Inland Navigation

Safety commission in Europe and working groupsDespite the fact that the transitional period covering existing regulations was stillapplicable to vessels in service, the European Union issued new technical regulationscovering the construction of inland navigation vessels. These rules, however, do notoverride existing regulations such as the Rhine Rules and Resolution 61 of theEuropean Economic Commission of the United Nations (UNECE). Resolution 61 isusually applied on the Danube by countries which are not members of the EuropeanUnion. The Rhine Rules and ADNR govern the transportation of dangerous goods on theRhine and are the basis for European Directive 2006/87 and ADN (UNECE), the mainregulations covering vessel surveys. Collaboration between the Rhine Commission (CCNR) and the EuropeanCommission/UNECE is the subject of the joint working group on European Directive2006/87 and the Safety Committee (WP15.AC2) for ADN issues. As part of thiscollaboration, Rhine riverside countries and Belgium have actively pursuedconvergence of both texts in the lead-up to the entry into force of the European directiveand the ADN Convention. For many years, however, Rhine regulations have continuedto evolve independently through working groups for survey rules (RV/G) and for thetransportation of dangerous goods (MD/G). This has created occasional smalldifficulties, for example discrepancies in content, which the working groups are stilltrying to resolve today.The ADN Convention is applied by countries which have ratified it, but it is alsomandatory in the European Union through European Directive 2008/68.

news letter

Summary• Safety commission in Europe and working groups

• “LE LENDIT”- Electrically powered passengervessel enters service

• Environmental objectives: gas emission stages• Republic of Romania recognizes BV

for inland navigation vessel inspection• Zones 1 and 2 according to European Directive2006/87

• First BV-registered inland vessel sailing underIndian flag

• French Division 229 - national navigation in 4th and 5th categories

• Establishing tanker stability • How to measure noise

No.11 a

pril

2011

EditorialDear All,New orders for passenger vessels arepresently booming in the InlandNavigation market. The customers ofthose passengers shipping companiesare becoming more discerning andare demanding the sort of standardsthat have been on offer for some timein the seagoing passenger shippingmarket. In order to help ensure thatthe design of inland waterway vesselsmeets client expectations, BureauVeritas (DNI) is preparing adaptednotations linked to the COMF-VIB andCOMF-NOISE standards used forseagoing ships. The noise limitationsare a mandatory requirement underthe Rhine Rules and EC-Directive2006/87. In addition, in response toincreasing recognition of the need toprotect the environment, BV isthinking ‘green’ and is preparing thenew notations ‘CLEAN VESSEL’ and‘GREEN PASSPORT’. We are creatingquality labels for owners who arecommitted to not only meeting, butalso exceeding, the requirements ofcurrent mandatory regulations, in theprocess helping to achieve betterstandards and to protect theenvironment.Eric Lallemand, Director

Bureau VeritasInland Navigation Management

Mechelsesteenweg 128/136 B-2018 Antwerp - Belgium� : +32 (0) 3 247 94 70 / 00

Fax : +32 (0) 3 247 94 99dni.mo@bureauveritas.com

www.bureauveritas.com

�

� Consequently, it has a wider application than Directive2006/87, including in non-European Danube riversidecountries and the Russian Federation. On the Danube river, two regulations apply - EuropeanDirective 2006/87 and the Belgrade Convention - andcertificates issued under the Serbian flag and those ofother Eastern European countries such as Moldovaand Ukraine are accepted by European countries,based on Article 18 of the directive.

Le Lendit, a passenger vessel owned by ICADE, began navigation on theSt Denis Canal in Paris on November 9, 2010. The singular thing aboutthis composite vessel is that it is fully electrically powered. Thecatamaran, which was built at La Rochelle (France) to BV class, is beingused as a floating shuttle. It is equipped with a set of batteries whichare partially recharged by photovoltaic panels. The vessel, which cantransport up to 75 passengers 10 km/h with the autonomy of 150km. Thevessel links a subway station in north-east Paris to offices locatedoutside the city’s ring road. �

“LE LENDIT”-Electrically poweredpassenger vessel enters service

Environmental objectives: gas emission stages

Inland navigation is regarded as a safe and environmentally friendlymethod of transporting goods. But, faced with strong competition fromroad and rail transport, and under pressure from regulators, the inlandnavigation sector needs to introduce highly efficient technology whichis designed to improve its environmental performance. And BV can helpcompanies understand and meet their responsibilities in this regard.So far as gaseous emissions are concerned, inland navigation isgoverned by much stricter emissions regulations - for example,European Directive 97/68/EC and amendments, and the Rhine Rules -than is seagoing transportation. Gaseous emissions limits are stronglylinked with, among other things, engine application and engine power.In order to clarify all requirements, taking into account all relevantcriteria and transitory dispositions, DNI has created an informationtable entitled, “Gaseous emissions by engines used in InlandNavigation” which can be accessed at: www.veristar.com �

Republic of Romania recognizes BV for inland navigation vessel inspection

There is currently no provision to harmonize thedifferent technical provisions. During 2010, even a firstinitiative to begin a common work programme waspostponed. It must also be remembered that technicalprovisions for construction and equipment are only partof the overall regulations which apply to vessels. Otherregulations, such as those covering crew qualification,police regulations and crew training, remain for themost part the responsibility of individual states �

The government of Romania now officiallyrecognizes Bureau Veritas for the inspectionof inland navigation vessels flying theRomanian flag within the scope of the ADN(International Carriage of Dangerous Goodsby Inland Waterways) regulations. Thisrecognition, which has been lodged with the

United Nations, was confirmed by the Romanian Naval Authoritiesduring a meeting on March 15 in Constanţza during which a letter ofauthorization was presented to BV’s Inland Navigation Manager, EricLallemand, and its Marine Manager for Romania, Jean-Sever Popovici,by Constantin Casiade, Director of the Romanian government’sEuropean Affairs Division �

European Directive 2006/87 is mandatory on thewaterways of those countries included in Annex I of thedirective. But the community waterways of a number ofcountries, including those in Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia,Finland, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Portugal,Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, are not listed in Annex 1. For the purposes of the directive, community inlandwaterways are classified as Zones 1, 2, 3 and 4. There isalso a Zone R (Rhine).There are three countries withZone 1 waterways (Germany, Poland, and the UK, andseven with Zone 2 waterways (Czech Republic, Germany,France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland and the UK.

