Standard discharge connections for Piping ( shore connection flange )

We will summary the standard discharge connection for some piping system on ship, also called by Shore connection flange.

The international shore connection is a universal hose connection that is to be provided on all ships as per the IMO SOLAS requirement. The purpose of the International Shore Coupling is to keep a standby hose attachment to get a connection from shore or from other ships for shipboard firefighting, in case there is a total failure of pumps onboard.

The information is taken from MARPOL 73/78

1) Sewage system:

For example:

2) Fireman system:

The international shore coupling SOLAS requirement under Chapter II-2, regulation 19 says; ships above 500 tons gross tonnage and upwards must have at least one international shore connection.

The international shore connection flange has a standard size and is same for all the countries and ships to ensure that if the ship faces an emergency out of the home port, firefighting assistance from any port is always available.

3) Machinery bilge & Sludge tank

Regulation 13 – Standard discharge connection

To enable pipes of reception facilities to be connected with the ship’s discharge pipeline for residues from machinery bilges and from sludge tanks, both lines shall be fitted with a standard discharge connection in accordance with the following table:

Standard dimensions of flanges for discharge connections

Description	Dimension
Outside diameter	215 mm
Inner diameter	According to pipe outside diameter
Bolt circle diameter	183 mm
Slots in flange	6 holes 22 mm in diameter equidistantly placed on a bolt circle of the above diameter, slotted to the flange periphery. The slot width to be 22 mm
Flange thickness	20 mm
Bolts and nuts: quantity, diameter	6, each of 20 mm in diameter and of suitable length
The flange is designed to accept pipes up to a maximum internal diameter of 125 mm and shall be of steel or other equivalent material having a flat face. This flange, together with a gasket of oil-proof material, shall be suitable for a service pressure of 600 kPa.