Structural Failures of Bulk Carriers

Structural failures of bulk carriers continue at a steady and unacceptable rate, claiming some 150 lives per year. This paper explains why bulk carriers are vulnerable to structural failure either because side shell plating falls out allowing ingress of seawater or the deck cracks open. Inadequate detail design, material without guaranteed fracture toughness and limitations of current inspection programmes are identified as fundamental weaknesses. The paper includes important information from a case study of six oil bulk ore carriers prone to deck cracking. One of the group of six which sank in 1980 was traced 4200 metres down on the floor of the Pacific Ocean in June 1994 and the results of this initial search are reviewed.

There is a genuine need to go back to basics. Designing from first principles to determine local stresses is an important first step rather than the current use of prescriptive rules. All subsequent steps in bulk carrier construction and maintenance should be subject to a penetrating review.