1. General
Clarification of the definition of "Bulk carrier" in SOLAS has been adopted at IMO resolution MSC.277(85), but this resolution is not mandatory one. Therefore, ClassNK made a judgment that a ship categorized as "Bulk carrier" on SOLAS certificates is to be changed according to the mandatory resolution MSC.170(79) which clarifies the definition of "Bulk carrier".
A ship which should be categorized as "Bulk carrier" on the SE and SC certificates would be changed from A) to B) as below.
A) a ship which is constructed generally with single deck, Top-side tanks and hopper side tanks in cargo spaces, and is intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk, and includes such types as ore carriers and combination carriers. - Reg.1.6/IX
B) a ship which is intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk, including such types as ore carriers and combination carriers. - Reg.1.1/XII

2. Application
(1) For ships which were constructed on or after 1 July 2006 and have a notation of "BC-XII" affixed to the Classification Characters, the description of "Type of Ship" on SC and SE certificate is to be changed as "Bulk carrier", hereafter. Therefore, not only box type bulk carriers but also chip carriers, etc., which have "BC-XII" Notation Characters, are newly categorized as "Bulk carrier" (refer to Attachment 1). However, the Flag Administrations shown in below (2) declare that only the ships defined by the above A) should be categorized as "Bulk carrier" on SC and SE certificates, as before.
(2) Flag Administrations, who adopt the definition in the above A), as before.
- Cayman Islands*
- Marshall Islands*
- Qatar
- St. Vincent & the Grenadines
- Vietnam
*: It remains possible that the ships defined by above B) are categorized as "Bulk carrier" by the judgement of Flag Administrations. If there is any alternation, ClassNK will issue a Technical Information.


(To be continued)