During the major lay-ups in the shipping industry in the 1970s and 1980s, DNV was instrumental in setting the standard for the safe and cost-optimal lay-up and preservation of ships. Due to the financial crisis and economic slowdown, this knowledge and experience are once again sought after, and the guideline has now undergone a complete revision based on the technical developments in shipping over the past two to three decades.

The updated DNV interim Guideline for the Lay-up of Ships was issued on 5 February this year, after a complete revision based on the latest technical developments. Various parties involved in laying up ships, such as owners, operators, insurance companies and national and local authorities, have now been invited to give their input and comments in order to achieve a practical and efficient guideline.

The new Guideline provides a systematic and cost-effective approach to preparing the ship for lay-up and maintaining it in a safe and cost-effective condition during lay-up. An overview of relevant lay-up considerations, such as a ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ lay-up, the lay-up site, lay-up period, re-commissioning time, class, insurance and flag requirements, is given as a means for the ship owner to make the best possible choices considering the unpleasant alternatives. Practical procedures for re-commissioning the ship are also stated.

If the ship is laid up in compliance with the safety and preservation recommendations given in the Guideline, DNV may, following a successful verification, issue a Lay-up Declaration or a Lay-up Preservation Declaration respectively, stating compliance with the said recommendations.

So far, the results of the round of consultations clearly indicate the relevancy of the topic. It is of particular interest to observe the industry’s concern about new technology where there is little experience available of the effect of laying up the vessel. This observation was further confirmed at DNV’s Lay-up seminar held in Hamburg on Wednesday 4 March, which was attended by more than 25 participants from the German shipping cluster.

Even though most of the approximately 1,000 ships that are idle today are laid up ‘hot’ (i.e. with the machinery kept in operation for the sake of fast re-commissioning), feedback shows that technical challenges occur only a short time after lay-up.

For example, for ships laid up in tropical waters, reports are coming in that vessels experience problems with moving after a relatively short time due to the growth of flora and fauna along the hull, especially in the crucial areas around the rudder, propeller and bow thrusters. The reports are adding weight to arguments in favour of selecting lay-up sites for ‘cold’ lay-ups (i.e. long-term lay-ups with the machinery out of service) in the Norwegian fjords or similar sites with dry climate. Another argument for selecting lay-up sites in colder waters is the challenge of keeping electrical equipment on board vessels preserved in a safe and cost-efficient way. This subject has become much more relevant today with the large amount of complicated electrical equipment such as computers and automation systems that are on board modern ships.

In order to handle the increasing amount of lay-up inquiries, DNV has established advisory services to assist owners in laying up their ships in a safe and cost-efficient way. These services range from advice on the lay-up site and lay-up plans to advice on lay-up, declarations, safe lay-up and supervision
during the lay-up and re-commissioning. Examples of issues
frequently handled by our advisory units are lay-up with cargo and safe manning during lay-up.

While DNV’s Lay-up Declarations have traditionally been issued with regard to safety and preservation, there is now an increased interest in environmental lay-up certificates. Examples of environmental challenges during lay-up are anti-pollution measures, the re-coating and brushing of antifouling, sewage treatment, etc. These and other environmental issues are under evaluation as an extension to the existing lay-up declarations or possibly as a separate environmental lay-up declaration from DNV.

The feedback from the consultation process for the lay-up Guideline is handled by DNV’s Rules Secretariat. The relevant issues addressed above are subject to further investigation at the time of writing and the outcome will be incorporated in the final revision which is due for publication in April 2009.

contact information:
www.dnv.com/lay-up
HIM@dnv.com