Pt A, Ch 1, Sec 1
The activities of such parties which fall outside the scope of
the classification as set out in the Rules, such as design,
engineering, manufacturing, operating alternatives, choice
of type and power of machinery and equipment, number
and qualification of crew or operating personnel, lines of
the unit in case of a surface unit, trim, hull vibrations, spare
parts including their number, location and fastening
arrangements, life-saving appliances (except if LSA addi-
tional class notation, as defined in Ch 1, Sec 2, [8.3.5], is
assigned), and maintenance equipment, remain therefore
the responsibility of those parties, even if these matters may
be given consideration for classification according to the
type of unit or additional class notation assigned.
1.3.3 Certificate of Classification
The class assigned to a unit by the Society following its
interventions is embodied in a Certificate of Classification
and noted in the appropriate Register.
At a certain date the class of a unit is maintained or regular
when no surveys are overdue, when the conditions for sus-
pension of class are not met and when the class is not with-
drawn nor suspended. Otherwise the class is irregular.
Attention is drawn on the fact that a unit holding a valid
Certificate of Classification may be in an irregular class
position.
1.3.4 Site conditions and related operating
procedures
• It is incumbent to the Owners/Operators to perform the
necessary investigations, including environmental and
geotechnical surveys, prior to operating the unit at a
given site.
• For permanent units, Owner/Operator is to provide sup-
porting information to give evidence to the Society that
the proposed design criteria are an adequate representa-
tions of the actual conditions on site, including both
environmental and soil conditions.
• For other units, these investigations are to be conducted
in order to ascertain that the actual conditions met at
the contemplated operating site remain on the safety
side when compared to design data and assumptions,
particularly those listed in the Design Criteria Statement.
Such site assessment is however not part of classifica-
tion, which also does not cover the assessment of sea
bottom conditions and geotechnical investigations or
the assessment of possible sea floor movement.
• The procedures to be used for the unit's positioning,
anchors setting and retrieving, legs lowering and jack-
ing, preloading, jetting and other related operations are
not part of Classification. It is the responsibility of the
Owner, or of the Operator if distinct from the Owner, to
ascertain that the said procedures and their implementa-
tion satisfy the design criteria of the unit and the design
of the related equipment.
For permanent units, above procedures are only consid-
ered in so far as they could affect the safety or integrity
of completed installation on site.
• For other classification limits applicable to operating
procedures, refer to Part B, Chapter 2.
16 Bureau Veritas - Rules for Offshore Units
1.3.5 Classification restrictions
When the design data and assumptions specified by the
party applying for classification do not comply with the
applicable Rule requirements, restrictions may be placed
upon the unit's class.
When deemed necessary, restrictions may be placed on the
duration of the operating life of the unit.
Class restrictions, if any, are to be endorsed as a Memoran-
dum and are to be incorporated in the Operating Manual
prescribed in [3.4].
1.4 Request for services
1.4.1 Requests for interventions by the Society, such as sur-
veys during construction, surveys of units in service, tests,
etc., are in principle to be submitted in writing and signed
by the Interested Party. Such request implies that the appli-
cant will abide by all the relevant requirements of the Rules,
including the Marine Division General Conditions.
The Society reserves the right to refuse or withdraw the class
of any unit for which any applicable requirement of the
Rules is not complied with.
1.5 Register
1.5.1 A Register is published periodically by the Society.
This publication, which is updated by the Society, contains
the names of units which have received the Certificate of
Classification, as well as particulars of the class assigned
and information concerning each unit.
1.6 Design Criteria Statement
1.6.1 General
Classification is based upon the design data or assumptions
specified by the party applying for classification.
A Design Criteria Statement is to list the service(s) per-
formed by the unit and the design conditions and other
assumptions on the basis of which class is assigned to the
unit.
The Design Criteria Statement is issued by the Society,
based on information provided by the party applying for
classification.
The Design Criteria Statement is to be referred to in a Mem-
orandum.
The Design Criteria Statement is to be incorporated in the
Operating Manual as prescribed in [3.4].
1.6.2 Unit’s activities
The Design Criteria Statement is to list the main services for
which the unit is designed, the service notation and other
notations assigned to the unit.
The nature of the unit's activity is to be duly accounted for
in the application of the present Rules, as far as classifica-
tion is concerned.
The Design Criteria Statement is to mention when the unit
is, or is part of, a permanent unit, and will make reference
to the applicable site data.
December 2016