As previously advised in ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-0538, the requirements of renewal criteria for side shell frames (IACS UR-S31) as a part of the Bulk Carrier Safety initiative come into force on 1 January 2004. The UR has now been incorporated to the ClassNK Rules.
In order to unify the methodology of thickness gauging which is necessary to evaluate hold frames' strength in line with UR-S31, amongst IACS members, Guidelines for thickness gauging have been prepared and UR Z10.2 (rev.15) including the Guidelines was adopted at the IACS Council meeting held in December 2003.

The UR Z10.2 (rev.15) also comes into force on 1 January 2004, and is applicable to confirmation surveys related to UR-S31 from 1 January 2004.

For an outline of the amendments, please refer to the attached documents.
Regarding full text of the UR Z10.2 (rev.15), please refer to the following IACS Home Page. Http://www.iacs.org.uk/index1.htm

Regarding the procedures for confirmation surveys for UR-S31, please refer to "BULK CARRIER SAFETY Retroactive Requirements for existing bulk carriers" available on the ClassNK web site (http://www.classnk.or.jp).

For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Survey Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address: 4-7 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2027 / 2028
Fax: +81-3-5226-2029
E-mail: svd@classnk.or.jp
Attachment:
1. Outline of Guidelines for Gauging in order to Comply with UR S31
2. ANNEX V "Guidance for the Gauging of Side Shell Frames and Brackets in Single Side Skin Bulk Carriers required to comply with UR-S31"