Offshore Container, Basket and CCU Inspection to DNV 2.7-1 and EN 12079
Offshore container, basket and CCU inspection and certification to DNV 2.7-1 and EN 12079: primary structure, padeyes, sling sets and NDT.
An offshore container is lifted between a moving vessel and a fixed installation, repeatedly, in conditions where a dropped load is a major incident. That is why cargo carrying units are certified to a stricter regime than onshore containers and re-examined far more often, and why a CCU with a lapsed certificate will not be lifted, whatever is inside it. itmad inspects and certifies offshore containers, baskets and CCUs to DNV 2.7-1 and EN 12079. itmad operates across the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
Units covered
Offshore containers and CCUs, cargo baskets and skips, half-height and open-top units, tanks and bottle racks, waste and mud skips, tool and equipment boxes, pipe and tubular baskets, frames, cradles and stillages, personnel transfer baskets, and the associated sling sets and shackles.
What the inspection covers
The primary structure, meaning the frame, corner posts, base and load-bearing members, is examined for cracking, deformation, corrosion and previous repair. Padeyes and lifting points are examined, with non-destructive testing of the padeye and its weld to the structure, which is where the failures that matter originate. Secondary structure, panels, doors, hinges and locking arrangements are checked, together with floor condition, drainage and load-bearing capability.
The sling set is checked for condition, certification and matching to the unit, including shackle grade and condition. The identification plate, safe working load, tare and gross mass marking and the CCU number are verified, along with colour coding and earlier certification records, and the repair history is reviewed for evidence of unauthorised modification or welding.
Padeye NDT
Padeyes carry the entire load through a small number of welded connections that see cyclic loading on every lift. Magnetic particle inspection of the padeye and its attachment weld is required at the periodic examination, and it is the check that finds the fatigue cracking that a visual examination will not. Where a unit is in heavy service or has a repair history, the interval is shortened.
Inspection intervals
Offshore containers need a visual examination at intervals not exceeding twelve months, and a more extensive periodic examination, including NDT of lifting points, at the interval that the standard sets, commonly every four years for the full re-examination with annual inspection between. Units in aggressive service, with a repair history or used for personnel transfer are inspected more often, and sling sets carry their own six-monthly examination requirement, independent of the unit. Units are colour-coded on inspection so that a deck crew can see at a glance whether a CCU is in date, and a unit whose certification has lapsed is quarantined and not deferred.
Standards applied
The standards are DNV 2.7-1 for the design, manufacture and certification of offshore containers; EN 12079 for offshore containers and associated lifting sets, covering design, manufacture, marking and periodic inspection; and ISO 10855 for offshore containers and associated lifting sets. IMO guidelines and the International Convention for Safe Containers apply where relevant, together with class society requirements and operator specifications.
Where inspection is carried out
Inspection is performed at supply bases, yards, quaysides and offshore installations, and offshore on mobilisation. Because units are usually inspected in batches as they cycle back to the base, attendance is scheduled around the backload programme and does not require units to be held.
Independence
itmad acts independently of the owner, the operator and the hire company.
What the client receives
An inspection certificate for each unit, in the format that the operator or class society requires, and a report identifying each unit by CCU number, type, tare and gross mass. NDT reports cover padeyes and lifting points, and the sling set certification and condition assessment are included. Findings are given with photographic evidence and classified by severity, units are colour-coded on inspection, and the CCU register is updated with the next due dates where itmad holds it.
Related services
Offshore container inspection is normally scheduled alongside marine and pedestal crane inspection and lifting gear inspection, so that the crane, the units and the gear connecting them are examined in one attendance.
Frequently asked questions
Why are offshore containers certified more strictly?
They are lifted repeatedly between a moving vessel and a fixed installation, where a dropped load is a major incident. They are therefore certified to a stricter regime and re-examined far more often than onshore containers.
Why is padeye NDT required?
Padeyes carry the whole load through a few welded connections that see cyclic loading on every lift. Magnetic particle inspection finds the fatigue cracking that a visual examination will not.
How often are offshore containers examined?
Visually at intervals not exceeding twelve months, with a more extensive periodic examination including NDT of lifting points, commonly every four years. Sling sets have their own six-monthly examination, and units in aggressive service or with a repair history are inspected more often.
Which standards apply?
DNV 2.7-1, EN 12079 and ISO 10855, with IMO guidelines and the International Convention for Safe Containers where applicable. Class society requirements and operator specifications also apply.
What happens to a unit whose certificate has lapsed?
It is quarantined and not deferred, and it will not be lifted. Units are colour-coded on inspection so that a deck crew can see at a glance whether a CCU is in date.
Does itmad have an interest in the units inspected?
No. itmad acts independently of the owner, the operator and the hire company.