Resolution
MEPC.110(49)
REVISED INTERIM GUIDELINES FOR THE APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF DESIGN
AND CONSTRUCTION OF OIL TANKERS UNDER REGULATION 13F(5) OF ANNEX I OF MARPOL
73/78
(Adopted on 18 July 2003)
THE
MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE,
RECALLING
Article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization
concerning the functions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (the
Committee) conferred upon it by international conventions for the prevention
and control of marine pollution,
NOTING
resolution MEPC.52(32) by which the Committee adopted regulations 13F and 13G
and related amendments to Annex I of MARPOL 73/78,
NOTING
ALSO resolution MEPC.66(37) by which the Committee adopted the Interim
Guidelines for the approval of alternative methods of design and construction
of oil tankers under regulation 13F(5) of annex I of MARPOL 73/78,
NOTING
FURTHER that by resolution MEPC.66(37), the Committee resolved to keep the
Interim Guidelines under review and to develop final guidelines in the light of
experience,
HAVING
CONSIDERED, at its forty-ninth session, the recommendation made by the
Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases,
1.
ADOPTS the Revised Interim Guidelines for the approval of alternative methods
of design and construction of oil tankers under regulation 13F(5) of Annex I of
MARPOL 73/78, the text of which is set out in the Annex to the present
resolution;
2.
INVITES Member Governments to give due consideration to the Revised Interim
Guidelines when evaluating other methods of design and construction of oil
tankers as alternatives to the requirements prescribed in regulation 13F(5) of
Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 for submission of such designs to the Committee for
approval;
3.
AGREES to keep the Revised Interim Guidelines under review in the light of
experience gained;
4.
INVITES the Maritime Safety Committee to note the Revised Interim Guidelines;
5.
URGES Member Governments to bring the aforementioned Revised Interim Guidelines
to the attention of shipbuilders, shipowners, ship operators and other parties
concerned with the design, construction and operation of oil tankers with a
view to encouraging their use for oil tankers constructed on or after 1 April
2005;
6.
REVOKES resolution MEPC.66(37).
Annex.
REVISED INTERIM GUIDELINES FOR THE APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF DESIGN
AND CONSTRUCTION OF OIL TANKERS UNDER REGULATION 13F(5) OF ANNEX I OF MARPOL
73/78
1.
The purpose of these Revised Interim Guidelines, hereunder referred to as
"the Guidelines", is to provide an international standard for the
evaluation and approval of alternative methods of design and construction of
oil tankers under regulation 13F(5) of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78.
2.
The basic philosophy of the Guidelines is to compare the oil outflow
performance in case of collision or stranding of an alternative tanker design
to that of reference double-hull designs complying with regulation 13F(3) on
the basis of a calculated pollution-prevention index.
3.
The oil outflow performance of double-hull tankers which comply with regulation
13F(3) may be different. The longitudinal subdivision of the cargo tanks has a
major influence on the oil outflow in case of inner hull penetration. The
selected reference double-hull designs exhibit a favourable oil outflow
performance.
4.
The calculation of oil outflow is based on the probabilistic methodology and
best available tanker accident damage statistics. Reappraisal of the Guidelines
may be appropriate when more information on tanker accident damage has become
available and more experience with the application of these Guidelines has been
gained.
5.
Falling tides will have an adverse effect on oil outflow from a stranded tanker
and the Guidelines take account of this. The tide values specified in section 5
represent realistic average tidal changes which have been chosen to identify
the influence of tidal changes on the oil outflow in case of stranding.
1.1
Regulation 13F of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 specifies structural requirements for
new tankers of 600 dwt and above, contracted on or after 6 July 1993. Paragraph
(3) of the regulation requires tankers of 5,000 dwt and above to be equipped
with double hulls. Various detailed requirements and permissible exceptions are
given in the regulation.
Paragraph
(5) of the regulation specifies that other designs may be accepted as
alternatives to double hull, provided they give at least the same level of
protection against oil pollution in the event of collision or stranding and are
approved in principle by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)
based on Guidelines developed by the Organization.
1.2
These Guidelines should be used to assess the acceptability of alternative oil
tanker designs of 5,000 dwt and above with regard to the prevention of oil
outflow in the event of collision or stranding as specified in paragraph (5) of
regulation 13F.
1.3
For any alternative design of an oil tanker not satisfying regulation 13F(3) or
(4), a study of the cargo oil outflow performance should be carried out as
specified in sections 4 through 6 of these Guidelines.
1.4
This study should cover the full range of ship sizes with a minimum of four
different ship sizes, unless the approval is requested for only a limited range
of vessel sizes. Data for four reference double-hull designs are given in
section 7.
1.5
Evaluation of the cargo oil outflow performance of the proposed alternative
design should be made by calculating the pollution-prevention index E, as
outlined in section 4 of these Guidelines.
1.6
The probabilistic methodology for the calculation of oil outflow according to
these Guidelines is based on available tanker casualty statistics. With the
collection of additional statistical material, the damage density distribution
functions specified in paragraph 5.2 should be periodically reviewed.
1.7
In principle, and as far as applicable, the requirements of paragraphs (3)(d) -
(f), (6) and (8) of regulation 13F apply also to alternative designs. The
requirements of paragraph (9) of regulation 13F also applies to alternative
designs. In addition, it should be demonstrated by means of a risk analysis
that the new design under consideration provides an adequate safety level. Such
analysis should address any specific risks associated with the alternative
design and, if there are any, it should be demonstrated that safe solutions
exist to cope with them.
2.1
These Guidelines apply to the assessment of alternative designs of oil tankers
to be constructed of steel or other equivalent material, as required by SOLAS
regulation II-2/11. Designs for tankers intended to be constructed of other
materials or incorporating novel features (e.g. non-metallic materials) or
designs which use impact-absorbing devices should be specially considered.
2.2
The approval procedure of these Guidelines applies to oil tankers of sizes up
to 350,000 dwt. For larger sizes the approval procedure should be specially
considered.
3. Approval procedure
for alternative tanker designs
3.1
An Administration which receives a request for approval of an alternative
tanker design for the purpose of complying with regulation 13F, should first
evaluate the proposed design and satisfy itself that the design complies with
these Guidelines and other applicable regulations of MARPOL Annex I. That
Administration should then submit the proposal and the supporting
documentation, together with its own evaluation report, to the Organization for
evaluation and approval of the design concept by the MEPC as an alternative to
the requirements of regulation 13F(3). Only design concepts which have been
approved in principle by the MEPC are allowed for the construction of tankers
to which regulation 13F(5) applies.
3.2
The submission to the Administration and the Organization should at least
include the following items:
.1 detailed
specification of the alternative design concept;
.2 drawings
showing the basic design of the tank system and, where necessary, of the entire
ship;
.3 study of the
oil outflow performance as outlined in paragraphs 1.3 to 1.5;