The Italian RINA classification society has initiated a set of new standards regarding cranes that are to be employed for the purposes of bulk cargo transshipment operations at sea and has fully revised and rebased its regulations and guidelines for offshore cranes that are used in offshore building, service and demolition –related procedures.
According to the stipulations of the new rules regarding lifting appliances, the specific crane type requirements are divided into free-standing sections in order for the rules to be more easily comprehended.
The new transshipment crane rules contribute for a specific notation, CARGO HANDLING, that keeps in regard static as well as dynamic loads on transshipment lifting appliances employed on ships transshipping bulk cargoes in open waters, and additionally details the manner in which these relate to structural requirements for the respective vessel and crane and to the operating envelope.
The revised rules provided by RINA for offshore cranes use as basis the European EN 13852 Standard that employs a different more up-to-date approach to offshore crane standards, thus allowing for carrying out a more structured approach regarding offshore crane certification procedures.
“There is a serious market gap regarding transshipment crane standards. The new rules introduced by RINA feature an operational chart that is going to enable floating transshipment terminal operators to expand the weather window in which they can conduct their work. It also considers the terminal’s specific wave height as well as orientation. Cranes that receive certification under the new notation are going to be fully capable of operating in a safe manner for longer periods of time and provide terminal operators with additional operational time without having for them to fear of potential breakdowns or overloading. RINA is a firm believer that the offshore industry needs a clear standard regarding floating cranes and cranes constructed onto OSVs that use as basis European requirements,” commented Dino Cervetto, RINA Services, Technical Services Director.
The very first CARGO HANDLING notation has been appointed to the floating FC ASIA Bella crane transshipment unit, constructed by the Chinese Chengxi Shipyard for the purposes of the Indonesia-based owner that is Pt Pelayaran Mitra Kaltim Samudera.
Source & Photo: RINA