Stowage positions on board of RORO-Vessels

Kurt Van Passen

27th Protect Meeting January 28th & 29th, 2015

Stowage positions on board of RORO-Vessels

1. History….

Meeting held by the Harbour Master on December 12th, 2008

– Participants: Antwerp Shipping Association Representatives of RORO shipping agents calling the Port of Antwerp Transfennica Nile Dutch Finnlines Sloman Grimaldi ACL Harbour Master Antwerp

For the Protect-group Mr. Hanekamp and Mr. Koert were invited

Stowage positions on board of RORO-Vessels

Problem:

• On board of RORO-vessels there is no agreed standard to determine the exact stowage position on board. Main reasons:• dimensions of their cargo • construction of RORO-vessels

• moveable decks

• Action to be taken

Stowage positions on board of RORO-Vessels

– Authorities from Finnland accept “DECK – LANE”– 27% of the RORO-vessels visiting the port of Antwerp have LOA’s > 200m (2010)– DECK-LANE insufficient to determine the exact stowage position

– Group agreed to add 2 parameters : Distance – Level– Distance: Distance in meters from the bow to the centre of gravity

of dangerous cargo(unit)– Level : on a deck it’s posible to stow in mulitple levels

– This results in : DECK – LANE – DISTANCE – LEVEL (DDLLDDDLL) to describe the exact location of dangerous cargo on board of RORO-vessel Where all 4 parameters should be numerical

Stowage positions on board of RORO-Vessels

Stowage positions on board of RORO-Vessels

Stowage positions on board of RORO-Vessels

Based on input Protect members in 2009 an extra parameter was added:

Dangerous cargo declarants had to be able to decide where the reference point for the distance was situated (forward or aft) This had following consequences the “distance-component” required an extra alphanumeric character, an F or an A :

“RORO vessels: Deck/Lane/Distance/Level in format DDLLDDDDLL: – DD: number of the deck, counted from bottom to top. – LL: number of the lane, counted from port to starboard. – DDDD: disctance in meters for the bow or the stern to the center of gravity of the

dangerous goods unit. Where: FDDD: Forward ADDD: Aft

Stowage positions on board of RORO-Vessels

2. Problems in usage of DDLLDDDDLL

- Import and remain on board cargo – no problem- Export cargo – almost impossible to get stuwage positions in time in Port information

system (APICS2)

In case of an emergency on board of a RORO-vessel, determining the exact locations where NOT to cut and weld is therefore not easy.

Stowage positions on board of RORO-Vessels

Discussion held in a Safe Sea Net Meeting

Need for a clear reference -> Authorities proposed to use frame number in stead of distance

Zero frame is postioned on the location of the vertical axis through the rudder of vessel.

Stowage positions on board of RORO-Vessels

Discussion held in a Safe Sea Net Meeting

The usage of frame numbers is only possible if a general arrangement plan (GAP)of the vessel is available in case of emergency.

This GAP is necessary to convert frame number to distances …..

IMO is working on a database to provide GAP’s according to Belgian Authorities.

….