Pollution (general)


DAMAGED STABILITY AND STRESS CONSIDERATIONS


Any internal transfers should be undertaken only with a full appreciation of the likely impact of the ship's overall stress and stability. When the damage sustained is suspected to be extensive, the impact of internal transfers on stress and stability will be impossible for the ship to compute.

Contact will have to be made with the Company in order that the ship's data may be fed into a computer specially programmed to undertake damage stability assessment calculations. Such programs may be held within the head office technical departments of the larger tanker fleets.

In other cases, Classification Societies or independent research organizations should be consulted.

When the ship is damaged, the following information should be sent to the owner or operator in order that the stability of the ship can be calculated:

  1. Loading Condition (intact)

    • cargo / Ballast - amount and disposition
    • fuel Oil - amount and disposition
    • draught - when free floating

  2. b) Damage

    • location and extent

  3. c) Condition of the ship

    • extent to which aground (soundings around ship)
    • draught - fore, amidships (port and starboard), aft
    • cargo and fuel - loss or change in amount or disposition
    • action already taken

  4. d) Local Conditions

    • tide - range and whether rising or falling
    • wind - strength and direction
    • sea and swell - height and direction
    • current
    • weather forecast
    • air and sea temperatures
    • nature of bottom
    • other locally significant features

    5. The above information, some of which will only be relevant in the case of grounding, should be supplemented with as much detail as possible.

    Once the stability of the ship has been computed, the Company will be in a position to advise the Master on action that can be safely taken to minimize damage and prevent further pollution.







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