OVERSEAS MARINE CERTIFICATION SERVICES (OMCS)

SURVEYORS MANUAL - STATUTORY

LOAD LINE SURVEYS

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LOAD LINE SURVEYS

SECTION 1
General
1.1

Ship Types: The International Load Line convention 1966 came into force
in 21st of July 1968. Accordingly ships whose keel were laid before this
date are to be treated as existing ships and all ships whose keel were
laid after this date are to be treated as new ships.

1.2

Applicability: A Load Line certificate is not required for the following ships:
New ships of load line length less than 24 m
Existing ships of less than 150 gross tonnage
Pleasure yachts not used for commercial purpose
Fishing vessels.

1.3

Marking of Load line: As far as practicable free board marks should be

made by welding. Where due to operational or safety reasons (in way of
fuel oil tanks etc.) the marking may be done by painting, however in this
case the surveyor shall place a recommendations for the welding to be
carried out at next dry-dock. Special attention to be paid to load line marks
by painting since possibilities of altering the marks are greater here. The
Master should be encouraged to maintain a wooden freeboard batten for
easy measurement at load line surveys. The freeboard grid letters should
be marked as follows:Marks

Freeboard grid
letters

Timber Freeboard
grid letters

TF

LTF

Fresh water

LF

Tropical

LT

Summer

LS

Winter

LW

WNA

LWNA

Tropical Fresh water

Winter North Atlantic

1.4

Surveyors conducting load line surveys are to be familiar with the

applicable provisions of the International Convention on Load lines, 1966
(ICLL 1966). The existing certificate on board should be examined to
establish the type of survey due.

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LOAD LINE SURVEYS

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1.5

The various load line items to be surveyed are itemized on the Record of
Conditions of Assignment of Freeboards (Form No. LL-02), a copy of
which should be available on board the vessel.

1.6.

Whenever a vessel is surveyed for the first time, the freeboard

calculations must be submitted, if not, the surveyor shall take all the
necessary data to calculate the new freeboard assignments. It is
understood that the surveyor will verify that freeboards assigned are
marked on the vessels side.

1.7. The conditions of assignment shall then be sent to OMCS Panama for
revision and procedure.
1.8

Any requests for the issue of multiple load line certificates (more than one
load line certificate for tankers) should be referred to OMCS Head
Office.

1.9

For load line purposes, Position 1 means at any location on the free
board deck (upper most continuous weather deck) and raised quarterdeck
and on super structure within 25% length from forward end and Position 2
means on exposed superstructure deck aft of 25% length from forward
end.

1.10

The requirements for coaming height and thickness are indicated below
for easy reference:

Item

Thickness (mm.)

Cargo
coamings
Doors
Access
coamings
Ventilator
Air vent pipes

hatch

As per
plans

approved

hatch
Dia.<85mm
- 6.0
85
-165
mmInterpolate
Dia.>165mm. - 8.5

Other items
Bulwarks
Guard Rails
Side Scuttles

Height
Position 1

Position 2

600 mm.

450 mm.

600 mm.

380 mm.

600 mm.

380 mm.

900 mm.
Freeboard Deck

760 mm.
Superstructure Deck

760 mm.

450 mm.

- 1.0 m above the deck

- 1.0 m. above the deck, At least 3 rows of rails
- 500 mm. or 2.5% Breadth above the summer load line

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LOAD LINE SURVEYS

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SECTION 2
Initial Surveys (First Survey by Overseas Marine Certification
Services (OMCS))
2.1

Previous certificates issued by an IACS class society

2.1.1 As soon as the vessel arrives in port or at the earliest opportunity, the
surveyor should send a copy of the existing load line certificate to OMCS
Head Office. In such cases normally OMCS Head Office would advise the
surveyor to reassign the same freeboards and maintain the existing
survey cycle. Any due or overdue survey to be carried out as per the
existing cycle and any outstanding survey recommendations imposed by
the previous society to be dealt with. Surveyor should then proceed to
check the load line marks for verifying freeboards against the certificate.
He can then issue an Short term Certificate with the same freeboards after
satisfactorily completing the following:

The Survey Report Form No. LL-01 must be filled out and submitted to
OMCS Head Office.

All load line items should be checked for compliance with load line
requirements and verified against existing Conditions of Assignment form
available on board. If Conditions of Assignment Form (Form No. LL-02) is
not available onboard, a new form LL-02 is to be prepared and copy
placed on board. Any deviations found from the existing Conditions of
Assignment form is to be checked for compliance with the LL
requirements and the existing Conditions of Assignment form is to be
updated as applicable. A copy of the Conditions of Assignment (Form No.
LL-02) (previous or new) is to be submitted to OMCS Head Office along
with survey reports.

