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March, 1995 Circle 203 on Reader Service Card MacGregor Establishes Task Force On RoRo Safety The MacGregor Group, a leading supplier of shipboard cargo access equipment, has established a RoRo safety task force to assist operators in evaluating how the expected higher safety demands for these ships can best be met. MacGregor's RoRo safety task force has already dealt with numer- ous inquiries concerning the safety of RoRo ferries and cargo vessels. It will investigate the safety status of each vessel in light of the antici- pated new regulations that have been proposed by classification soci- eties and various national authori- ties, and will indicate to shipowners any modifications necessary to meet these regulations. Classification societies and na- tional authorities alike have reacted strongly to the possible dangers of RoRo vessels since theEstonia trag- edy, and proposals to increase the safety of RoRo vessels are frequently being published. Shipowners have similarly been concerned and, as a result, the industry has been over- whelmed by the demand for inspec- tions of the safety condition of their vessels. The proposed new regulations address three main issues: • watertightness of the bow door • integrity of the collision doors from the bow door area, and p • stability of the vessel when sub- jected to an ingress of water. i Silja Symphony in December 1994. The new door is of telescopic type in which the outer blade is retracted into the main, hinged part of the door before the door is opened, and extended out to seal against the longitudinal bulkhead when the door is closed. Like its predecessor, the door has a hemicyclic action (i.e., it can swing open in both the forward and aft directions), thus reducing any loss of RoRo cargo capacity or increase in turnaround time. It is designed for easy retrofit to existing vessels. Both versions of the door increase the damaged stability of the ship by restricting the movement of any water along the deck, thereby re- ducing the free water surface area. MacGregor is also to participate The MacGregor RoRo safety task brce is investigating all three of these, and its current work includes cooperation with Stena Line to ana- lyze and, if necessary, further im- prove the safety of its fleet sailing from Gothenburg. MacGregor announced the devel- opment of its flood control doors as early as 1988; the doors were fitted onto th eSpirit of Tasmania in 1993, and a newer version of the flood control door was installed in the _ - ... ' ' - '" .— AMC Awarded Level E Open-Ocean OSRO Class (Continued from previous page) level while the USCG conducted a detailed review. The company main- dns it always had the resources to Lerit the classification, and said its apability had not decreased but ctually increased since the classifi- cation. A more detailed audit of AMC's resources finally confirmed AMC's compliance with the O/O classifica- tion and settled the issue. The com- pany announced its final certifica- tion on Feb. 8, immediately after the USCG informed them of it. For more information on AMC Circle 58 on Reader Service Card ers benefits designers, owners and operators. It helps reduce the risk of structural failures, thereby lowering your life-cycle maintenance and repair costs. SafeHull fulfills the ABS mission of promoting the safety of life and property at sea. For more information about SafeHull, contact your nearest ABS office. "Since then, it's won Seatrade's Safety at Sea Award. New York 212 839-0300 Houston 713 873-0700 Singapore 65 276-8700 London 44-71 247-3255 THE ABS Seatrade SAFEHULL AWARDS SYSTEM INAMIC BASED DESIGN AND EVALUATION 1 7 7 T with Silja Line and Kvaerner Masa- Yards in full-scale tests to deter- mine the maximum forces acting on the bow arrangement. This work will be conducted in Finland. MacGregor's RoRo Safety task force provides support to shipown- ers worldwide, using its technical expertise to define what is neces- sary to upgrade the safety of their fleets. For more information on the MacGregor Group Circle 55 on Reader Service Card In September 1993, ABS launched the SafeHull " System for tanker newbuildings* This computer-based tool simulates the real-life experience of ships at sea. Then we introduced our ABS SafeHull " Condition Assessment Services for existing tankers in January 1994. Now we offer the SafeHull™ System for new and existing bulk carriers. The system is based on the same fundamental design prin- ciples as for tankers. It's adjust- ed for determination of the spe- cific dynamic loads which act upon a bulk carrier at sea. The system identifies critical structur- al areas that require enhance- ment, by more effective distribu- tion of steel, to lower the ship's operating stresses. ABS SafeHull™ for bulk carri-
