APL earns world’s first certification under new Lloyd’s hull program

APL earns worldÆs first certification under new LloydÆs hull program APL has achieved Lloyd's Register Hull Assessment Scheme certification, the industry's highest standard for vessel hull structure maintenance.
   The Oakland-based ocean carrier, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines, becomes the first container shipping company in the world to be lauded with the new Lloyd's certification.
   In a release, APL said it worked closely with classification firm Lloyd’s Register to develop this new process, which is an extension of Lloyd's existing certification and aimed at raising the bar on vessel hull maintenance as well as reducing the environmental impact of older vessels.
   Two of APL's 15-year-old 3,821 TEU A-class vessels — APL Alexandrite and APL Almandine — have undergone the new HAS verification process. A third ship, APL Amazonite, is undergoing the same assessment scheme.
   'The Hull Renovation Scheme is a comprehensive hull assessment, renovation and certification service that helps owners and operators to enhance the condition of their ships' hulls, making them comparable to ships of a lesser age,' said Brian Henry, Global Manager, Ship Inspection and Assessment Services, Lloyd's Register.
   The new HAS verification process, according to Lloyd's, involves a similar program of assessment and renovation as the older HRS program, but the process will be repeated every two-and-a-half years, making it even more rigorous.
   Lloyd's determined during the HAS certification that the hull structures of the two 15-year-old APL vessels were in line with that of a typical five-year-old vessel.