Bureau Veritas unveils new rules for offshore vessels

Bureau Veritas has unveiled new rules for offshore support vessels and tugs. The rules will give the offshore support, workboat and tug sectors a clear framework for vessel classification with a set of sector-specific class notations.

The rules incorporate feedback from cross-industry projects and working groups, such as SafeTug, and from a range of IMO groups focused on stability for towing, anchor handling, lifting operations and supply operations.

The new rules set out requirements for the classification of a wide range of vessels undertaking construction, installation, maintenance and other support activity. The requirements cover towing, anchor-handling, supply, firefighting, oil recovery, dive support, lifting, standby and rescue, accommodation, pipe laying, cable laying and semi-submersible heavy transport vessels.

New and updated notation and service features have also been included for wind turbine installation vessels; self-elevating units (covering the legs and elevating systems fitted on liftboats); mobile offshore units; ships covered by the Special Purpose Code; and tugs and escort tugs.

Bureau Veritas marine marketing and sales director Gijsbert de Jong said the rules “provide the industry with a clear framework for the classification of offshore service vessels and tugs based on an end-user friendly system of class notations reflecting the terminology used by the industry”.

The rules entered into force on 1 July 2017 and are now part of the rules for the classification of steel ships.