GUIDE FOR

SAFEHULL CONDITION ASSESSMENT –

BULK CARRIERS

SEPTEMBER 1994

American Bureau of Shipping

Incorporated by Act of the Legislature of
the State of New York 1862

Copyright © 1994
American Bureau of Shipping
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Foreword
This Guide has been prepared to make available the Bureau requirements for SafeHull Condition
Assessment Surveys associated with the ABS SAFEHULL CONDITION ASSESSMENT SERVICES
FOR BULK CARRIERS. The contents of this Guide are only applicable to SafeHull condition
assessment surveys and apply only to existing bulk carriers.

ABS GUIDE FOR SAFEHULL CONDITION ASSESSMENT – BULK CARRIERS iii

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SECTION 1 Introduction

The ABS SAFEHULL CONDITION ASSESSMENT SERVICES FOR BULK CARRIERS consist of three
parts:
(a) SafeHull Condition Assessment Survey
(b) Verification of Gaugings
(c) SafeHull Structural Evaluation
The contents of this Guide address the SafeHull Condition Assessment Survey and Verification of Gaugings
parts only.

The SafeHull Condition Assessment Survey is a very extensive survey of the vessel to determine and report
the condition of the hull structure, machinery plant, and level of maintenance. SafeHull Condition
Assessment is a service separate from Classification and should be considered as a supplement to Class.
Classification implies that a vessel meets a technical standard equal to or better than a minimum standard as
defined by Classification Rules. Whereas; SafeHull Condition Assessment describes and specifies the actual
condition at the time or survey.

The Verification of Gaugings is carried out during the SafeHull Condition Assessment Survey to provide an
accurate measure of the hull structure at the time of the survey. The gaugings are taken by an ABS Certified
Firm contracted by the owner, and the SafeHull Condition Assessment Survey team will verify that these
gaugings are in fact representative of the actual vessel condition. These gaugings are necessary for use in
calculating the strength of various plating and members of the hull structure during the third phase, the
SafeHull Structural Evaluation.

The SafeHull Structural Evaluation applies detailed computer based evaluation technology to assess
existing bulk carrier hull structures explicitly, recognizing the effects of corrosion, yielding, buckling and
fatigue. The SafeHull criteria, based on realistic dynamic loading and engineering first principles, allow for
the determination and assessment of the structural members of the midship region of the hull. An additional
phase of the SafeHull Structural Evaluation will be the definition of the corrosion pattern experienced by the
vessel and a projection of that pattern five years hence in order to define additional areas which could
experience critical stress levels in the future. This information can be used to plan monitoring schemes or
additional structural enhancement to ensure safe operation of the vessel.

Additional information on the application of the SafeHull structural evaluation for a vessel can be obtained
through any ABS office.

ABS GUIDE FOR SAFEHULL CONDITION ASSESSMENT – BULK CARRIERS 1

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SECTION 2 SafeHull Condition Assessment
Survey

1. When requested by the owner, the American Bureau of Shipping will carry out a survey independent
of normal class surveys in order to assess the condition and state of maintenance of a vessel’s hull,
machinery and equipment. At the completion of the survey, ABS will issue a report giving a
summary of the conditions found.
2. The SafeHull Condition Assessment Survey is an independent and thorough assessment of the vessel
based upon survey of the hull, machinery, and equipment as well as thickness measurements.
3. The SafeHull Condition Assessment Survey may cover the whole vessel or selected areas as requested
by the owner and would generally consist of the following:
- Hull
- Cargo Gear
- Equipment
- Machinery
- Galley and Crew’s Quarters
4. It is anticipated that a SafeHull Condition Assessment Survey will be carried out by a team of two (2)
Exclusive Surveyors.
5. Each item of the survey will be graded using the following standard scheme:
Grade 1 (Good) Condition superior in all respects; very well maintained; a condition of
unimpaired original strength and/or efficiency; no maintenance or repair
required.
Grade 2 (Satisfactory) Condition average; satisfactory condition; well maintained, deficiencies
of a minor nature not requiring correction; a condition of wear and tear of
such an extent as not to essentially affect original strength and/or
efficiency.
Grade 3 (Serviceable) Condition below average; condition of wear and tear of such and extent
as to reduce strength and/or efficiency to a degree short of necessity for
immediate corrective measures.
Grade 4 (Unsatisfactory) Condition below average; deficiencies requiring immediate corrective
measure or those carrying a condition of class.
Grade 5 (Unexamined) Conditions which could not be determined due to vessel being laden,
tanks and spaces not clean, etc.
6. A major consideration in the survey is to make an assessment of the physical condition of the vessel
taking into account the past service, age and extent of maintenance/repair that has been given to the individual
vessel under survey.

ABS GUIDE FOR SAFEHULL CONDITION ASSESSMENT – BULK CARRIERS 3

7. A specific program should be worked out in advance of the SafeHull Condition Assessment Survey
by the owner in cooperation with ABS. The program is to include conditions for survey, access, and
thickness measurement.
It is the intent of this guide that the survey be carried out at sea. However, should the owner so
request, surveys may be commenced by doing gaugings of some tanks during a yard period.
It is very important that the vessel, machinery and equipment should be cleaned to the extent that a
meaningful examination can be carried out.
Photographs will be taken as part of the documentation in general and will be included in the final
report.
8. Externally, the survey will note, in particular, the extent of steel wastage, the condition of cargo gear,
the deck machinery, and other weather exposed equipment. Any damage to the deck, shell plating
and superstructures will be noted.
Internally, and to the extent possible, cargo holds and ballast tanks will be surveyed with respect to
overall condition of coating, hold and tank boundaries and internal structure.
Thickness measurements are to be taken in accordance with the more severe of the following options:
a. Three girth belts within the cargo block. Girth belts, or transverse sections, are to include all
longitudinal members such as plating, longitudinal stiffeners and girders at the vessel deck,
side, inner-bottom, hatch coaming and sloping plating. The extent of gaugings is also to
include the plating and stiffeners of the transverse bulkhead in the region of each of the three
girth belts. The gaugings of stiffeners and main supporting members such as girders and
longitudinals are to include both the web and flange thicknesses. Girth belts are to be chosen
to include representative cargo holds and ballast tanks.
b. To the same extent as the next Special Survey. Gaugings taken in connection with the last
credited Special Survey may be used for the SafeHull Condition Assessment Survey provided
the extent exceeds option a. above, and were taken within fifteen months of the SafeHull
Condition Assessment Survey.
Gaugings may be taken afloat.
Machinery spaces including main and auxiliary machinery, piping, electrical systems and boilers will
be surveyed for general condition, state of maintenance, cleanliness, and spare parts availability.
Accommodations, galleys and mess rooms will be surveyed with respect to general conditions,
cleanliness, and general habitability.
9. The overall SafeHull Condition Assessment will provide the owner with a cross section of vessel
material condition as it relate to critical steel structure, machinery, equipment and any obvious defects
which could impair the ability of the vessel to trade as detailed in the report.

NOTE: Any conditions found on ABS classed vessel during the survey that effect class will become part of the vessel’s record.

4 ABS GUIDE FOR SAFEHULL CONDITION ASSESSMENT – BULK CARRIERS