Upcoming changes to SOLAS: Electronic inclinometers
For container ships and bulk carriers over 3000GT
Relevant M-notices and documents: MSC 363 (92)
From the IMO website, Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue meeting summary:
‘The Sub-Committee finalized draft SOLAS amendments for the mandatory carriage of electronic inclinometers on container ships and bulk carriers of 3,000 gross tonnage and above. Inclinometers can provide information on critical stability and navigational situations of a ship and share information on roll period and actual heel angle with any other equipment or function, if applicable, to be used by marine personnel in a reliable manner on board ships or to be recorded for the purpose of incident investigation.
The draft amendments require that container ships and bulk carriers of 3,000 gross tonnage and above constructed on or after 1 January 2026 shall be fitted with an electronic inclinometer, or other means, to determine, display and record the ship's roll motion.’
The functional requirements given for these inclinometers are:
‘Electronic inclinometers should, in a reliable form:
determine the actual heel angle with the required accuracy;
determine the roll amplitude with the required accuracy;
determine the roll period with the required accuracy;
present the information on a bridge display; and
provide a standardized interface to instantaneous heel angle to the voyage data recorder (VDR).’
Accuracy requirements:
‘Electronic inclinometers should provide the data with sufficient accuracy for a proper assessment of the ship's dynamic situation. Minimum accuracy of the measurements should be 5 per cent of reading or ± 1 degree, whichever is the greater for angle measurements and 5 per cent of reading or ± 1 s, whichever is the greater for time measurements.’
Display requirements:
‘Electronic inclinometers should display:
the roll period with a minimum resolution of 1 s; and .2
the roll amplitude to both port and starboard side with a minimum resolution of 1 degree.
7.2 The actual heel angle to port or starboard should be indicated in an analogue form between the limits of ± 45 degrees.
7.3 The display may be implemented as a dedicated display or integrated into other bridge systems.’
These inclinometers will be powered by the vessels main power supply but will be capable of being powered by the vessels emergency power supply.
MCAQs
When will new build container ships and bulk carriers over 3000GT require an electronic inclinometer?
What are the required standards of accuracy for this inclinometer?
What must the inclinometer be capable of interfacing with?