Guidance notes

Extended Dry Dockings

The potential for greater flexibility

Overview
Lloyd’s Register has been exploring the potential for greater flexibility which may be achieved by extending the
five-yearly docking survey cycle to 7.5 years.

For five years, we have been carrying out a pilot scheme for Extended Dry Dockings with a major containership operator.
Under the scheme, certain dry dockings are replaced by in-water surveys (IWS) carried out by approved diving companies.
The procedures agreed with the operator and with the Danish Maritime Authority, as well as other flags, have been
carefully thought through and are in no way a reduction of the controls provided by the special survey regime. The scheme
is predicated on a number of factors to secure class and flag state approval. Safety is always the paramount concern. To
date, the combination of our procedures, the involvement of a first-class operator and experienced flag states, is providing
appropriate oversight with respect to safety.

Standard 3 year docking cycles

Year 0 Year 5 Year 10 Year 15 Year 20

CSH/SS CSH/SS CSH/SS CSH/SS CSH/SS

DS IWS DS IWS 10 YEAR

DS IWS DS IWS DS IWS 15 YEAR

DS IWS DS IWS DS IWS DS Additional IWS 20 YEAR

7.5 Year extended cycles

CSH/SS CSH/SS CSH/SS CSH/SS CSH/SS

20 YEAR

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ Commencing at Newbuild 2 cycles

DS IWS IWS DS IWS IWS DS
Renewal
Renewal Renewal
survey in
survey afloat survey afloat
dock
Commencing at 5 Years 2 cycles
▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲
DS IWS DS IWS IWS DS IWS IWS DS

Renewal Renewal
Renewal Renewal
survey in survey in
survey afloat survey afloat
dock dock

Figure 1: Alternative docking arrangements

Potential benefits
The benefits to operators are increased flexibility in choosing a dry docking window and, with proper maintenance
programmes in place, the potential for the hull to stay in water for up to 7.5 years increasing the availability of the vessel.
Some operators may be able to realise benefits and, potentially, cost savings but those considering the scheme need to
carefully consider the implications – on operating costs and maintenance planning – of pushing the docking cycle out to
7.5 years.

Extended Dry Dockings

© Lloyd's Register 2010
Eligibility
Extended docking survey cycles will not be appropriate or possible for all types of ship. The pilot scheme has been focused
on larger container ships, but smaller container ships, LNG carriers and general cargo ships may qualify. Bulk carriers and
tankers are excluded from consideration due to the Enhanced Survey requirements under which a docking survey is
required at each Special Survey.

The operators of ships involved must take a demonstrable and sophisticated approach to the maintenance and
management of ship operations. Requirements while in water include the arrangements for examination, testing and
maintenance that would normally be required during a dry docking. Coatings must be of a high quality suitable
for extended docking cycles and in line with the manufacturer's guidelines and an impressed current cathodic protection
system should be fitted Ships should ideally have been operated by the Company from new, and operated by a company
with a proven track record. They should also have a good record of flag and port state control inspection.

Requirements and technical considerations

The following are the requirements which must be met and the issues that must be considered before acceptance into the
pilot EDD scheme:

1. Ship type

In accordance with IMO resolution A744 (18), the scheme cannot be applied to Enhanced Survey Programme vessels –
most bulk carriers and tankers – and under the SOLAS Convention it cannot be applied to passenger vessels. Due to
trading patterns, current owner-planned maintenance and original design, it is currently only being considered
applicable to internationally trading container ships. However, other ship types (including short sea trade container
ships and LNG carriers) could possibly be considered.

2. Flag administration acceptance

As the method of the inspection of the outside of the ship’s bottom is a statutory requirement, the flag administration
will need to agree to the inclusion of a specified vessel and owner on the scheme. In the past the UK, Danish and
Singapore flags have agreed to consider the scheme for individual vessels. Liberia and Marshall Islands are currently
initiating the scheme, and it is understood that the German and Antigua & Bermuda flag administrations have agreed
schemes.

