AB
The International Marine
Contractors Association
The Initial and Periodic
Examination, Testing
and Certification of
ROV Handling Systems
www.imca-int.com
IMCA R 011
March 2005
AB
The International Marine Contractors Association
(IMCA) is the international trade association
representing offshore, marine and underwater
engineering companies.
IMCA promotes improvements in quality, health, safety,
environmental and technical standards through the publication
of information notes, codes of practice and by other
appropriate means.
Members are self-regulating through the adoption of IMCA
guidelines as appropriate. They commit to act as responsible
members by following relevant guidelines and being willing to be
audited against compliance with them by their clients.
There are two core activities that relate to all members:
‹
Safety, Environment & Legislation
‹
Training, Certification & Personnel Competence
The Association is organised through four distinct divisions,
each covering a specific area of members’ interests: Diving,
Marine, Offshore Survey, Remote Systems & ROV.
There are also four regional sections which facilitate work on
issues affecting members in their local geographic area –
Americas Deepwater, Asia-Pacific, Europe & Africa and Middle
East & India.
IMCA R 011
This guidance supersedes AODC 036 Rev. 1 – The initial and
periodic examination, testing and certification of ROV handling
systems – and IMCA R 003 – Termination of load bearing umbilicals
or lift cables used in ROV handling systems – which are now
withdrawn.
www.imca-int.com/rov
The information contained herein is given for guidance only and endeavours to
reflect best industry practice. For the avoidance of doubt no legal liability shall
attach to any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The Initial and Periodic Examination, Testing and Certification
of ROV Handling Systems
IMCA R 011 – March 2005
1
Scope....................................................................................................................... 1
2
Objectives ............................................................................................................... 1
3
Application ............................................................................................................. 1
4
Comment ............................................................................................................... 1
5
The Competent Person ........................................................................................ 1
6
Initial Supply........................................................................................................... 1
7
In Service ................................................................................................................ 2
8
Initial and Periodic Examination and Test.......................................................... 2
9
Retention of Certification..................................................................................... 2
10 Maintenance ........................................................................................................... 2
11 References .............................................................................................................. 2
Appendices
1
Categories of Competent Person........................................................................ 3
2
Initial and Periodic Examination and Test of ROV Launch and
Recovery Systems.................................................................................................. 5
3
Initial and Periodic Examination and Test of ROV Lifting Cable/
Wire Rope and Terminations .............................................................................. 7
1
Scope
This guidance addresses the initial and periodic examination, testing and certification of unmanned ROV
handling systems.
It does not address:
i)
manned vehicles; or
ii)
design criteria. It does, however, assume compliance with the responsibility placed on all
manufacturers and users of such equipment to ensure that it is designed in accordance with any
national codes or standards which may apply to ensure its fitness for purpose in the environment in
which it is to be used.
2
Objectives
The objectives are to provide:
i)
guidance on aspects of ROV handling systems (ROV types are defined in Ref 1);
ii)
criteria for the initial and periodic examination, testing and certification of ROV launch and recovery
systems;
iii)
criteria for the initial and periodic examination, testing and certification of ROV wires, load bearing
umbilicals and terminations.
3
Application
Previous versions of this guidance (AODC 036 and AODC 036 rev 1) published in 1986 and revised in 1994,
were restricted to areas governed by UK regulations. This document is applicable in any geographical area. In
countries where specific national regulations apply, they will take precedence over this guidance.
4
Comment
The purpose of this document is to give guidance on the initial and periodic examination, testing and
certification of ROV handling systems and has been developed by a working group made up of technical
specialists of IMCA’s Remote Systems & ROV Division members.
5
The Competent Person
Initial and periodic examination, testing and certification of lifting appliances and gear, and lifting cable/wire rope
and terminations must be carried out by a competent person. The categories of competence appropriate to
carry out such work are defined at Appendix I.
6
Initial Supply
6.1
6.2
IMCA R 011
When equipment is supplied as new, it must be accompanied by an "As New/Installed" certificate
issued by a competent person stating that the system, or the individual components of a system as
appropriate, meets the following criteria:
i)
has been designed and built to an appropriate code, standard or specification;
ii)
is suitable for the purpose and the conditions in which it is to be used (as detailed in the
specification) and the dynamic loadings to which it may be subjected; and
iii)
complies with national regulations as appropriate.
If a change from the original design standard is made which has been assessed by the competent
person to have compromised the As New certification then the As New certification must be
renewed. On reinstallation at another location, the As New certification must not be compromised.
1
6.3
Plant and equipment as originally supplied falls into two categories which are defined below together
with the competent person's responsibilities in each case.
Proprietary equipment (standard products) which may or may not be built to a
recognised code or standard.
The competent person should assure himself that the items have been selected using
manufacturer's published information and will therefore not require additional specific tests or
certification.
Equipment/systems designed to meet a specific requirement. Such equipment/systems
may embody proprietary components.
The competent person should review the design and verify performance through examination and
testing for which certification is required.
7
In Service
7.1
A certificate signed by a competent person must be available for each system, or for each item of plant
and equipment as appropriate, stating that it has been tested and examined to his satisfaction and is
therefore deemed to be fit for use for the validity period stated.
7.2
In the case of permanently installed equipment during periods of non use, in-date certification need
not be maintained although appropriate maintenance should be carried out. However, if the validity of
the certification has elapsed, examination, test and recertification of the equipment would be required
prior to it being put to work.