Neither in EC/2066/87 nor in the rules of theclassification societies is there a link between therelevant zone and wave height. Each member state canadopt technical requirements additional to those in

Annex II for craft operating on Zone 1 and 2 waterwayswithin its territory. Those additional technicalrequirements are limited to specific areas such asstructural reinforcement, freeboard, openings, anchors,life-saving equipment, stability etc. For example, Francehas published its requirements for Zones 1 and 2, ashave the Dutch authorities.A community certificate for Zone 1 or Zone 2 of onecountry would be not allowed in Zone 1 or Zone 2 ofanother country. In order to clarify matters, it is advisableto contact the authorities in the other country in advance.Similarly, craft operating only on Zone 4 waterwaysshould qualify for the reduced requirements as specifiedin Chapter 19b of Annex II. Each member state may alsoallow a reduction of the technical requirements of AnnexII for craft operating exclusively on Zone 3 and 4waterways within its territory �

Zones 1 and 2 according to European Directive 2006/87

Inland Navigation activities aregrowing worldwide and, thanks toexcellent co-operation with ouroffices in Goa, India, we aredelighted to confirm that the firstBV-registered inland waterwaysnewbuilding is now still underconstruction under the Indian flag.The design of a seagoing double-hull bulk cargo vessel (69.8m x13.4m, 2400t), built at the SuperServices shipyard at Vasco DaGama, was slightly modified andoptimised in order to comply withthe requirements of BV’s InlandNavigation Rules. �

First BV-registeredinland vessel sailingunder Indian flag

According to ADN(R) regulations, proof of sufficient stability for tankersis required for intact and damaged conditions, except for Type N singlehull vessels with cargo tanks, the width of which is not more than 0.70B ( B: Hull Breath). The stability document may be presented indifferent ways - by direct calculation of typical loading conditions, orby showing the maximum allowable vertical centre of gravity curve(VCG) according to displacement in accordance with the loadingmanual. In the latter instance, it is necessary to verify that thecorrected VCG (taking into account the correction of free surfacemoment of tanks) does not exceed the maximum allowable value foreach loading condition intended to be used, including all stages duringloading and unloading. Stability may become critical for large cargotanks in cases involving the carriage of products with high specificgravity. Free surface effect is a direct function of specific gravity �

Audible sounds are produced by acoustic pressure. But high pressure can cause severe hearing damage. To avoid this, it is necessary to estimate the acoustic power of a noise source.Acoustic power is the amount of energy produced by a unit of time; the acoustic intensity describes the flux ofacoustic energy situated at one point. It is possible to take sound pressure measurements, and then to reducethis value with the value of global environmental noise, in order to establish whether or not there is exposureto high noise levels. Intensity can be measured everywhere, and does not need particular conditions. Thepressure sound unit is defined in Pascal. In open fields, the reference of sound level is 20 μ Pascal. Due to theextreme divergence of range involved, and to avoid unnecessarily complicated calculations involving lowest andhighest values, engineers work with logarithmic scales. There are also some rules to follow: sound level metersmust answer to the EN norm and must be regularly calibrated; microphones must answer to the EN norm andbe regularly calibrated; equipment must be calibrated every two years; measurement must conform to ISOstandards; and noise must be measured outside as well as inside the ship and under certain conditions. Themethod of taking noise measurements will vary according to length, purpose, and type etc. What is beingmeasured, for example? Is it the wheelhouse, the cabins, the public spaces, the engine room, the alarms? Thiswill depend on the type of vessel involved, and is definitely work for a specialist �

French Division 229 – National navigation in 4th and 5th categoriesAttention is drawn to Division 229, issued by the Frenchauthorities to cover seagoing cargo ships and inland vesselsof more than 500 gross tons making domestic voyages inthe so-called 4th and 5th categories. The 4th categorycovers vessels navigating not more than five miles fromtheir home port.The 5th category covers the navigation of vessels whichremain in sheltered waters, such as protected harbours,lakes, ponds, etc, or within limits fixed by local authorities.Division 229 is a ‘light’ version of Division 221, which is

applicable to internationally trading seagoing ships.MARPOL, COLREGS and most of the International LoadLine Convention (ILLC 66) regulations are applicable. Anyexemption from these rules must receive the agreement ofthe relevant authorities, depending on the nature of theoperation and of the sailing zone. For inland vessels,authorisation for sailing is given for one or several dedicatedareas. For these areas, the local administration canauthorise specific complementary requirements or possibleexemptions, depending on the sailing zone �

Establishing tanker stability

How to measure noise

Alexey SHIFMAN, a naval architectwith a Master's degree from theMaritime University of SaintPetersburg (Russia), from ENSAM inBrest (France) and from theUniversity of Liege (Belgium), hasjoined BV’s Plan Approval Office,where he will be in charge of hulldrawing reviews.

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