Conversational theme № 2

I. Read, translate and learn the text

REGISTER OF SHIPPING

Register of shipping is the juridical body. Its main ob­jective is to increase safety of navigation. There is Register of Shipping not only in our country but in Great Britain - British Lloyd's, in France-French Veritas, in Sweden-Swedish Lloyd's, in Norway-Norwegian Lloyd's and American Bureau in the USA. Register of Shipping supervises for the implementation of international conventions, takes part in the work of internatio­nal organisations.

Register works out and issues classification rules, for sea going vessels, construction rules and also rules for ship's mea­surement and definition of their load line. Register defines the degree of wear, conducts survey and produces the following ships documents: Load Line Certificate, Certificate for Seaworthyness Passenger certificate, Certificate for Minimum Freeboardand Certificate for the use of Shipboard radio station.

Vessels which are built according to these rules are given adequate certificate of class in the Register. This Certificate is acknowledgement of vessel's reliability and fitness for the navigation.

Class of the merchant vessel defines solidity thus gives the right on definite Load Line and region of navigation. Insu­rance societies establish the amount of insurance sum on the technical class basis and take correspondent dues from Ship-owners and Shippers for the cargo carried on board. We know that dues and charges for the service rendered to the ship are always calculated from gross Register Tonnage. It is the work of Ship­ping Register to ascertain BRT, GRT and NRT of any vessel. Vessel’s class is lowered in case of the loss of original Solidity, after accidents, even partially.

Lowering of the class is unprofitable forthe ship-owner because this may lead to increase of the insurance dues and also to increase of the minimumFreeboard that is to reduction of freight - carrying capacity.

II. NOTES:

Degree of wear - степень износа

Seaworthyness - годность для плавания, мореходность

solidity - прочность

fitness - годность, соответствие

Minimum Freeboard - высота надводного борта

BRT = Gross Register Tonnage - валовая вместимость

GRT = Gross Register Tonnage -валовая вместимость

HRT = Netto Register Tonnage - чистая вместимость

freight-carrying capacity – грузовместимость

III. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. What is the aim of the Register?

2.What documents does the Register produce?

3.What does the class of the vessel define?

4.How are always dues and charges for the service rendered calculated?

5.Why is lowering of the class unprofitable?