The Condition Assessment Programme (CAP) was introduced by DNV in 1989 as a voluntary service to shipowners and a supplement to classification. It was developed in cooperation with industry stakeholders and intended as an opportunity for operators of quality tonnage to document a high technical standard and thus enhance their competitiveness in the market.
It has been adopted by the tanker industry, has become a de facto requirement by the oil majors and is now considered a ‘ticket to trade’ for oil and chemical tankers above 15 years of age.
During the past two years, requests for a Condition Assessment Programme on board older bulk and ore carriers have become more and more frequent. DNV is meeting the demand from the market and is now introducing, as the first classification society, a service specially designed and suited for bulk and ore carriers. This is called the Condition Assessment Programme-Bulk. (CAP-Bulk).
The DNV Condition Assessment Programme-Bulk includes a detailed, thorough and transparent quality evaluation of the ship’s hull structure. The CAP-Bulk report documents the condition by including narrative descriptions, photos and analyses, and rates the vessel in accordance with a rating scale from 1 (best) to 4 (worst).
The main benefit of the DNV Condition Assessment Programme-Bulk is that a vessel is judged based on the actual condition on board, rather than age.
The DNV CAP-Bulk report is mainly used as a tool for documenting the technical condition to cargo owners and/or authorities in connection with renewals of or entry into new charters. The DNV CAP-Bulk report may serve as an important element in the vetting process with cargo owners and others, and these may have specific requirements regarding the rating and other technical issues described in the report.
A CAP report describes the condition of the vessel at the time of the inspection, including repairs and possible upgrades that are being carried out.
DNV also provides a CAP for machinery and Cargo Handling Systems; but it is the CAP for hull structures which is described here.
The CAP-Bulk report can serve a variety of purposes:
Shipowners: It is first of all a tool for the shipowner, giving it the opportunity to provide solid evidence documenting that its fleet is still of a good quality standard, though old.
Port and cargo owners: Cargo and port owners are playing an increasingly active role, ensuring that the vessels entering their ports or carrying their cargo maintain the highest standards regardless of age. A CAP-Bulk report will give them a unique opportunity to evaluate the condition of a vessel based on a transparent and detailed report.
Repair specification: The report can be used as a sound basis for decisions on repairs or investments in order to extend the lifetime of the vessel and to obtain documentation of the owner’s/management company’s own standards.
Other purposes: The programme is also suitable in connection with the refinancing and sale of the vessel, termination of management agreements or in relation to underwriters.
Environmental issues and an increased demand for transparency are high on the agenda of authorities, regulators and society at large. This is particularly true when it comes to operations that may have a negative impact on the environment or on financial or safety aspects. In response to this, many companies have adopted transparency as a key component in their strategy. This trend is also taking root within the maritime industry, with pro-active shipping companies moving in the same direction.
DNV has been approached by several owners that have been asked to provide a CAP report before the charterer or port owner accepts their vessel. This has so far especially been the case for owners operating from Australia and Brazil.
To meet the needs of the owners and other stakeholders in the shipping industry, DNV provides a service specially designed for bulk carriers. The main features of the service are similar to those of the CAP for tankers (about 140 CAP projects performed yearly by DNV). There are, however, aspects which need specific attention for bulk and ore carriers, and DNV is using its extensive experience to provide such a service.
DNV’s CAP-Bulk is a highly transparent service, and the report gives a thorough and detailed picture of the vessel’s condition. Clarity regarding the condition of a chartered vessel is a requirement from most charterers, and a well documented, transparent evaluation clearly enhances the commercial attractiveness of a vessel.
Interface with classification
Class is a continuous service based on regular inspections and the issuance of class certificates with specified validity periods. A CAP report and declaration are issued to document the condition of the vessel at the time of the inspection.
Class is aimed at ensuring a minimum standard for the vessel, whereas the main purpose of CAP-Bulk is to evaluate and report the vessel’s condition above minimum class standard. The scope for CAP-Bulk is more comprehensive than for class surveys with respect to the extent and analysis of thickness measurements, structural strength evaluations and reporting.
