Pt B, Ch 3, App 1

APPENDIX 1

INCLINING TEST AND LIGHTWEIGHT CHECK

1
1.1

Inclining test and lightweight check

General

to shift weights on the deck in an expeditious and safe manner. Water ballast is generally not acceptable as inclining weight. 1.1.3 Water ballast as inclining weight (SLF 41/WP4) Where the use of solid weights to produce the inclining moment is deemed to be impracticable, the movement of ballast water may be permitted as an alternative method. This acceptance would be granted for a specific test only, and approval of the test procedure by the Society is required. As a minimal prerequisite for acceptability, the following conditions are to be required: inclining tanks are to be wall-sided and free of large stringers or other internal members that create air pockets tanks are to be directly opposite to maintain ships trim specific gravity of ballast water is to be measured and recorded pipelines to inclining tanks are to be full. If the ships piping layout is unsuitable for internal transfer, portable pumps and pipes/hoses may be used blanks must be inserted in transverse manifolds to prevent the possibility of liquids being leaked during transfer. Continuous valve control must be maintained during the test all inclining tanks must be manually sounded before and after each shift vertical, longitudinal and transverse centres are to be calculated for each movement accurate sounding/ullage tables are to be provided. The ships initial heel angle is to be established prior to the incline in order to produce accurate values for volumes and transverse and vertical centres of gravity for the inclining tanks at every angle of heel. The draught marks amidships (port and starboard) are to be used when establishing the initial heel angle verification of the quantity shifted may be achieved by a flowmeter or similar device the time to conduct the inclining is to be evaluated. If time requirements for transfer of liquids are considered too long, water may be unacceptable because of the possibility of wind shifts over long periods of time. 1.1.4 Pendulums (A.749 of three pendulums The use7.3.2.9 + SLF41/WP4)is recommended but a minimum of two are to be used to allow identification of bad readings at any one pendulum station. However, for ships of a length equal to or less than 30 m, only one pendulum can be accepted. They are each to be located in an area protected from the wind. The pendulums are to be long enough to give a measured deflection, to each side of upright, of at least 10 cm. To ensure recordings from indi-

1.1.1 General conditions of the ship The following conditions are to be met, as far as praticable : the weather conditions are to be favourable the ship is to be moored in a quiet, sheltered area free from extraneous forces, such as to allow unrestricted heeling. The ship is to be positioned in order to minimise the effects of possible wind, stream and tide the ship is to be transversely upright and the trim is to be taken not more than 1% of the length between perpendiculars. Otherwise, hydrostatic data and sounding tables are to be available for the actual trim cranes, derrick, lifeboats and liferafts capable of inducing oscillations are to be secured main and auxiliary boilers, pipes and any other system containing liquids are to be filled the bilge and the decks are to be thoroughly dried preferably, all tanks are to be empty and clean, or completely full. The number of tanks containing liquids is to be reduced to a minimum taking into account the above-mentioned trim. The shape of the tank is to be such that the free surface effect can be accurately determined and remain almost constant during the test. All cross connections are to be closed the weights necessary for the inclination are to be already on board, located in the correct place all work on board is to be suspended and crew or personnel not directly involved in the incline test are to leave the ship the ship is to be as complete as possible at the time of the test. The number of weights to be removed, added or shifted is to be limited to a minimum. Temporary material, tool boxes, staging, sand, debris, etc., on board is to be reduced to an absolute minimum. 1.1.2 Inclining weights (Res.t A weight used is preferably to be sufficient to pro7.3.2.8) ( he A.749 7.3.2 7.3. The total T g vide a minimum inclination of one degree and a maximum of four degrees of heel to each side. The Society may, however, accept a smaller inclination angle for large ships provided that the requirement on pendulum deflection or Utube difference in height specified in [1.1.4] is complied with. Test weights are to be compact and of such a configuration that the VCG (vertical centre of gravity) of the weights can be accurately determined. Each weight is to be marked with an identification number and its weight. Recertification of the test weights is to be carried out prior to the incline. A crane of sufficient capacity and reach, or some other means, is to be available during the inclining test

June 2000

Bureau Veritas

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