News

New LoadLine Requirements - Potential Impact on Domestic Crewboat Design

The International Tonnage Convention (1969) permits the exclusion of vent trunks with a cross sectional area under 1.0 m2 .  The revised International LoadLine Convention requires that cowl vent trunks have a minimum height of 14.8ft (4.50M).  As the cross sectional area of these taller trunks will usually exceed 1.0 m2, this will force virtually all vent trunks to be included in Convention tonnage calculations,  which in turn may “push” may existing vessel designs over the 500 tons threshold. 

Although this requirement has been in the revised LoadLine regulations since 2005, USCG did not actively enforce it until late last year.

MCG personnel have discussed this with USCG tonnage personnel, who advise that we will need to enforce this change once the new rules are fully implemented.  We could have cases where “Vessel 1” has vent trunks which are excluded from Convention tonnage measurement and measure under 500 tons, and “Vessel 2” built a year later to the same design but with taller vent trunks included in Convention tonnage measurement will exceed 500 tons.

For more information please contact MCG.

Moorsom Provides Technical Services to Two of Marine Log’s “Distinctive Boats of 2012”

In the January 2013 issue, Marine Log magazine announced their selections for the distinctive boats of 2012.  Moorsom is proud to have provided admeasurement services to two of the five recipients:

“Hornblower Hybrid” (modifications designed by DeJong & Lebet)
“Yankee Freedom III” (designed by Incat Crowther, built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding)

Congratulations to the designers and shipyards for a job well done!

Moorsom Provides Technical Services to Eight of Foghorn’s “2012-2013 Vessel Review/Preview”

In the December 2012 issue, Foghorn magazine announced their selections for the top vessels of 2012-2013.  Moorsom is proud to have provided admeasurement services to eight of the 10 recipients:

“Ava Pearl” (designed by Incat Crowther, built by Gladding-Hearn Shipyards)
“Lila” (designed by Timothy Graul Marine Design, built by Blount Boats)
“Yankee Freedom III” (designed by Incat Crowther, built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding)
“Tecopa” (designed by Teknicraft, built by Kvichak Marine Industries)
“Mary Musgrove” (designed by DeJong & Lebet, built by Custom Steel Boats)
“Sea Level” (designed by Guarino & Cox, built by Orange Shipbuilding Company)
“Raven” (designed and built by Scarano Boat Builders)
83’x29’ Small Passenger Vessel (designed by Teknicraft, built by All-American Marine)

Congratulations to the designers and shipyards for a job well done!

Moorsom Provides Technical Services to Three of Workboat Magazine’s “10 Significant Boats of 2012”

At the 2012 International Workboat Show in New Orleans this afternoon, Workboat magazine presented their annual awards to the 10 Significant Boats of 2012. Moorsom is proud to have provided admeasurement services to three of the recipients:

“Rich Passage 1” (designed by Teknicraft, built by All American Marine)
“Sea Scout” (designed by Teknicraft, built by All American Marine)
“Hornblower Hybrid” (modifications designed by DeJong & Lebet, built by Derecktor Shipyards).

Congratulations to the designers and shipyards for a job well done!

Moorsom Logs In 900th Project

Moorsom Consulting Group (MCG) is pleased to annouce the signing of its 900th project, a 50M yacht presently under construction at Westport Shipards in Port Angeles WA.  This is the eleventh of the 50M class of luxury yachts that Westport has contracted with MCG to provide admeasurement services for.

Baed in Sea Cliff NY, MCG is the leading provider of independent admeasurement services in the US.  For additional information please contact us at info@moorsom.com

Small Craft for Fishing

There is a provision in US law that permits foreign built fishing vessels to be used for commercial fishing if they admeasure under 5 net tons.  This fact sheet describes the admeasurement priocess for these smaller fishing boats.

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Moorsom Provides Technical Services to Three of Marine News Magazine’s “Great Boats of 2011”

Marine News magazine announced their annual awards for the Great Boats of 2011. Moorsom is proud to have provided admeasurement services to three of the recipients:

“Hornblower Hybrid” (modifications designed by DeJong & Lebet)
“Jersey” / “York” (designed by Teknicraft, built by All American Marine)

Congratulations to the designers and shipyards for a job well done!

Moorsom Provides Technical Services to Five of Workboat Magazine’s “10 Significant Boats of 2011”

At the 2011 International Workboat Show in New Orleans, Workboat magazine presented their annual awards to the 10 Significant Boats of 2011.  Moorsom is proud to have provided admeasurement services to five of the recipients:

“Chetzemoka” / “Salish” / “Kennewick” (designed by Elliot Bay Design Group, built by Todd Pacific Shipyard/Vigor Shipyards)
“Chicago’s Leading Lady” (designed by Seacraft Design LLC, built by Burger Boat Company)
“Megan Parker” (designed by CT Marine, built by C&G Boat Works).

Congratulations to the designers and shipyards for a job well done!

Revised Ballast Exemption Requirements Discussed at Workboat Show

At the 2011 Workboat Show in New Orleans, USCG held a brief meeting to discuss several recent interpretations.  One of the surprising developments was a revision to the WBT exemption / justification requirements.

Owners are no longer required to exempt all the ballast in a vessel.  For example:  For a vessel with 12 ballast tanks, the owner can request the exemption of only 6 of the tanks if that gets the vessel to the desired tonnage.  If the exemption of those six tanks is less than 30% of the gross tonnage, no ballast justification is required.

Additionally, you are not required to justify all of the ballast in a vessel in order to get a ballast justification approved.  Using the above example, let’s assume that the aggregate tonnage of the six tanks is more than 30% of the gross tonnage.  If the owner only requires the exemption of the six ballast tanks, only those six tanks need to be justified.  In the past, a ballast justification was an “all or nothing” affair.

