Miscelleneous

What are regulations for Bulk carrier construction as per SOLAS ?

Written by Amit Sharma

Construction Details of bulk carrier are as follow :

  • These ships have large clear holds with no ’tween decks. This facilitates fast loading & discharging.
  • Hatches are capable of being covered with weather tight covers.
  • Engines are usually placed aft.
  • Topside tanks (Upper Hoppers) are provided as shown in sketch, to enable water ballast to be carried high up & reduce GM.
  • This may be required when carrying heavy cargoes, such as ore in the holds.
  • A deep tank is usually not fitted, although one of the middle cargo holds may be usable for taking in ballast (Heavy Ballast Condition).
  • In the type shown in the sketch, the sloping side tanks at the bilge form a ‘hopper’(Lower Hopper) which assists in handling of bulk cargo.
  • The sloping upper & lower hoppers make the bulk carrier holds self trimming for carriage of cargoes such as grain.
  • The height of Hatch coamings on freeboard deck, raised quarter deck, or within one-quarter of the ship’s length from the stem on superstructure decks is to be 600 mm, where they are exposed to the weather. Abaft one-quarter of the length from the stem, the height is to be 450mm.
  • Framing except in Large Bulk Carriers is composite type.
  • Framing under deck is Longitudinal type.
  • The side plating where longitudinal stresses are less, is Transversely framed.
  • Framing in Double bottom is longitudinal type.
  • The longitudinals are supported by Plate floors not more than 3.7 metres apart.

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About the author

Amit Sharma

Graduated from M.E.R.I. Mumbai (Mumbai University), After a brief sailing founded this website with the idea to bring the maritime education online which must be free and available for all at all times and to find basic solutions that are of extreme importance to a seafarer by our innovative ideas.

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