Answer
1. Which Ships Are Required to Have It?
The Ship Construction File (SCF) is a mandatory requirement under SOLAS Chapter II-1, Regulation 3-10 (Goal-Based Ship Construction Standards for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers).
It applies specifically to:
Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers (excluding ore carriers and combination carriers).
Of 150 meters in length (Load Line length) and above.
Applicability Dates:
Contracted for construction on or after 1 July 2016; or
In the absence of a building contract, keel laid on or after 1 July 2017; or
Delivered on or after 1 July 2020.
2. What is a Ship Construction File (SCF)?
The SCF is a comprehensive, centralized compilation of a vessel's specific design, structural plans, strength calculations, and building details.
According to MSC.1/Circ.1343, its regulatory purpose throughout the ship's lifetime is to provide clear structural data to facilitate:
Safe ship operations and specific loading limitations.
In-service maintenance and targeted structural inspections.
Class and Flag State surveys.
Structural repairs and modifications.
Emergency measures (e.g., damage stability calculations during grounding/flooding).
3. Storage and the "Dualism" Concept (Onboard vs. Ashore)
Because some structural drawings contain highly sensitive Intellectual Property (IP) belonging to the shipyard, the SCF is strictly divided into two locations under the SCF Industry Standards:
SCF Onboard: Kept on the ship at all times. Contains ordinary IP-level documents absolutely vital for daily operations, emergencies, and standard surveys.
SCF Supplement Ashore (Shore Archive): Highly sensitive IP documents (e.g., specific finite element model analyses, detailed structural weld connections) stored securely ashore in a recognized digital Archive Center (like ABS, LR, or NK archives). Clear, documented procedures must be available on board to request immediate access to this shore file if needed by surveyors.
4. Detailed Contents of the SCF
The file contains specific documentation structured under three distinct phases of the vessel's life:
A. Design Phase Information
Design parameters: Assumed design life (typically 25 years), environmental design conditions (wave data), and design fuel oil density.
Structural drawings: Midship section, general arrangement, profile/decks, capacity plan, loading manual, and trim & stability booklet.
Strength calculations: Gross hull girder section modulus, net/gross scantlings, maximum allowable bending moments and shear forces, and a plan highlighting highly stressed areas prone to yielding or buckling.
Fatigue life details: Structural details of typical structural joints and plans showing areas prone to fatigue (stored mostly in the shore archive).
B. Construction Phase Information
Material certificates: Properties of steel grades used, copies of certificates for critical hull castings and forgings.
Welding & NDT: Welding procedure specifications, the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) plan, and the official tank testing plan.
Corrosion protection: The Coating Technical File (CTF) required under the Performance Standard for Protective Coatings (PSPC), outlining target coating life and specifications for ballast/cargo tanks.
C. In-Service Phase Information (Must be Updated regularly)
Survey history: Critical structural survey records, thickness measurement reports, and close-up survey areas.
Modifications/Repairs: Full documentation of any structural repairs, conversions, or modifications carried out during the ship's operational life.
⚓ MEO Class 1 Oral Exam Delivery Tip
If asked about the SCF, lead with the regulation to grab the surveyor's confidence: "Sir, as per SOLAS Chapter II-1, Regulation 3-10, a Ship Construction File is mandatory for all new Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers of 150m in length and above delivered on or after 1 July 2020. It is a 'live' document split into an Onboard File and a secure Shore Archive to protect shipyard intellectual property. It contains critical design parameters, net scantlings, highly stressed areas, the Coating Technical File, and must be updated by the Chief Engineer after any major structural repair or modification."