Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS, the Register) says it has held an annual summing-up meeting of its Scientific and Technical Council’s Presidium.
In his welcome speech Konstantin Palnikov, the RS Director General, expressed his gratitude to the STC participants for their vigorous activity, noting vitally important cooperation in the RS normative base development. “Interaction with the users of the RS Rules and the Register participation in the international working bodies make it possible to draw up the frontmost R&D Plan related to the maritime industry. Thus, 2019 R&D Plan includes new nine research areas, inter alia, development of the requirements for unmanned ships and 3D hull models of the existing passenger ships for preliminary flood risk assessment, being nowadays the hot-button issues of the international maritime community”, Konstantin Palnikov mentioned.
The STC sections face various tasks, amongst which review of R&D ordered by RS. The priorities are development of the draft requirements for ships equipped with the hull monitoring system, improvement of requirements for the high-speed craft. New requirements for welding consumables and welding procedures for high-strength steel structures, including those intended for operation at low temperatures, are under development. The Register improves its software intended for strength analysis in compliance with IACS Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers. The project on drone application for survey of hardly accessible MODU/FOP structures and inner spaces of supertankers is near completion.
New 2019 editions of the Register normative documents consider the R&D outputs: in the Rules for the Classification and Construction of Sea-Going Ships in Part “Hull” the requirements for bulbous bow of ice class and in Part XI “Electrical Equipment” the requirements for calculation of short-circuit current values for ship’s electric power systems with electrical power distribution for direct current have been implemented. Part XVI “Structure and Strength of Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Ships” of the Rules has been completely revised.
Heads of the Register key areas of activity presented the RS innovations to the STC participants.
Sergey Shishkin, Head of Classification Division, explained in detail the development results of the requirements for ice strengthening of the double acting ship hulls and for assigning corrosion and wear allowance when determining the thickness of the outer shell plating of ice class ships. He also informed that in January 2019 the Register launches a new software module “Ships’ Projects” to control and monitor the technical documentation review for a ship under construction. The RS customers will be able to follow the process online via an external module.
Andrey Nersesov, Head of Ships in Service Division, reported on improvement of the RS requirements for ships and offshore installations in service. Inter alia, he noted the development and implementation in the Rules for the Classification Surveys of Ships in Service of the internationally based requirements for application of the remote examination means (including drones) during survey of ships and offshore installations, as well as the implementation of the requirements for application of the composite polymeric materials for ships under repair.
Sergey Balagura, Head of Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities Technical Supervision Division, highlighted the issues related to the technical supervision of subsea pipelines (SP). The Recommendations for Design, Construction and Operation of Subsea Pipelines have been developed. The document contains the data, including the reference information, not included in the Rules for the Classification and Construction of Subsea Pipelines and the Guidelines on Technical Supervision During Construction and Operation of Subsea Pipelines: procedures for design load calculation, strength tests, engineering surveys, seismic resistance, corrosion protection, pipeline laying and repair recommended for use during the SP design, construction and operation.
Aleksey Philippov, Technical Supervision in Industries Division, presented a new procedure for survey of radio and navigational equipment that allows a manufacturer selecting a survey scheme for serial production at the type approval stage. He also informed on introduction in 2019 of a certificate as per form 6.5.31 that, similarly to the certificate as per form 6.5.30, shall be issued in electronic format, certified by the surveyor digital signature, marked with the unique QR-code and posted on the RS website.
Established in 1913, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) is one of the leading classification societies. Recognised by the European Union. Member of IACS. The RS activity is aimed at enhancing high standards of maritime safety and minimising the negative impact of human activities on the environment through scientifically based risk assessment and risk management procedures.