7.3
In the case of portable or demobilised systems, in-date certification need not be maintained during
periods of demobilisation, although appropriate maintenance should be carried out. However,
examination, test and recertification of the equipment would be required after reinstallation and prior
to putting to work.
8
Initial and Periodic Examination and Test
Examination and test criteria are defined as follows:
‹
Appendix II - Launch and Recovery Systems
‹
Appendix III - Lifting Cable/Wire Rope and Terminations (including load bearing umbilicals)
9
Retention of Certification
9.1
For practical purposes the ‘as new/installed’ certification would normally be retained within the
owner's/contractor's technical records onshore. The Installation and In Service certification should be
retained offshore with the relevant equipment, as well as within the owner's/contractor's technical
records onshore. All certification should be retained for the minimum period.
9.2
The owner/contractor should consider retaining all past certificates, or incorporating the information
into a data base, thus maintaining a comprehensive history of each item of equipment. This historical
record would normally be retained in the owner's/ contractor's technical records onshore.
10 Maintenance
Plant and equipment should be maintained as part of a planned maintenance system by personnel of appropriate
experience and training, in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and national regulations where
applicable to ensure its safe use.
11 References
IMCA R 004 Rev. 2 – The Safe and Efficient Use of Remotely Operated Vehicles.
2
IMCA R 011
Appendix I
Categories of Competent Person
1
A person specialising in examination and testing work such as a test house inspector, certificated Class I
Chief Engineer, or other person, who may be an employee of an independent company, or an employee of
the owner of the equipment in which case his responsibilities should enable him to act independently and
in a professional manner.
2
Normally a classification society or insurance company surveyor, but who may be an "in-house" Chartered
Engineer or equivalent (unless specific legal restrictions apply) or person of similar standing.
3
The manufacturer or supplier of the equipment, or a company specialising in such work which has, or has
access to, all the necessary testing facilities.
IMCA R 011
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4
IMCA R 011
Appendix 2
Initial and Periodic Examination and Test of
ROV Launch and Recovery Systems
The ROV launch and recovery system (LARS) should include, but not be limited to: winch/crane/cursor
system, ‘A’ frame, any associated LARS latches, sheave wheel, rigging equipment, lifting wires or lifting umbilical,
termination socket and any connection pin.
Illustrative diagram of ROV launch and recovery system
Item No.
Examination and Test Criteria
1
1.1
WHEN NEW
Manufacture to a recognised code or standard
Competent
Person
Validity Period
(months)
2, 3
n/a
2, 3
n/a
1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,2,3
12
1,2,3
12
OR
Build to manufacturer’s standard specification AND
Verify compliance with national regulations.
2
2.2
2.3
2.4
ON INSTALLATION
Static load brake test at 1.5 x SWL (see note 5)
Function test at 1.25 x SWL
NDT to be carried out on critical items.
3
3.1
IN SERVICE
Static load brake test at 1.5 x SWL (see note 5). Visual
examination to be carried out on critical items (see note 5).
Function test at 1.25 x SWL
3.2
Relevant Notes and Guidance
SWL – ‘safe working load’ is defined as the greater of:
‹
‹
1
the in-air weight of the ROV, tether management system (TMS) and attached tooling and the in-air weight
of the umbilical; or
the in-water weight of the ROV, tether management system (TMS) and attached tooling and the in-water
weight of the umbilical at its maximum operating depth
It should be ensured that the overload test of the weight to be lifted in air does not exceed the
manufacturer's recommended test load for the crane or lifting frame which should never be exceeded.
IMCA R 011
5
2
Testing of lifting gear and appliances is normally carried out as part of the integral system. If, however,
individual components are to be replaced on a like for like basis, e.g. shackles, strops etc., provided the
component is supplied with an "As New" certificate as appropriate, then only a function test will apply.
The individual items of equipment might be individually certified.
3
Sea fastenings (including sacrificial plates) should be capable of accepting the dynamic loads to which they
may be subjected on each vessel or installation on which they are installed.
4
Relief valves must be re-set and re-sealed on completion of testing.
5
This guideline which states that the load test should be at 1.5 x SWL could prove difficult to achieve in
some cases, particularly with regards to the testing of deepwater systems, due partly to the limits imposed
by the ‘no damage tension’ of the umbilical used.
Current deepwater umbilical technology does not allow for this type of test.
6
6
NDT may be required on critical items as dependent on the annual in-service visual examination
IMCA R 011
Appendix 3
Initial and Periodic Examination and Test of
ROV Lifting Cable/Wire Rope and Terminations (including load-bearing umbilicals)
Item No.
Examination and Test Criteria
Competent
Person
Validity Period
(months)
1
1.1
WHEN NEW
Verify compliance with national regulations and design
conformance certificate
2,3
n/a
2
2.1
ON INSTALLATION
Load test to 1.5 x SWL
1, 2, 3
n/a
3
3.1
3.2
IN SERVICE
Static load test at 1.5 SWL
Electro-mechanical umbilicals should be tested as above
and reterminated at least once every 12 months
See notes below re destruct test
1,2,3
1,2,3
12
12
Relevant Notes and Guidance
Lifting wires and load bearing umbilicals which go into the water should be tested annually by cutting back a
sufficient portion of the rope immediately adjacent to the termination to provide two test samples
Where samples are taken for testing, the second sample should only be tested if the first sample fails
due to an unsatisfactory test procedure.
After fitting a new termination, it is recommended that a confidence pull test is carried out.
Kelvar lifting umbilicals should be reterminated at least once every 12 months.
IMCA R 011
7