Tank inspection, Ballast compartments

Maintaining the integrity of the ship’s hull depends on regular and detailed structural inspections. While ships are subject to regular statutory and classification society surveys, the role of ship personnel in regularly inspecting compartments on-board cannot be over-estimated. Of the compartments found on-board, it is ballast tanks that generally require the most attention. Surveyors and Superintendents need to take into account observations recorded in ballast tank inspection reports, carried out by ship’s staff, when considering repairs to ballast tank structure or coatings.

This course, aimed at junior and senior officers, provides information that will guide officers on how to prepare for inspections, recognize structural and paint coating defects and know where they might be found.  The title concludes by describing how to record findings that might be helpful to Surveyors and Superintendents when examining tank inspection reports.

Learning objectives:

• Recognize the preparations required for a ballast tank inspection
• Recognize what to look for during a ballast tank inspection
• Outline how to assess the condition of a ballast tank during an inspection
• Outline how to record findings during a ballast tank inspection