It is to be ensured that no significant change in structure or arrangement

has been made that will alter the particulars of the certificate (examples of
such changes are, removal or fitting of weather tight doors on main deck &
superstructures, removal or fitting of side scuttles below freeboard deck or
enclosed superstructures, removal or modification of hatch covers,
conversion of ship from one type to another say from oil barge to deck
barge, removal of deck / bulkhead etc. which might reduce the structural
strength of the ship, removal or fitting of side / stern or bow doors & ramps
etc). In case of such changes being observed the OMCS Head Office
should be informed immediately with a drawing or a sketch with all details
showing the modification. OMCS Head Office may then, require a change
in the free board marking.

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SURVEYORS MANUAL - STATUTORY
LOAD LINE SURVEYS

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It is be verified that the stability information (stability booklet, for all ships,
damage stability booklets for typeA ships with length greater than 150 M
and typeB reduced free board ships greater than 100 M in length) is
available onboard, in a language understood by the ships officers and
approved by the administration or the previous society. The booklet to be
endorsed as appropriate. If no booklet is available on board, or the booklet
on board is not approved, the Owners should be advised to submit the
booklet for approval at the earliest. The certificate validity is to be
restricted to maximum three months. For ships, which have timber load
lines assigned, there should be an approved timber deck cargo loading
and lashing plan onboard.

Any service restriction imposed on the earlier certificate or by the previous

society should be reflected in the new certificate without any change.

Load line marks should be verified for accuracy and the identification
marks of the issuing authority to be changed to OS.

2.1.2 If Owner requests for a change of freeboard or if modifications have been

carried out which will affect the freeboards assigned, new freeboard
calculations must be submitted to the OMCS Head Office for approval
along with copies of relevant drawings such as general arrangement plan.
In some cases the stability booklet may also need re-approval in view of
changes carried out. New certificate is to be issued assigning the
freeboards forwarded by OMCS Head Office. The Surveyor should ensure
that the new freeboards are properly marked on the ships side and the
previous marks have been properly removed.
2.1.3 Load line certificate is generally not to be issued to un-classed ships. The
case has to be submitted to OMCS Head Office for special consideration.
2.2

Previous Certificates not issued by an IACS class society

2.2.1 Any request for issuance of Load Line should be forwarded to OMCS
Head Office. In these cases OMCS Head Office will require to verify the
freeboard calculations before accepting the previous assigned freeboards
and in such cases the Surveyor must submit Load Line plan showing the
conditions of assignment & general arrangement, freeboard computations,
Mid ship section drawing and loading manual and stability Booklet
incorporating conditions corresponding to the requested freeboard. Based
on these documents OMCS Head Office will check the freeboard

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SURVEYORS MANUAL - STATUTORY
LOAD LINE SURVEYS

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computations and assign freeboards. The assigned freeboards should be

marked on the side of the ship and verified by the surveyor. After this the
surveyor shall perform the following:

The Survey Report Form No. LL-01 must be filled out and submitted to
OMCS Head Office.

All load line items should be checked for compliance with load line
requirements. Conditions of Assignment, Form No. LL-02, is to be
prepared and copy placed on board. A copy of the new Conditions of
Assignment is to be submitted to OMCS Head Office along with survey
reports.

It is be verified that the stability information (stability booklet, for all ships,
damage stability booklets for typeA ships with length greater than 150 M
and typeB reduced free board ships greater than 100 M in length) is
available onboard, in a language understood by the ships officers. A copy
is to be submitted for approval to OMCS Head Office. The copy on board
should be endorsed as follows: provisionally approved by Overseas
Marine Certification Services (OMCS) on behalf of (flag) pending approval
by Overseas Marine Certification Services (OMCS) OMCS Head Office.
For ships, which have timber load lines assigned, there should be an
approved timber deck cargo loading and lashing plan onboard.

Any known service restriction should be reflected in the new certificate.

Load line marks should be verified for accuracy and the identification
marks of the issuing authority should be marked as OS.

