Bureau Veritas launches new rules for classification of offshore service vessels & tugs

International classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) has issued new rules for the classification of offshore service vessels and tugs.

BV said on Thursday that the new rules include new class notations for pipelay vessels, accommodation units, offshore construction vessels, and offshore support vessels.

Gijsbert de Jong, BV’s marine marketing and sales director, said: “With this new publication Bureau Veritas provides 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.

“This document is the culmination of a development plan aimed at addressing the specific requirements of key offshore operations in our rules.”

According to BV, the new rules set out requirements for the classification of a wide range of vessels performing construction, installation, maintenance, and other support activities at sea.

These requirements cover towing, anchor handling, supply, fire-fighting, oil recovery, diving support, lifting, standby and rescue, accommodation, pipe laying, cable laying, and semi-submersible heavy transport vessels.

New and updated class notations 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 code compliant accommodation, special purpose/number of persons onboard capable, and service notations for tugs and escort tugs.

BV said that feedback from international cross-industry projects and working such as SafeTug and a range of IMO groups focused on stability for towing, anchor handling, lifting operations, and supply operations was incorporated into the new rules.

The rules entered into force on July 1, 2017.