Hydraulic equipment that is used and transported on and off ships is often housed within a container. Hydraulic power units are commonly required for Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Winches. This would be normally designed to meet Offshore or Maritime standards.
The offshore containers are designed for moving around supply ship decks and must withstand dynamic loads from “snatching” of installation cranes.
The portable offshore container has a maximum gross weight less than 25,000 kg for continuous transport of goods and equipment, and will be handled in open seas between fixed or floating platforms and decks. This differs from the containers used in the containerised transport of goods on a ship.
The offshore container will be designed and certified to meet the DNV Standard for Certification No 2.7-1 (April 2006) with effect from in 1989. This standard was introduced as the sea transport container standard (ISO 1496) was not intended offshore containers.
Basically the offshore container must be “tough” to support this DNV 2.7-1 focuses on strength and integrity in all stages of transport.
- shoreside (by fork lift truck)
- supply vessel
- craning on and off offshore platforms
Containers must have sufficient strength so not to suffer failure when subjected to extreme loads that may be encountered during offshore movements.
Containers designed according to DNV 2.7-2 will largely meet the design and certification needs to also satisfy CSC (Convention for Safe Container), IMDG (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code) and the ISO1496 standards.
Whilst DNV 2.7-2 focus generally on the dimensions and weights another standard that runs alongside this is the European Standard EN12079. The bulk of this standard concentrates on the safety and recording documentation. Sections of EN12079 (Offshore containers and associated lifting sets) will shape the general design:-
- An offshore container should be designed to allow loading and unloading in wave heights to 6 m
- Must have an outer framework and pad eyes at or near the top
- Protrusions to be avoided
- Designed to withstand temperature of -20℃
- Must withstand 30˚ angle without tipping
The owners or representative are responsible for recording and maintaining certification of all containers. Periodic inspection including records of substantial repair, modification must ensure traceability.
Transit crash frames give essential protection for Offshore HPU’s. Hydraproducts can offer guidance on how to comply with the standards necessary when handling marine quality hydraulic power packs.