Action time for Water Ingress Monitoring Systems

With the imminent introduction of the IMO regulations affecting bulk carriers, shipowners and operators will be required to install water ingress monitoring systems (WIDS) in order to comply with regulation 12 of SOLAS Chapter XII, IACS UR S24 and the IMO performance standard for water level detectors. This will affect all bulkers constructed (i.e. keel laid) before 1 July 2004 and will involve installing a monitoring system for cargo holds and strategic void spaces forward of the collision bulkhead.

Legislative update

SOLAS regulation XII/12 was adopted by IMO?s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in December 2002 as part of a general effort to improve safety onboard bulk carriers. Regulation XII/12 requires all bulk carriers to be fitted with water ingress detection equipment that will provide audible and visual alarms on the bridge in the event of water levels being detected in cargo holds and other spaces forward of the collision bulkhead by no later than the first annual, intermediate or renewal survey carried out after July 1, 2004.

IACS has developed a Unified Interpretation SC 180 which makes the IMO resolution mandatory for its members and expands in more detail on requirements for the equipment, especially with regard to testing. Detailed requirements for these systems will be uniformly applied by IACS class societies and the compliance process will involve selecting water ingress detection and alarm systems which meet all regulations.

Bulk carrier operators tasked with fitting WIDS on their vessels in compliance with the SOLAS regulation, can now finally start to progress their procurement plans after IMO recently defined a firm performance standard for this equipment. IMO has adopted resolution MSC (145)77, Performance Standards for Bulk Carrier Water Level Detectors, to provide identifiable criteria for testing water ingress detection equipment to demonstrate reliable operation in service.

During the consultation process it is understood that representatives from Japan, IACS and MCA prepared three separate draft standards. These were evaluated and discussed in detail with the key points of each merged into a single document which defines a number of key additional functional requirements of WIDS summarised as follows:

l A separate and distinguishable audible alarm to be provided at the control panel for cargo hold 0.5m pre-alarm and 2m main alarm levels;

l Equipment must be corrosion resistant for all intended cargoes;

l Time delays to be included in the control and alarm system to prevent spurious alarms due to sloshing effects;

l Detectors are capable of being functionally tested in-situ, and

l Filter elements fitted to the detectors should be capable of being cleaned before Loading.

Choice of equipment

A major consideration for bulk carrier operators in deciding which manufacturer?s equipment to fit is how the equipment is to be installed. The application of level detectors serving cargo holds on bulk carriers is almost as hostile an application as you can get. It is critical that detectors are suitably located and protected from damage by cargo and machinery operations. With a number of detection system technologies available, it is likely that the systems offering the simplest installation solution will be preferred and that, in the final analysis, the cost of equipment installation may well be the main determinant of the overall project cost.

Market interest for WIDS is growing rapidly and, with some 5,000s vessels requiring the equipment, it is expected that manufacturers? delivery lead times will be extended as demand for equipment reaches its peak this summer. Arranging the installation of the equipment concurrently with general electrical and/or mechanical works during the dry-docking will undoubtedly deliver cost savings, and save time compared with arranging additional contractors during survey periods. It will also insure against the risk of costly delays to the sailing of the vessel should the installation be delayed during the survey period.

Available systems

One of the companies involved in manufacturing WIDS is UK-based Martek Marine which offers its fully compliant ?Bulksafe? system. Martek Marine?s managing director, Paul Luen, said “We were delighted to be afforded the opportunity of liasing with members of the IMO sub-committee on ship design and equipment (DE) over the development of the performance standard for water ingress level detection systems.” The ?bulksafe? system is the result of 3 years development during which the company surveyed many bulkers of differing designs to produce an installation solution to suit all vessel arrangements and preferences.

He went on to say “We believe we have a unique offering and installation solution, which allows our MMS900 (patent pending) water level detectors to be installed so that they are totally isolated from the cargo and protected from dust and mechanical damage from cargo operations.” The company has already completed a number of installations of ?Bulksafe? and is the first system to receive Lloyd?s Register type approval certificate for water ingress detection equipment. In addition, Lloyd?s Register has raised a question within the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) working committee on behalf of Martek Marine to establish whether this water ingress detection equipment can be included in the annex of products for which MED certification can be issued.

The ?Bulksafe? system is made up of a central control alarm panel, built-in intrinsically safe barriers and water level detectors (IP68). The latter can be installed without the need for structural alterations or piping work within the cargo holds. Each level detector is corrosion proof, can be back-flushed with water from a remote location and has a replaceable filter.

The control and alarm panel indicates the status for each named cargo hold. Integral safety barriers are built into the control and alarm panel and the water level detectors are fully compatible with all registered bulk cargo. Each detector includes a 30 m, factory-bonded cable in compliance with IP68 and IEC60529.

Cleaning of filters can be undertaken at any time using air or water and with cargo in the hold. Optional features include deck level or full automatic testing and filter cleaning.

The system’s fail-safe design includes built-in safety barriers. It can operate on both main power or from an emergency backup supply. The panel includes a cable damage alarm, built-in time delays to prevent spurious alarms and an override facility for hold whilst water in ballast. The override facility resets automatically when the compartment is de-ballasted.

Time is running out!

Bulk carrier owners will need to move quickly to design the changes needed to bring their affected ships into compliance. In most instances it is anticipated that installation of the required systems and modifications will need to be done at shipyards or repair facilities. Owners will therefore need to plan for this in their operational schedules so as to ensure their ships can be brought into compliance before reaching their deadlines.