2.2.2 On satisfactory completion of above, a SHORT TERM load line certificate

may be issued, valid for 3 months, with approval of stability booklet as an
outstanding item.
SECTION 3
Annual Load Line Survey
3.1

General

3.1.1 Four annual surveys (Periodical Inspection in ICLL 1966) are required
during the duration of the certificates validity. Annual surveys are to be

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LOAD LINE SURVEYS

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held within 3 months before and 3 months after the anniversary date
(anniversary date is the expiry date of the certificate without the year).
3.1.2 The survey checklist Form No. LL-03 is to be filled up as appropriate and
a copy submitted with the reports. The load line certificate is to be
endorsed for annual surveys on completion of the survey. A copy of the
certificate, clearly showing the endorsement is to be submitted along with
the reports. The survey date endorsed on the certificate should be the
date of completion of the survey.
3.2

Scope of Survey

3.2.1 The validity of the load line certificate and other statutory certificates on
board should be verified. It should be verified that the approved stability
data is available on board.
3.2.2 The load line marks should be verified with the certificate.
3.2.3 Weather Tight Doors: Check overall conditions to ensure no excessive
corrosion has taken place, specially the gasket retaining channels (door
lips) and no distortion has taken place. Check hinges and doorframe for
proper closing. Check conditions of rubber gasket - too hard or too soft,
worn out, etc. shall be rejected and rubber packing shall not protrude out
side the channel. Dogs/Clips/Toggles should be checked for seizure and
open-close markings. In case of doubts, passage of light test (Surveyor
shall stand inside the compartment and check that no day light passes
through the door & edges with the door fully closed) or chalk test on
doorframe & rubber gasket may be carried out.
3.2.4 Scuttles & Windows- Check for broken glass, perished or missing dead
lights and proper closure. Chalk test or hose test may be carried out, if
required by Surveyor.
3.2.5 Access Hatches Check condition of coaming, especially lower portion
adjacent to deck (hammer testing may be carried out). Check rubber
gaskets for wear and loose fitting. Check cover for wastage, for seizure &
operate the toggles from inside and out side and check effectiveness of
pins for retaining in open position. Passage of light test or chalk test may
be carried out, if required by Surveyor.
3.2.6 Man Holes Check covers for wastage, missing or worn out packing,
bolts and nuts.

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LOAD LINE SURVEYS

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3.2.7 Air and sounding pipes Check pipes for wastage, specially the lower
portion near stub pieces. Check for missing protective cover for air pipes
in holds. Check for missing caps/ keep chains for sounding pipes. Check
condition of air pipe hood for wastage and missing wire gauze diaphragm
for oil tank vents. Check condition of float and sealing washer for
automatic air vents by dismantling and examining at least 10 percent of
the air pipes. Floatability test for floats may be carried out, if required by
Surveyor (particularly if repairs/renewals have been carried out to floats).
Ensure that vents for oil fuel tanks are fitted with flameproof wire mesh of
correct size.
3.2.8 Ventilators Check for corrosion of coaming/casing, proper closure of
flaps, missing butterfly nuts & packing and open-shut markings. Operating
handle or spindle should be checked for free movement. Check support
stays & brackets for wastage/detachment.
3.2.9 Bulwarks, Guardrails and life lines Check for missing, damaged or
broken railing and stanchions. Wasted/detached stays and cap rails
should be repaired. Check for missing lifeline stanchions & wasted shoes
and worn lifelines.
3.2.10 Freeing ports should be examined for proper operation of flaps/shutters
and for obstructions. Examine grills for wastage/damage.
3.2.11 Scuppers & Discharges Check for clogged deck scuppers, missing
spindles/hand wheels, pipes for wastage and overboard valves for
wastage/leaks. Operation of local and remote controls must be verified.
3.2.12 Skylights, Casings & Funnel flaps to be checked for broken glass, wasted
covers, worn or loose gaskets and missing butterfly nuts or toggles.
3.2.13 Side/Bow doors Check for deterioration of hinges, seized dogs and
verify proper operation of closing mechanism (hydraulic). Logbook entries,
of opening and closing, should be verified. Doors should be hose tested to
ensure water tightness.
3.2.14 Cargo Hatch covers and coamings Checking that no unapproved
changes have been made to the hatch covers, hatch coamings and their
securing and sealing devices since the last survey.
Where mechanically operated steel covers are fitted, checking the
satisfactory condition of:
- hatch covers;

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LOAD LINE SURVEYS

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- tightness devices of longitudinal, transverse and intermediate cross

