MULTIPLE LOAD LINE- PROCEDURE AND CAUTION.

Multiple Load Line – a Thorough View.

Whether a vessel can carry multiple load line ??

A very genuine innocent question , what is the problem , but please answer to the question very carefully. We have vessel’s having at least 8 loadlines , 

Yes a ship can multiple load line, BUT at  any point of time there will be only one load line will be valid and rest of the LOAD LINE certificates to be under safe custody of master preferably in his locker , at any point of time no two Load line certificate should be along with the certificate bunch.

What is multiple load line.

Multiple load lines are used when, for a period of time, a  ship  has a need to operate temporarily with a greater freeboard than the minimum freeboard stipulated in accordance with the International Convention on Load Lines of 1966.

Purpose of multiple loadline.

“Load line is a special marking positioned amidships which depicts the draft of the vessel and the maximum permitted limit in distinct types of waters to which the ship can be loaded.”

For simple understanding, Cochin tanker terminal can handle an aframax tanker of 250 meter long  (around 115000 DWT)but at a draft of 12.5 meter only . in the normal condition the aforementioned vessel can carry around 85000 MT at this draft , for full capacity it is around 16 meters. Hence  the new load line will help vessel  / authority to ensure that vessel is not overloaded.

There is another hidden advantage is tat dome of the ports are working on the port dues with the registered deadweight , this will help the charterer / operate to save a lot of money.

Procedures for Multiple Load line.

The procedures is different for different flag  but for the sake of study we will consider Indian Flag., but broadly all flag having the same rules.

1.   The owner has to intimate  the RO their intension to  carry out the new load line based on certain tonnage. ( for certain flag Liberaia , owner should inform flag as well and the flag to provide the approval to RO to carry out the same.

2.   The RO to inform their Naval Architecture branch ( for IRS)

For NK it is in Japan Office.

For ABS it is from Houston Office 

For RINA it is from Shanghai office to calculate the relevant load line marking on basis of calculation , the actual term is memorandum of free board. 

3.   Next the owners to ensure that the condition set out in the Memorandum of free board is maintained by the vessel. During this time owner should ensure that the new marking permanent means (either weld beams / punching marks / marking plates welded as deemed by RO)is done as per MOF. Then the RO can issue the new load line certificate and multiple loadl ine booklet. The booklet will help vessel to enter the records when the load line is changed.

4.   For Indian flag  wners also need to maintain this document and such document called Company Copy.

5.   Stability information for the relevant statutory loading conditions corresponding to each load line mark, is approved by RO and is available on board. 

vessel with multiple load line

the master shall verify the following:

1.  Only one load line certificate is in use at any given time. Other Loadline certificate(s) is/are kept in a sealed envelope and kept under the safe custody of the master. 

2.  Only one set of marks associated with the Loadline certificate in use, (i.e., is actually “painted in” and visible at any given time). Other Loadline marks are obliterated or painted out with the same colour as its background. 

3. The new summer freeboard on each side shall be physically measured each time, and recorded in the “Multiple Load Line Assignment Booklet” along with other relevant details, duly endorsed by the Master. 

4. The company is informed to update the office copy of “Multiple Load Line Assignment Booklet”, in accordance with the procedure contained in the safety management system (SMS).

5. An official entry is made in the ship’s log book about the change in loadline marking. 

During the annual/renewal loadline surveys, the RO’s surveyor shall verify/endorse the Ship’s copy of the “Multiple Load Line Assignment Booklet”. 

While carrying out the annual/renewal surveys, regardless of the deadweight value applicable at the time, the vessel shall be surveyed for compliance with the most severe statutory requirements corresponding to the greatest deadweight the vessel is capable of carrying, or the deepest draft upto which the vessel is capable of operating. On satisfactory completion of surveys, all the Loadline certificates shall be endorsed by the attending surveyor. 

Please Note that the GT AND NT WILL REMAIN UNALTERED AS SAME AS THAT OF THE DEEPEST DRAFT CONDITION.

ALL OTHER STATUTORY CERTIFICATE WILL BE BEARING THE MAXIMUM DEADWEIGHT CAPACITY OF THE VESSEL AND NEED NOT TO ALTERED AS PER THE NEW DEADWEIGHT. 

In some Flags each time vessel changes loadline RO surveyor should attend.

Usual Mistakes done onboard with Multiple load line.

1)   Both the load line certificates kept in the certificate folder

It is a requirement by all the flag states, vetting companies and the classification societies to display only one loadline certificate that is in use. The other one MUST be kept in sealed envelop in master’s locker or other safe custody.

2) The painted loadlines on ship side do not corresponds to the loadline certificate in the certificate folder 

This situation can arise because of any of these two facts. The loadline marks on the ship side were not changed during last documented change of loadline and just the load line certificates were replaced. OR The loadline marks on ship side were changed but the master forgot to replace the loadline certificate. Whatever the reason, the deficiency has the potential of having the ship detained by the port state control.

3) The Loadline marks on starboard side do not correspond to the loadline marks on port side 

This might look silly but there have been detentions by many port state controls due to this deficiency. The most common reason for this deficiency is not because only one side of loadline marks were painted but because on one side the old marks were removed and then mistakenly same were painted again.

4) No entry is made in official log book for the change in loadlines

All flag states & classification societies require that whenever the loadlines are changed, Masters must make appropriate entry in the official log book.

5) The second loadline certificate (kept in locker) is not stamped for annual class endorsements

It is very important that all the loadline certificates are stamped for annual surveys. During annual class survey, it is quite possible that other than the loadline certificate in use are not stamped, as these are not in the certificate folder.

6) Wrong loadline certificate is displayed in the accommodation 

A small mistake but can be pointed out by Port State control inspectors. In ports where PSC inspector tend to make big issues of smaller things, this issue can give rise to unfavourable situation with PSC inspectors.

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