Dry Cargo International Bulk Conference: Advanced Maritime Safety with GL’s Hull Lifecycle Programme for Bulk Carriers

Amsterdam/Hamburg, 27 May 2008 – Ensuring long life and technical safety for vessels – such are the aims of the Hull Lifecycle Programme (HLP). How this new class notation and corresponding software tools help to improve monitoring and assessment of the condition of a ship’s hull throughout by means of thickness measurements, will be presented by Germanischer Lloyd at the Dry Cargo International Bulk Conference & Exhibition 2008. David C. Jaramillo, Senior Project Engineer at Germanischer Lloyd, will show the components of the Hull Lifecycle Programme and explain the benefits for ship owners and operators.

In his presentation “Hull Lifecycle Programme for Bulk Carriers”, Jaramillo gives an overview of Hull Condition Monitoring and Assessment of Thickness Measurements. Ensuring the durability and technical safety of ships for their entire life cycle is the expressed objective of the class notation Hull Lifecycle Programme. It utilises a 3D-model of the vessel for monitoring the hull integrity of a ship throughout its entire lifecycle. Jaramillo points out how chronological comparison of surveys and easy comparison between sister ships can be achieved. Being able to access a detailed and up-to-date 3D-model helps ship owners and thickness measurement companies involved to work more efficiently.

Moreover, the Hull Lifecycle Programme offers easier assessment by graphical overview of thickness measurements and faster availability of the respective final report. A higher quality of data is achieved by avoiding redundant data input. In addition to this, a systematic re-assessment of longitudinal and local strength is achieved based on measured plate thicknesses.

HLP is supported by IT tools such as “GL Pegasus”, an application designed to provide all-out support for the thickness measurement process. It is complemented by data evaluation features that deliver the results needed for repair and maintenance work. Once a model of the ship has been created, it can be used with HLP continuously, Jaramillo said. The model can also be updated to account for modifications of the ship’s structure, such as hull plate replacements.

The presentation by David C. Jaramillo takes place on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 16:30 p.m. in the Kraznapolsky Hotel, Amsterdam.

Germanischer Lloyd press release