Norway: DNV Publishes New System Integration Standard for Underwater Operations

DNV has now published its new standard for Underwater Deployment & Recovery Systems, DNV-OS-E407. This standard provides a framework for the verification and certification of underwater deployment and recovery systems using Technology Qualification methodology.

The development of the new standard is based on wide industry involvement. The standard is the result of a Joint Industry Project involving 30 companies representing the whole value chain: yarn, rope and winch manufacturers, installation companies and operators.

“The initial idea was to provide a set of requirements giving directions for how to qualify that a fibre-rope-based system is safe, reliable and fit for use in underwater operations,” says project manager Tone Julseth Paulsen, a senior engineer in Polymers, Fibre and Composites Group in the Materials Laboratory Section of DNV Maritime and Oil & Gas.

Wide scope

The standard’s scope is wider than that of phase 1 of the Joint Industry Project, which was (fibre-rope-based) Deepwater Deployment & Recovery Systems. Other types of Underwater Deployment & Recovery Systems defined by the standard are subsea systems utilising steel-wire ropes and hang-off systems using fibre ropes as pendants to extend the reach of an offshore crane. All the systems must meet the same assured dependability requirements in order to comply with the standard.

Technology Qualification is a process for providing evidence that a technology will function within specified limits with an acceptable level of confidence. The new standard assumes that the recommendations provided in DNV-RP-A203 ‘Qualification of New Technology’ are followed and, since the standard is governed by the principles for the qualification of new technology, substantiated deviations from the provisions of a normative reference may be accepted.

“Flexibility with respect to technical solutions has been an overriding principle in our work on the new standard,” says Tone Julseth Paulsen.

Standards speed up innovation

DNV’s philosophy is that knowledge-sharing increases innovation and safety. So when the industry is facing a number of new challenges, the best way of solving these is for the authorities and competitors to join forces. Every year, DNV kicks off a large number of joint industry projects that drive cooperation between the industry and authorities. Here, DNV’s role is to share from the vast knowledge base and balance the needs of all stakeholders. This way DNV can help the industry develop global best practices and standards.

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Press Release, November 28, 2012