In both examples, we would then exempt 6 tanks and leave the remaining tanks in tonnage.

This interpretation is based on changes to the language in 46CFR69 made in 1989.  In the 1989 revisions, the word “shall” was replaced by the word “may”, so that the exemption of water ballast is not mandatory but optional.

Any questions?  Please do not hesitate us

Moorsom conducts Tonnage Webinar;  Enrollment among the highest ever

Phil Essex, President of Moorsom Consulting Group, recently conducted a webinar on tonnage for Workboat magazine.  This online seminar was based on his well-received presentation on tonnage that has been featured at the International Workboat Show, Pacific Marine Expo and PVA MariTrends.  According to Lisa Keller, Conference Manager for Diversified Expositions, close to 200 members of the international maritime community registered to take part in this event, making it one of the most successful webinars sponsored by Workboat magazine.

Skype with MCG

We are pleased to be able to offer video conferencing via Skpye.  Our contact name is moorsom_consulting.  Feel free to reach us during business hours (8:00-5:00 EDT).

Tonnage Measurement Records (TG 3 CH-1) - UPDATED

Want to know how your vessel’s permanent tonnage file is maintained?  Here’s the guide that tells all…..

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MCG to conduct Tonnage Seminars in Seattle

Moorsom Consulting Group will be in Seattle Feb. 23-24 2011 to give our “Tonnage 101” seminar to several of the leading naval architecture firms in the area.  Please contact your naval architect to see if they are on our schedule, and ask if you can attend this free presentation!

MCG to Exhibit at PVA MariTrends 2011

Moorsom Consulting, Group will be exhibiting at the Passenger Vessel Association’s MariTrends 2011 Convention, to be held at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis February 5-8 2011.  This year marks PVA’s 40th anniversary and the convention and tradfe show are being held in the city where the oprganization was founded in 1971.  Please stop by booth 412 and say hello.

An Owner’s Guide To Tonnage Admeasurement (courtesy of Jensen Maritime Consultants)

An Owner’s Guide to Tonnage Admeasurement Copyright 1998-2003 Jensen Maritime Consultants, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Contributors (In alphabetical order):  Phil Essex, President, Moorsom Consulting Group, Craig S. Mork, Design Manager, Craig A. Pomeroy, P.E.

We had the privilege of assisting Jensen in the preparation of this paper, designed as a primer for their clients.  It is reprinted here with permission,
Additional technical papers may be found on their website:  http://www.jensenmaritime.com/News-and-Media/Technical-Articles

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MCG Website is Up and Running!

Welcome to MCG’s website, which we hope will become a clearinghouse for any and all information relating to tonnage admeasurement.  Right now you can search our database for the key U.S. Coast Guard documents relating to tonnage, including the NVIC describing the various tonnage rules implemented in the U.S., the Tonnage Technical Policy which contains the key policy rulings that the Coast Guard has made for U.S. flag vessels, and the Tonnage Guides developed by USCG for the layperson.

Application for Simplified Measurement (CG-5397)

For vessels under 79 feet in overall length, you can complete this form to calculate your vessel’s tonnages.  Once completed it may be suibmitted to NVDC with your documentation applicaton.  For details on how to complete this form, please refer to the Simplified Measurement Guide (TG-1 CH-2)  also available on this website.

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Tonnage Technical Policy - Appendices (MTN 01-99 CH-7 Encl 5)

Grandfathering provisions are described here, as well as a discusson of content changes from the previous edition of this MTN.

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Tonnage Technical Policy - Simplified Measurement System (MTN 01-99 CH-7 Encl 4)

Subpart E - for all vessels under 79ft overall length, and in some cases vessels over 79 feet overall length.  Which ones?  Read the enclosure!

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Tonnage Technical Policy - Dual Measurement System (MTN 01-99 CH-7 Encl 3)

For Subpart D - vessels having two or more decks (i.e., “shelter deck” vessels).

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Tonnage Technical Policy - Standard Measurement System (MTN 01-99 CH-7 Encl 2)

The principal rulings for the Standard system (Subpart C) - how we get T and K vessels under 100 tons, fishing vessels under 200 tons, and recreational vessels under 300 tons

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Tonnage Technical Policy - Convention Measurement System (MTN 01-99 CH-7 Encl 1)

The meat and potatoes - USCG policy rulings for the Convention Measurement System (Subpart B), also known as the International Tonnage Convention 1969 (ITC69)

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Tonnage Technical Policy - Cover Letter (MTN 01-99 CH-7 Cover)

This is only the cover letter.  We have uploaded the Technical Policy in its separate sections to make finding answers easier for the reader.  They are listed by the subpart of 46 CFR Part 69 that they cover.

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Applicability of Tonnage Measurement Systems to US Flag Vessels (NVIC 11-93 CH-3)

So you bought a boat.  You need a tonnage certificate issued to get your CoD.  Is the vessel new or used?  In its original configuration or modified?  Which rules should be used to measure your vessel?  And which certificate should be issued?  The answer, my friend, is right here, courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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Registered Dimensions Under Formal Systems (TG 4 CH-0)

When is your overall length NOT your overall length?  How many different ways can we measure registered length?  This Guide provides the details on the various measurement methods used to determine your vessel’s registered dimensions.

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Measurement of Navy and Coast Guard Vessels (TG 2 CH-2)  UPDATED

USCG’s Tonnage Guide for the Measurement of Navy and Coast Guard Vessels

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Tonnage Guide for Simplified Measurement (TG 1 CH-2)

Here’s a helpful resource for you!  USCG’s Tonnage Guide for Simplified Measurement

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Application for Admeasurement

For vessels requiring a formal admeasurement

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