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Condition Assessment Program (CAP) for Aging Vessels
Preparing for an ABS Condition Assessment Program (CAP) Survey
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- What is CAP?
- CAP Program Details
- Why CAP with Fatigue Assessment?
- ABS Advantage
A Condition Assessment Program (CAP) is the recognized method for an asset owner to demonstrate the quality and suitability of an asset for charter. Cargo owners and many of the largest charterers either require or prefer a CAP 1 or CAP 2 rating for all older vessels fixed to carry their cargo. The commercial opportunities for an older tanker, gas carrier, bulk carrier, containership or even an offshore support vessel (OSV) without a satisfactory CAP rating may be severely limited.
What is CAP?
CAP provides a charterer with a technical evaluation of the physical condition and maintenance of a vessel above the requirements for class. The program includes a detailed survey of the structure’s gauging as well as extensive testing of the vessel’s machinery, equipment and cargo systems. This information combined with a strength and fatigue engineering analysis leads to a numeric rating being assigned to the vessel.
CAP is a voluntary program, initially developed by the oil industry, to assess the continued fitness of older ships to carry their cargo safely. A CAP survey and gauging usually takes about 10 days and can be progressed while the vessel is on passage in ballast.*
*Free access to all cargo and ballast spaces must be provided.
Need more info? We're here to help! Have a member of the ABS team contact you.
Condition Assessment Program Details
Assess physical condition and maintenance of vessel above the minimum requirements for class:
- Review of Class Records
- Fatigue Assessment
- Condition Assessment Survey
- Verification of Gaugings
- Structural Evaluation
- CAP Report and Grade
Why CAP with Fatigue Assessment?
CAP is able to quickly and cost-effectively assess the cumulative impact of fatigue on a vessel's critical structural components. The major charterers have introduced even tougher CAP standards as a requirement for charter. They demand that the CAP 1 or 2 ratings include a detailed fatigue assessment.
What is CAP?
Cargo owners and many of the largest charterers typically require a Condition Assessment Survey. Charterers prefer a CAP Grade of 1 or 2 to fix older vessels identified to carry their cargo. The commercial opportunities for an older tanker, gas carrier, bulk carrier, and more recently, a containership and an offshore supply vessel without a satisfactory CAP rating, may be limited.
The Condition Assessment Program is a voluntary service that provides an independent evaluation of the condition of a vessel from which third parties can assess the suitability of an asset for a charter based on its current condition as opposed to its age.
The program provides a charterer with a technical evaluation of the physical condition and maintenance of a vessel above the standard requirements for class. CAP is applicable to oil tankers and bulk carriers of 15 years of age and above, but may be used for other vessels at different ages.
The program includes a detailed survey of the vessel's hull structure including verification of gaugings as well as extensive testing of the vessel's machinery, equipment and cargo systems. This information, combined with a strength and fatigue engineering analysis, leads to a numeric rating being assigned to the vessel ranging from 1 (Very Good) to 4 (Unsatisfactory).
Need more info? We're here to help! Have a member of the ABS team contact you.
Condition Assessment Program Details
Assess physical condition and maintenance of vessel above the minimum requirements for class:
- Review of Class Records
- Fatigue Assessment
- Condition Assessment Survey
- Verification of Gaugings
- Structural Evaluation
- CAP Report and Grade
Why CAP with Fatigue Assessment?
CAP is able to quickly and cost-effectively assess the cumulative impact of fatigue on a vessel's critical structural components. The major charterers have introduced even tougher CAP standards as a requirement for charter. They demand that the CAP 1 or 2 ratings include a detailed fatigue assessment.
ABS CAP - Helping You Meet Charterer Requirements
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Interested in learning more about the benefits of ABS CAP? Watch the on-demand webinar.
Preparing for an ABS Condition Assessment Program (CAP) Survey
Download Now
Condition Assessment Program (CAP) Survey 101
Watch Now
Through this virtual training, the ABS CAP team will guide vessel owners, managers and operators through the process of a CAP Survey.
Benefits of ABS CAP
Demonstrate maintenance and suitability for intended vessel charterers and contracts
Less time off-hire
Recommendations for enhancement of critical areas above class to meet charterers’ expectations
Modeling of structural performance for up to five years enabling comprehensive management of an aging vessel’s hull structure through identification and Rectification of high-stress critical areas
Potentially higher resale value