junctions
(gaskets, gaskets lips, compression bars, drainage channels);
- clamping devices, retaining bars, cleating;
- chain or rope pulleys;
- guides;
- guide rails and track wheels;
- stoppers, etc.;
- wires, chains, gypsies, tensioning devices;
- hydraulic system essential to closing and securing;
- safety locks and retaining devices.
Where portable covers, wooden or steel pontoons are fitted, checking the
satisfactory condition of:
- wooden covers and portable beams, carriers or sockets for the portable
beams, and their securing devices;
- steel pontoons;
- tarpaulins;
- cleats, battens and wedges;
- hatch securing bars and their securing devices;
- loading pads/bars and the side plate edge
- guide plates and chocks;
- compression bars, drainage channels and drain pipes (if any)
Random checking of the satisfactory operation of mechanically operated
hatch covers:
- stowage and securing in open condition;
- proper fit, locking and efficiency of sealing in closed condition;
- operational testing of hydraulic and power components, wires, chains,
and link drives.
Checking the satisfactory condition of hatch coamings plating and their
stiffeners. Examine cover and coamings for wastage of plating, stiffeners
and stays. The hatch covers should be operated and examined for proper
operation of opening and closing mechanism and if chain operated
examine chain for slackness, worn links and wasted guides. Check the
condition of hydraulic system including checking for any leaks, in case of
hydraulically operated covers. Examine tracks and guides for wear,
distortion and wastage. Check drain channels and pipes for corrosion,
blockage and condition of drain valves. Examine quick acting cleats for
distortions, slackness, wasted brackets, etc. Check gasket retaining
channel for wastage and worn out or loose gaskets. Examine compression
bar for wastage and distortion. All hatch covers should be hose tested to

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LOAD LINE SURVEYS

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ensure weather-tightness. OMCS Head Office should be consulted where

the use of tarpaulins is proposed as a temporary or permanent measure to
secure weather-tightness of cargo hatches.
3.2.15 Spurling pipe of Chain locker Check for missing or wasted cover.
SECTION 4
Periodical (Renewal) Surveys
4.1

Renewal surveys (Periodical surveys in ICLL 1966) are required every five
years and before the certificate in force has expired. As far as practicable,
surveys should be carried out in tandem with classification special /
SAFCON renewal surveys.

4.2

Cargo Hatch covers and coamings - This survey shall, as a minimum,

consist of:
- a thorough inspection of the items listed in section 3.2.14; and in
addition:
- checking of the satisfactory operation of all mechanically operated hatch
covers:
stowage and securing in open condition; proper fit, locking and efficiency
of sealing in closed condition; operational testing of hydraulic and power
components, wires, chains, and link drives;
- checking the effectiveness of sealing arrangements of all hatch covers
by hose testing or equivalent as necessary;
- checking the residual thickness of coamings, steel pontoon or hatch
cover plating and stiffening members as deemed necessary by the
Surveyor.

4.3

A thorough examination of the ships structure, openings & closing

appliances is to be made to ensure that the items will, given routine
maintenance, remain in satisfactory condition.

4.4

On satisfactory completion of surveys, an SHORT TERM Load Line

certificate is to be issued valid for 5 months.
SECTION 5
Reporting

5.1

The relevant survey checklists Form No. LL-01, Form No. LL-02 and Form
No. LL-03 should be used when carrying out surveys and a copy
submitted to OMCS Head Office along with survey reports.

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LOAD LINE SURVEYS

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5.2

At first surveys by OMCS, copies of the previous societys certificates and

Conditions of Assignment and copy of approval for stability booklet/grain
loading manual/timber loading & lashing plan etc and list of any
outstanding deficiencies, recommendations etc should also be forwarded.

5.3

Short term Load Line Certificate should be issued, valid for five months on
satisfactory completion of Renewal/Periodical Surveys or First Survey by
Overseas Marine Certification Services (OMCS). When survey is
incomplete or deficiencies are noted, the Short term Certificate should be
marked CONDITIONAL and the outstanding survey items/deficiencies
must be noted on the reverse of the CONDITIONAL Certificate and on the
Surveyor Site Report (RPT-01). The certificate validity must be restricted
to maximum two months (except where only approval of stability booklet/
grain loading manual/timber loading & lashing plan is outstanding, in
which case the validity should be restricted to three months)

5.4

On completion of annual surveys, the existing full term certificate on board

is to be endorsed in the relevant column indicating the date, place and
surveyors name and endorsed using the OMCS seal. A copy of the
endorsed certificate must be submitted to OMCS Head Office along with
the Form No. LL-03. At annual surveys, if surveys cannot be completed or
deficiencies are noted, the outstanding items/deficiencies must be entered
on the surveyor site report (RPT-01). The Full Term LL certificate should
not be endorsed in such cases.

5.5

When previous recommendations are examined and completed

satisfactorily, the items must be deleted on the surveyor site report (Form
No. RPT-01).

5.6

A narrative survey report (Form No. RPT-02) should be submitted

whenever a survey is incomplete (indicating the reason why the survey
could not be completed), deficiencies are noted (details of deficiency
noted and the owners proposal to deal with the deficiency), repairs are
carried out (details of the temporary/permanent repairs carried out) and
when existing outstanding recommendations are deleted or postponed.