Laid-up vessels are vessels that are temporarily out of service owing to a shortage of cargo or that are temporarily removed from commercial operation. Warm and cold lay up Malaysia vessels can also refer to vessels that have been temporarily removed from commercial service. Ships are said to be “laid up” when, for instance, the freight rates are not sufficient to cover the costs of operation. During times of economic instability, putting a vessel into lay-up rather than selling it is frequently favored.
Warm
During this phase of decommissioning, the machinery is kept operational so that it can be quickly returned to use; however, steps may be taken to cut various operating expenses. As a result of the ship’s machinery, life-saving equipment, and navigational equipment all being in good working order and up to date, the ship may be put back into service in a very short amount of time. In the usual course of operations, vessels should be laid up without cargo.
Cold
During cold lay-up, the ship’s engines are taken out of operation, and the ship itself is rendered “electrically dead” with the exception of the power supply for emergency situations. As a result, when a ship goes into cold lay-up, as many components of the ship as feasible are turned off in order to reduce operating expenses. Because of this situation, the amount of preservation and maintenance work that was done while the facility was being decommissioned determines how long it will take for the facility to be ready for service again.
The degree of preservation is mostly determined by the age and value of the vessel as well as the scenario that is most likely to result in the vessel being recommissioned. The following are some examples of possible outcomes:
– vessel resumes to usual trade
– The ship is on its way to the repair yard
– The vessel is being towed to the scrapyard at this time.
When it comes to the crew, the number of people on board has been cut down significantly. When the ship is in a warm lay-up, both the deck department and the engine department are very close to having full staffing levels. In contrast, when the ship is in a cold lay-up, there is only a skeleton crew available in the event that the ship needs to be refloated in an emergency (e.g., a hurricane).
It is important to keep at least the required number of people on the watch for fire, spill, berth, and safety. Because the berth is typically situated in a remote area, access to it is restricted. The amount of power that is used is limited to a bare minimum, for example, so that the windlass and mooring winch can continue to function.
Conclusion
There are a few alternative avenues that can be pursued in order to preserve the inside of the vessel, but it all depends on how long the firm plans to decommission the ship. During the lay-up phase, which can last anywhere from three to nine months, the air conditioning system will continue to operate in order to maintain a low level of humidity. On the other hand, in order to accommodate a longer layover, the rooms will be hermetically sealed.