Unicom Signs for LR’s Hull Integrity Service

Unicom Management Services (Cyprus) Ltd., the ship management arm of Russian national shipowner Sovcomflot, became the first tanker operator to sign up multiple ships to Lloyd’s Register’s new Hull Integrity service. Unicom has enrolled 17 of its tankers in Hull Integrity, from its Bridge class and Sea class fleets. Both series of ships are 47,000 dwt product and chemical carriers. The deal was sealed following the launch of Hull Integrity at the Posidonia exhibition in Piraeus, Greece in June. Hull Integrity aims to help owners and operators to manage their vessels’ hull structural integrity. The service comprises of three elements which enable a ship’s crew to undertake hull inspections in a systematic and auditable manner: training in how to carry out inspections; ship-specific hull inspection guides; and Hull Integrity software for recording and analysis. The Hull Integrity service is applicable to all ship types and is not a class requirement, so it can be used by owners and operators of ships not classed by Lloyd’s Register.