Bureau Veritas (BV) is to lead the way with a new EU-funded Condition Assessment System (CAS) project aimed at cutting back on the time normally required to process the structural thickness studies of vessels. A key driver is to be the development of a new range of electronic tools to promote faster dry dock and repair duties, while having the additional benefit to ship owners of smaller repair bills.

Intended to be a three-year project, CAS formally commenced on 1 February 2005. Other partners involved include fellow class societies Germanischer Lloyd and the Russian Shipping Register, as well as Materiaal Metingen Europe, Sener, the Portuguese institute IST, Lisnave, Cybernetix, Intertanko and Total.

Primary focus will be to back-up the application in practice of the IMO Condition Assessment Scheme for older single hull tankers. At present, the scheme involves processing a plethora of data such as thickness measurements, visual assessments of coatings and visual inspection for cracking. Although the system is to eventually be made available to vessels of all types, initial application will be targeted at tankers and bulk carriers.