3. Age of ship

The ideal age for commencement of EDD is for ships between 0-5 years of age. Ships less than 10 years of age may be
considered for the scheme (except for Enhanced Survey Programme ships) and are required to be inspected in dry dock
at intervals not exceeding 7.5 years. Ships over 15 years of age being considered will need to be inspected in dry dock
unless specially considered and agreed otherwise.

4. Notations and historical classification

Vessels must have been classed from construction with an IACS society and have been assigned the class notation
IWS* and the descriptive note ShipRight SCM, or meet the rule/regulation requirements for the notations.

MPMS (Machinery Planned Maintenance Scheme), CSM (Continuous Survey Machinery) and CSH (Continuous Survey
Hull) are not considered by Lloyd’s Register to be mandatory requirements for EDD.

Extended Dry Dockings

© Lloyd's Register 2010
5. External coatings

The documented service experience of the hull high-quality paint system is to be submitted for review.

The manufacturer will need to provide the specific criteria against which the coating will be valid for a 7.5 year period.
One coating manufacturer has already advised that the coating is only valid for 7.5 years if the vessel utilisation is 70%,
at an average speed of 22 knots and an idle time of a maximum of 14 days. Note: this implies that a vessel will not be
eligible for the scheme after lengthy lay-up.

Ships should, as far as is practicable, avoid operation in ice. Where this is unavoidable, hull and paint coatings shall be
inspected and restored soon afterwards. Records of such paint or other damage shall be maintained.

6. Other corrosion protection

All bolted sacrificial anodes to the hull are to be capable for renewal in water.

Monitoring of the impressed current corrosion protection system for effectiveness is to be a part of the company’s
managed maintenance programme. Records must be available for review by Lloyd’s Register annually.

The ballast tank coatings are to be maintained in good condition

7. Access arrangements

The sea valves are to be accessible when afloat (for examination by using external blanking pieces, for example).
Access to take rudder and pintle clearances while afloat should be verified.

8. Special Survey

Special Surveys are to be carried out in full and therefore chain cables will need to be ranged after 10 years, and
thereafter every five years. This should be taken into consideration for older vessels or vessels on the scheme for the
long term.

9. Planning and IWS

A survey planning document will need to be submitted well in advance of each IWS survey. A copy of the plan will also
need to be submitted to the flag administration for review and agreement at each IWS survey for EDD.

A pre-survey meeting is to be held at the survey location with all involved parties: the EDD planning questionnaire,
details of hull markings and appropriate drawings are to be made available for guidance.

The diving company and location of in-water surveys are to be specially considered by class and flag administration at
each survey.

The scope of IWS surveys is to be as specified in Lloyd’s Register’s regulations, with a Lloyd’s Register surveyor in
attendance.

In cases where an in-water survey is unsatisfactory, the owner is to book a dry dock within one month of the IWS.

A comprehensive written report of each in-water survey and any work undertaken is to be submitted to Lloyd’s
Register and the flag administration, including good quality CCTV images.

Extended Dry Dockings

© Lloyd's Register 2010
10. Memo

If a Lloyd’s Register classed vessel is agreed for EDD, a memo will be assigned to it. This is to enable the EDD scheme to
continue, as the current flag administrations only agree to an initial period with a review required every 2.5 years.

Summary
EDD may be appropriate for prudent owners, offering them a greater degree of flexibility for their Dry Docking Schedules
and allowing them to carry out continuous surveys and use in-water surveys to monitor underwater areas.

The future use of EDD looks promising on the evidence of performance to date. It requires a pro-active approach by
shipmanagers to move beyond the current mainstream prescriptive requirements. It is in an operator's best interests to
avoid the risk of unscheduled, and costly, dockings by prioritising well documented maintenance and inspections in support
of safety.

Members of the Lloyd’s Register Group will work closely with owners who qualify for, and wish to apply, the scheme.
Operators should fully investigate the requirements and the realities of extended docking cycles. The potential of this
scheme is in complementing a sophisticated approach to operational maintenance.

For further information, contact: classificationgroup@lr.org

Extended Dry Dockings

© Lloyd's Register 2010