DNV GL announced a road map to what is necessary to be in compliance with US Coast Guard (USCG) requirements to operate FOIs, FSOs and FPSOs in US waters, the regulatory agency announced on 17 July 2014.
The document called “Verification for compliance with United States regulations on the outer continental shelf,” stems from the 2013 US Coast Guard’s policy letter, accepting approval plans and inspections from the class societies DNV GL, Lloyd’s Register, and ABS as basis of USCG approval. Differences in the accepted rules and standards, and the subsequent variety in the complementingrequirements from the CFRs (Code of Federal Regulations) led to uncertainties among operators, both about requirements and final approvals, the company said..
"This roadmap removes the uncertainty factor and by including all the relevant information in a single document it is a clear path for compliance," said DNV GL’s Paal Johansen, who leads DNV GL's classification business in the Americas.” The roadmap is an example of how we act as a bridge between the industry and the regulators.”
FOIs, FSOs and FPSOs in compliance with this document will be given an US class notation indicating compliance with both the DNV class standards and the additional USCG requirements. This statement of compliance will meet all US Coast Guard requirements.
“Many operators and owners have welcomed the roadmap,” Johansen said. “Owners have expressed a strong desire to freely choose classification society for floating offshore installations in American waters and we know there are many owners, designers, operators and yards that would prefer to work with DNV GL. This document is further proof that they can do so and be confident in the entire regulatory process.”
In 2008, DNV was the classification society and CVA for the first FPSO (BW Pioneer) in the US Gulf of Mexico, for the Cascade and Chinook field and is currently working on a classification and CVA project for a floater in the GOM for Delta House.
Image: BW Pioneer/Petrobas.
Subscribe
