Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement for Ships in Estonia

Where ships are gauged in Estonia

Tallinn is the largest Estonian port, run by Tallinna Sadam through several harbours of different character. The city harbour takes ferries and cruise ships, while Muuga, to the east, is the main cargo harbour for oil products, dry bulk, grain and containers. Ships calling here range from large product tankers to short-sea cargo ships and high-frequency ferries, and each has a different gauging need, from tank wall readings to car-deck and ramp area checks.

Paldiski, west of Tallinn, has ferry and ro-ro links as well as bulk and general cargo, and its deep-water harbour is used for vessels that need a quiet berth. Sillamäe, on the Gulf of Finland close to the Russian border, specialises in bulk and liquid cargoes. Pärnu, on the Gulf of Riga, is a smaller port exporting timber and agricultural products and receiving short-sea cargo ships, which are typically older hulls.

Port state control and the Baltic rules

Port state control in Estonia is carried out by the national transport administration, and the country is a member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding. Inspectors apply the common risk-based targeting, and an older ship with visible hull wastage is likely to be inspected more closely. As an EU state, Estonia applies the EU Ship Recycling Regulation, so a hazardous materials inventory is a standing requirement for ships under European flags.

The Baltic Sea is a Sulphur Emission Control Area, where fuel sulphur is capped at 0.10% unless an exhaust gas cleaning system is fitted. That has made scrubbers common on larger ships calling at Tallinn and Muuga, and the wash-water and overboard lines they run are one of the faster-wearing systems on board. Ice class rules from the Finnish-Swedish system are widely used by ships trading into the region.

Planning a job from India

Estonia belongs to the Schengen area, so a Schengen visa of the right category covers entry, and we settle which one applies as soon as the ship's call is known. Through the ship's agent we obtain the berth, the shore pass, port security registration and the safety briefing, along with details of the gangway, lighting and shore power.

Port security is strict at Muuga and the oil terminals, with personal protective equipment, permits and escort requirements that vary by operator. Before anyone enters a tank, the master confirms gas-free status and the rescue arrangements under the ship's safety management system. The brief names the thickness measurement plan, the frames and strakes to be gauged and the report format the owner wants.

Ferries on the Tallinn to Helsinki run turn round quickly, so the superintendent and the chief officer usually agree a short list of priority spaces in advance: ramp and car-deck areas, ballast tanks adjacent to the ice belt and sea-water lines in the engine room. If the schedule slips, the list is cut from the bottom rather than the readings being rushed, and the remaining spaces are completed on the next call.

Muuga and Sillamäe suit longer stays for tankers and bulk carriers waiting for cargo or berth space. Those waiting periods can be used for tank cleaning and gauging together, provided the terminal allows the work and the ship's agent confirms the berth time. The report is issued to the owner once the readings have been checked against the thickness measurement plan.

Port pages in Estonia

There are 5 Estonia port pages: Tallinn, Paldiski, Sillamäe, Pärnu, Muuga. Each covers the ships that call, the yards and berths where gauging happens, the port state control picture and the jobs we see there; the links are under "In this section" below.

Frequently asked questions

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