DNV Standards for Offshore Lifting Equipment

Key Standards Overview

Offshore lifting equipment must comply with classification society rules and industry standards. The main frameworks are:

  • DNV-ST-N001 (formerly DNV-OS-H205) — Marine operations and marine warranty. Defines load factors, DAF requirements, and weather criteria for all offshore lifts.
  • DNV Standard for Certification 2.22 — Lifting appliances. Covers design, manufacture, and testing of cranes, winches, and lifting accessories.
  • DNV Standard for Certification 2.7-1 — Offshore containers and associated lifting sets. The primary certification standard for cargo carrying units.
  • DNV Standard for Certification 2.7-3 — Portable offshore units. Covers non-container lifting equipment including spreader bars and lifting beams.
  • NORSOK R-002 — Lifting equipment. Norwegian standard for design, manufacture, installation, and use of lifting equipment on fixed and floating offshore installations.
  • API RP 2D — Operation and maintenance of offshore cranes. American Petroleum Institute standard widely used in US waters.

Heave Compensator Certification

Heave compensators are typically certified as lifting accessories under DNV 2.22 or as part of a complete crane system. Key requirements include:

  • Design verification — FEA, fatigue analysis, and load case assessment per DNV rules
  • Material traceability — EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certificates for all structural and pressure-containing components
  • NDT inspection — magnetic particle testing (MT), ultrasonic testing (UT), and/or radiographic testing (RT) of critical welds
  • Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) — functional testing under simulated load conditions with classification society witness
  • Proof load testing — typically 1.5× or 2.0× the safe working load (SWL)

Norwegian Dynamics products are designed and certified to DNV, BV, ABS, and CCS rules. Our RIGEL PHC holds DNV Type Approval, which simplifies certification for operators.

SOLAS and IMO Requirements

For vessel-mounted lifting equipment, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) SOLAS regulations apply. Recent amendments to SOLAS Chapter VI (effective January 2026) tighten requirements for cargo handling equipment inspection and maintenance.

Shipboard cranes must comply with IACS Unified Requirements and flag state regulations. When a heave compensator is integrated into a vessel crane system, it becomes part of the crane certification scope and must be included in the crane register and periodic survey programme.

Operators should ensure their compensator supplier provides full documentation packages that satisfy both classification society and flag state requirements. Contact us for guidance on certification requirements for your specific project.

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