2/19 – Diving surveys

The German Flag changed its approval practice regarding in-water surveys of German-flagged ships. Inspections of ship bottoms may now be conducted in the water even if a ship does not have a class notation for in-water bottom surveys (e.g. “BIS,” “IW”). The sole determining factor is the IACS requirements of the classification societies.

According to the SOLAS Convention (Chapter I, Part B, Regulation 10a), two hull surveys must be conducted on seagoing vessels within a 5-year period. For cargo ships less than 15 years old, the first of the two surveys does not necessarily have to be conducted out of the water (in a dry dock) but may also be performed in the water by divers.

The German Flag previously required a class notation (e.g. “BIS,” “IW”) or the corresponding structural conditions for underwater hull inspections – including permanently affixed markings on the underwater hull and sea chests, rudder bearings, and stuffing boxes that were safely accessible to divers. Now, only the rules of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) apply to seagoing vessels flying the German Flag. An additional class notation is no longer required.

In-water surveys are, inter alia, approved under the following circumstances:

• survey in sheltered water, preferably with weak tidal streams and currents;
• the in-water visibility and the cleanliness of the hull below the waterline are to be good enough to permit a meaningful examination which allows the surveyor and the in-water survey firm to determine the condition of the plating, appendages and the welding;
• the diving survey shall be carried out by a company approved by the competent classification society under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the class surveyor;
• if damages are detected during the in-water survey, the class surveyor may order a drydock bottom survey.