Provision of Services for the Verification and Certification of Tank Stowage and Vessel Characteristics to the SFPA

Tender description

Under EU Regulation all vessels with chilled or refrigerated sea-water (RSW) tanks are required to keep onboard a document indicating the calibration of the tanks in cubic meters at 10 centimeter intervals. Ireland has a number of vessels in its fleet construct that operate what is termed a polyvalent fishing pattern. They fish across various species and including seasonal pelagic fisheries and retain that fish onboard in RSW tanks. They and catch and hold on board medium to large quantities of pelagic species such as Herring, Mackerel and Horse Mackerel. Catches are stored via fish pumping systems in RSW tanks for the journey to port. On arrival at port the fishing vessel pumps the fish directly from the tanks to road tankers for transport to processing premises. These RSW tanks are provided with calibration tables by the ship building company which allow for assessment of the quantities of fish stored in the tanks. The Authority wish to verify the accuracy and validity of the calibration table documents for Polyvalent vessels operating RSW tanks and also their associated fish pumping arrangements. There is a legal requirement under Commission Regulation 404/2011 (Art 7.3) for all vessels with RSW capacity to carry a copy of their calibration tables. The accuracy of these tables is an essential element of information both for the Master of the vessel for stability purposes and for a Sea- Fisheries Protection Officer (SFPO) carrying out an inspection of such a vessel. This Request for Tender (RFT) issued by the SFPA invites suitably qualified Marine Engineer and/or Naval Architect and/or Marine Surveyor, with in date and valid certification in order to determine current professional status and competence to undertake inspections and measurements of tanks and pipework and compile accurate ullage tables and reports of the same. Please refer to Section 1.2 "Statement of Purpose" for a full description of the services required.