Offshore handling equipment specialist, Caley Ocean Systems is taking part in a Joint Industry Project (JIP) into the Requirements for Certification of fibre rope-based, Deepwater Installation Systems that will ultimately be incorporated in a new standard for Offshore Deployment and Recovery Systems.

Managed by Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Phase 1 of the JIP identified generic certification requirements for new technology.  The first issue of a draft standard for system certification, DNV-OS-E407 ‘Offshore Deployment & Recovery Systems’ is being prepared for Caley and the other participants. In Phase 2, the JIP is intended to identify product-specific requirements for subsea deployment and recovery operations.

During Phase 3 of the JIP, results from Phase 2 will be used to update the draft DNV-OS-E407, and include methodologies for argumentation of assurance cases (including safety) in the integrated system reliability methods.

Gregor McPherson, sales director, Caley Ocean Systems, said: “As operators go to greater depths so the challenge of installing heavy subsea equipment safely is a growing concern. Participation in the deepwater installation JIP allows us to share and build on our wide experience in designing and deploying both subsea and oceanographic handling systems.”

The final DNV-OS-E407 standard will have a wider scope than the types of fibre-based systems covered in the JIP. Other types of Offshore Deployment & Recovery Systems covered by the standard will include subsea systems utilising steel-wire ropes and hang-off systems using fibre ropes as pendants to extend the reach of an offshore crane.

For more information please visit www.dnv.com and www.caley.co.uk.