Halifax Shipyard Sued

[JK]

From Nov 30 th Chronical Herald:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1214651.html

[The Dieselduck]

What a gong show; that whole Pearl Sea thing from start to... whenever it finishes. How can you build a ship without class approving it. There is definitely something fishy there.

Probably, the Pearl Sea people don't want to pay because the lower demand for their product and a cask crunch. But then again the building delays have been a bit ridiculous. Who has so much money so little brain to not make sure thing get done properly.

[Big Pete]

I find it hard to understand how this could happen.
Normally, the Build contract specifies that the ship must comply with Flag and Class Rules and the International Rules such as Solas.
Every stage of the design is normally checked and approved by Class and Flag, before fabrication starts.
Every stage of construction is normally checked by Class and has to meet the required standard or be changed.
What happenned? Did the yard just go ahead and build the ship without any Class Surveys during construction then try to get a Surveyor in to approve everything after the ship had been built?

BP

[jimmys]

Usually the owner hires a Naval Architect who lays out the design of the ship to cover the owners requirements. The first requirement is the class of the ship as against classification.
A Class 1 passenger ship is a passenger ship on long international voyages
A Class 2 passenger ship is a passenger ship on short international voyages.
A Class2A passenger ship is a passenger ship on non international voyages. Can be long voyages but no international requirements. USA port to USA port.
Technically all these vessels go to sea beyond smooth and partially smooth waters. The class decides the construction and fitting out.
Depending on the Class depends on the rules and regulations to be followed for construction, lifesaving and fire protection.
There is seven classes of passenger ship.
Mistakes can easily be made and have been made before.
I have in a past life been the build engineer for GovUK on major passenger units. It is complex and the golden rule is pay fees for surveyors who know what they are doing. These people are few and far between and not in the Marshal Islands.

regards
jimmy

[JK]

The whole thing is very strange. Irving should get a board decision and run it in Canada, didn't that work for BCFC? They could take the punters from Yarmouth to Bar Harbour.

Anyone know if TC has to attend a ship being built to class and for out of country?

[jimmys]

We need to look at what we have with this vessel
a) it is an existing ship
b) it is not registered
c) it is not with a classification society.
None of these facts are a problem. The vessel was built and designed in Canada by a reputable designer/ builder. There is no present certification and that is the problem.
The vessel wishes to work in American waters and any international voyages will not be as a passenger vessel but as a cargo ship.
To work as a passenger vessel in US waters it needs a US passenger certificate. To obtain a US passenger certificate it needs to be surveyed to US administration Rules and an Engineer and Ship Surveyor of the US Administration to issue a Declaration of Survey. Any defects need to be remedied before a Declaration can be issued.
There is no need for the vessel to be registered and no need for classification Societies. Once the vessel has the Declaration of survey certification is automatic.
The major problem for this vessel is intact stability, damage stability and subdivision. Structural Fire protection is not difficult to remedy. The engineer and ship surveyor tells you what to remedy and you do what he says, no more no less.
It is difficult to sue the builders as in shipping "caveat emptor" buyer beware is the norm. The owner should not have paid till he was satisfied at each stage of the build.

regards
jimmy

[JollyJack]

JK, a vessel being built in Canada, for foreign owners and a foreign flag state, has nothing to do with TC. Canada's only interest would be Port State and compliance with IMO Conventions to which Canada is a part while the vessel is in Canada. The first Port State inspection would be after 6 months. Canada has no interest in it's construction.

[JK]

Thanks Jolly Jack, that makes sense. One of those, hmmm I wonder....