Although CAP-Bulk inspections may be carried out concurrently with class surveys, and a joint CAP/Class team may be on board, CAP-Bulk is reported completely separate.
It should be noted that the minimum acceptance criteria are the same for Class and CAP.
These acceptance criteria are clearly defined in DNV documents. The evaluation which forms the basis for the CAP-Bulk rating refers to this defined minimum. It is up to the client to decide to upgrade the structure beyond the minimum acceptable standard to achieve a better CAP-Bulk rating. For clients of the CAP-Bulk service, it is important to recognise that it is the terminal owners, cargo owners or charterers, etc, and not DNV, that ultimately determine the technical acceptance criteria for a vessel. The report serves as an important input to decision making.
CAP-Bulk Hull Methodology
The DNV Condition Assessment Programme Bulk is based on an extensive inspection of the vessel to identify the extent of local corrosion and defects. The thicknesses of all the main structural elements in all spaces inspected are measured to establish the extent of general corrosion. An analysis of the thickness measurement data forms an important basis for the CAP-bulk hull rating. The purpose of the inspection is also to provide evidence of the good condition of the vessel through pictures, measurements and positive descriptions in the report.
An optional fatigue assessment is offered in addition to CAP-Bulk. This assessment is complementary to CAP-Bulk and is used to highlight longitudinal member end connections which might be critical areas for cracking due to the age of the vessel. The highlighted areas will be given special attention during the inspection.
Scope of the service and definitions: DNV uses a rating methodology which is criteria-based, transparent and predictable.
The items rated are:
-Ballast tanks
-Cargo holds and void spaces
-Hatches and coamings
-The vessel’s external structure (main deck, ship sides and bottom)
-A structural strength analysis.
Each hold/tank rating is based on the ratings for the main structural elements of the space, e.g. deckhead, side, bottom, longitudinal bulkhead, transverse bulkheads and internal structure.
The rating of each main structural element is based on:
-A visual inspection to establish the extent of local corrosion and defects and to obtain a visual impression
of the overall condition.
-An analysis of thickness measurements (UTM) to establish the extent of general corrosion.
-The extent and condition of coating on ballast tanks.
CAP-Bulk rates the vessel in accordance with a rating scale from 1 (very good) to 4 (poor).
The vessel’s overall rating is based on the ratings for the ballast tanks, cargo holds and void spaces, external structure and structural strength.
It should be noted that the final CAP rating is decided by DNV’s CAP Rating Committee. This committee, which consists of experienced surveyors and specialists within the field of naval architecture, evaluates the complete process and report of each project to ensure the highest quality.
DNV now has more than 15 years of experience in providing CAP services to shipowners around the world. DNV was the first classification society to introduce CAP and we consider ourselves the leading provider of CAP services.
Attacking the future demand for CAP-Bulk in a proactive manner and preparing a methodology better suited for bulk carrier owners are vital steps to ensure a top quality product.
Petter Haagaas, PM CAP Bulk, Section for Condition Assessment and Emergency Response MTPNO868@dnv.com
DNV’s Condition Assessment Programme-Bulk
A voluntary independent and thorough verification of the present condition of a vessel’s hull or part(s) of it
Performed as a consultant service
Not required by Class, but offered as a supplement
Requested by major operators in the market
To ensure that well maintained vessels (though old) may be given full credit in the market
To ensure that a vessel is judged based upon its actual condition
(to avoid discrimination against good ships that are old)To improve the economic evaluation and planning of operational costs and a ship’s value
To detect and correct substandard ships
Did you know?
DNV offers a consultancy service to ensure the water tightness of hatch covers. Through this service, we ensure and document that the vessel is fit for the carriage of water-sensitive cargo.
Please contact us for more information on ‘Fitness for cargo’: MTPNO868@dnv.com
Date: 05 February 2008