"Impact of US Domestic Tonnage Regulations on Design, Maintenance and Manning" Topic of Free WorkBoat.com Webinar on October 26

NEW ORLEANS, LA, October 19, 2011 (Press-News.org) Designing a vessel to meet a tonnage parameter has proven to be the bane of designers, builders and owners since the earliest days of the maritime industry. Today, regulations initially established over 140 years ago in a surveyor's office in London can dramatically affect the construction of virtually every commercial vessel at work in the United States.

"Every boat needs to have a tonnage certificate for whatever its type of function and any modification to a vessel can result in ramifications to the tonnage certificate," said David Krapf, editor in chief of WorkBoat magazine and WorkBoat.com. "This is why it is so important for owners, builders, architects to understand the tonnage regulations on vessels and the impact that can have on design, maintenance and even manning."

To help understand tonnage regulations, WorkBoat.com will be presenting a free webinar, the "Impact of US Domestic Tonnage Regulations on Design, Maintenance and Manning," on Wednesday, Oct. 26. at 1 pm (eastern).

To register for the free webinar, visit www.WorkBoat.com.

The webinar features Phil Essex, Tonnage Coordinator, Moorsom Consulting Group LLC, who will discuss why vessels designed for US domestic trade are compromised by regulations. The presentation will cover the regulations themselves and the impact these rules have on vessel construction and maintenance and crew licensing and manning.

"Tonnage drives much of what transpires between the initial design concepts discussed between owner and naval architect and what ends up on the final plans, and ultimately in the vessel itself," Essex said. "The use of additional steel in the framing of a ship's hull adds increased construction costs, both material and labor, structural weight, compromises bulkhead and equipment placement, and adds to life cycle costs due to the additional protective coatings required."

In another example, Essex noted that the use of tonnage openings and the requirement for progression to and from them compromise watertight integrity and joiner layout. "These artificial means to reduce a vessel's tonnage accomplish only one purpose - to reduce vessel operating manpower and the level of licensing required by law. The intent of the International (1969) Tonnage Convention was to develop a new standard that would avoid these pitfalls - why hasn't it succeeded in the United States?"

Based in Sea Cliff, New York, the Moorsom Consulting Group LLC is the premier, independent tonnage consulting firm with personnel in major ports nationwide. They specialize in developing tonnage reduction schemes that comply with United States Coast Guard regulations while adhering to a vessel owner's budget and operational needs.

About the WorkBoat Professional Series
The webinar is presented as a part of the WorkBoat Professional Series and is designed to keep the commercial marine business community informed and on top of what's going on in the industry today and what's in store for the future.

WorkBoat.com is the largest commercial marine member-supported website, with over 24,000 members. Each registrant for the webinar receives a free membership in WorkBoat.com.

For more information visit www.WorkBoat.com.