SENSFIB Fiber Optic Hull Stress Monitoring System

Stress induced hull fatigue is one of the major causes of damage and loss in commercial shipping. Bulk carriers, tankers and container vessels are particularly at risk of hull fatigue damage, induced by the stresses that can occur in the hull as a result of ballast, cargo load and sea state. Fatigue build-up in vessels leads to local cracks in the hull, which if left unrepaired, eventually endanger the structural integrity of the vessel. Click on the links for a video clip on global hull stress (8.8 MB) and a video clip on local hull stresses (7.7 MB).

The SENSFIB fiber optic hull stress monitoring system is especially suitable for application in a very wide range of cargo vessels. The development of hull fatique is measured using long-life optic sensors located in various positions in the hull. SENSFIB assists crew, owner and class society in safe operation of the vessel. Hull stresses are monitored continuously, enabling the crew to avoid stress overload on the hull during ballasting, cargo operations and during the voyage. The bridge console displays hull stress information and generates alarms at pre-set limits. Hull condition data are stored in the system's data storage unit for later analysis.

Hull fatigue through the cumulative effects of dynamic stress can put crew, vessel and cargo in very dangerous situations. November 25th, 1997, container vessel "MSC Carla" broke into two pieces during a storm North of the Azores.

But damage doesn't necessarily occur at sea. November 8th, 1999, OBO "Lassia" sagged and sustained structural damage while discharging iron ore in Taranto, Italy. Overloading in one cargo hold and / or improper ballasting can cause very high still water bending moments, which accelerate hull fatigue development.

Container stacks can collapse when the container lashings break in severe weather. SENSFIB provides early warning by monitoring the movements and accelerations of the vessel. Excessive hull movements can cause the container fittings to give way, which results in cargo loss and damage to the vessel.