidises• Oxidisation releases energy as heat – possible thermal runaway• Hydrogen also liberated

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Picture courtesy of Burgoynes

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Picture courtesy of Burgoynes

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Picture courtesy of Burgoynes

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

IMSBC Code: Direct Reduced Iron (DRI)

• DRI (A) Briquettes, hot moulded– Monitoring requirements

• DRI (B) Lumps, pellets, cold-moulded briquettes– Moisture <0.3%

– Hold must be inerted

– Monitoring requirements

• DRI (C) By products– Moisture <0.3%

– Hold must be inerted

– Monitoring requirements

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Picture courtesy of Burgoynes

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Picture courtesy of Burgoynes

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Picture courtesy of Burgoynes

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Picture courtesy of Burgoynes

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Picture courtesy of Burgoynes

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Design Issues

• DRI an extreme example– Are bulk carrier designed to carry DRI?

• Do we design bulk carriers around cargoes…?

• Are we ready for a mandatory IMSBC Code?

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Conclusions

Operational and Regulatory Challenges ↔ Design Challenges

Design and regulatory (& rule) development needs to consider:

• Operational environment – loading rates example

• Cargo properties – DRI example

• Feedback from designers – MARPOL Annex V example

Co-operation of all parties↓

Ships that are safe and fit for purpose

Design Issues for Bulk Carriers

Thank you