Resources
Codes and Standards
Offshore Containers are regulated by a number of codes and standards. Here is a list that are commonly used and referred to.
DNV 2.7-2 Standard for Certification of Offshore Service Modules-May 2013 | Download PDF
Introduction
This Certification Note has been issued in order to collect into one document, the main parts of the various requirements from different regulations, which users of offshore service containers have to work to. Offshore service containers are often designed to perform temporary services on installations/vessels and therefore may be moved among different offshore installations/units and into different national waters. This imposes a challenge to use technical solutions which comply with all regulations at the same time. The Certification Note has been based mainly on recognized practice for the offshore industry in the North Sea, and aims to cover applicable statutory regulations and classification societies' requirements. Since the activities in this area are based on internationally recognized standards, the Certification Note is considered a standard suitable for worldwide use.
DNV 2.7-3 Standard for Certification of Offshore Service Containers-May 2011 | Download PDF
Introduction
DNV Standard for Certification No 2.7-3 covers all other types of portable offshore units, other than offshore containers. The standard is built on the DNV Standard for Certification No 2.7-1. It is also the intention that PO Units certified according to this standard will meet all relevant requirements in DNV Rules for Planning and Execution of Marine Operations.
This document supersedes the June 2006 edition.
DNV 2.7-1 Standard for Certification of Offshore Containers-April 2006 | Download PDF
Introduction
This Standard for Certification was first published in May, 1989 as "DNV Certification note 2.7-1 Offshore Freight Containers". It was prepared because other regulations at the time, whether international codes, national requirements or rules published by Det Norske Veritas, did not specifically cover offshore containers. A revised Certification Note was issued in May 1995. The basic strength and design requirements from the original edition were retained. Many other standards, codes and regulations exist for containers, container-like units and related types of equipment. International standards, codes and regulations considered relevant have been taken into account when preparing this Standard for Certification. The most important of these are IMO's circular MSC/Circ.860 and EN 12079. In 1991 the European Committee for Standardization, CEN, started developing a European Standard (EN) on offshore containers. Technical committee CEN TC 280 prepared EN 12079, which was issued in 1999, and a revised edition will be issued in 2006. The requirements for design, testing and production of offshore containers in EN 12079 are directly based on DNV Standard for Certification 2.7-1. The relationship between this Standard for Certification and other standards, codes and regulations is outlined in subchapter 1.2. The Standard for Certification is concerned with certification of all types of offshore containers as transport units. The three typical phases of transport are: shoreside (e.g. by fork lift truck), by supply vessel and lifting to and from offshore installations. The Standard for Certification includes design requirements related to all three phases. Under conditions in which offshore containers are often transported and handled, the "normal" rate of wear and tear is high, and damage necessitating repair will occur. However, containers designed and certified according to this Standard for Certification should have sufficient strength to withstand the normal forces encountered in offshore operations, and not suffer complete failure even if subject to more extreme loads.
Changes in the 2006 Edition
The Standard for Certification has been extensively revised, with changes in all sections. However, the basic design and strength requirements have not been changed, with the exception of lifting sets. Detailed requirements, interpretations and guidances have been added throughout the standard and in the new appendices. Some requirements have been changed to align with the new EN 12079. New material requirements have been introduced for offshore containers that will only be certified for use in temperate climates. Many editorial changes have been made and the Appendices have been renumbered.
The most important changes are:
- Section 1 has been extended to include detailed references to other container standards and regulations.
- The requirements for materials have been taken out of the design section and moved to a separate Section 3.
- In the design section (now Section 4) there are several changes and additions, including protection on the top of open containers, allowable stresses in aluminum, clearances in padeye holes, requirements for fork pockets, testing of long containers with fork lift, and many additional guidances and notes.
- In Section 5 (Production) detailed requirements for NDE have been added and the amount of production testing has been reduced.
- Section 8 for lifting sets has been extensively revised. Reference standards have been added, a new calculation method has been introduced, detailed requirements for sling and component certificates have been added and the marking tags on lifting slings have been revised.
- In Section 9 the schedule for period examination and tests have been changed.
- A new Appendix C has been added with guidelines and examples on strength calculations.
- A new appendix D has been added with guidance on design and calculations of padeyes.
- Appendix E on calculations of lifting sets has been greatly extended.
- IMO's circular on offshore containers, MSC/Circ. 860 has been added at Appendix I.
- Existing Annexes 1 and 2 will now be included in the same booklet as the rest of the standard.
- A new Annex 3 concerning containers for temperate climates has been introduced. Containers certified to Annex 3 have higher design temperature than required by the main requirements of this Standard for Certification, but are otherwise identical to standard offshore containers.
Consequences:
- Existing offshore containers that DNV have been certified according to previous versions of Standard for Certification 2.7-1 will also comply with the new standard. Re-certification is generally not deemed necessary. However, on some containers the new requirements for lifting sets in Section 8 may give higher requirements for slings and or shackles.
- Containers certified to this Standard for Certification will comply with the requirements of MSC/Circ.860.
- Containers certified to this Standard for Certification will also comply with the requirements in the new EN12079 parts 1 and 2, and certification to this standard can be included at no extra cost.
