NI 637, Sec 1
January 2018 Bureau Veritas 7
SECTION 1 GENERAL
1 General
1.1 Application
1.1.1
The present tentative rules purpose is to provide guidance for the classification/certification of Ocean Thermal Energy
Converter (OTEC) floating unit.
The tentative requirements are intended to cover the floating platform supporting the OTEC plant. The renewable power gener-
ation pieces of equipment related to the OTEC plant are not included in the scope of the present note.
1.1.2 Attention is essentially to be paid on the characteristics of the unit, such as:
• manned or unmanned unit
Note 1: In the present note, OTEC unit is considered unmanned when no personnel are on board in normal working condition, even if some
personnel are on board for short time period (e.g. maintenance operation).
• presence or not of dangerous gas/liquid (working fluid).
1.1.3 Rules
Particular provisions of the present tentative rules are complementary to provisions of the following rules, which remain appli-
cable, when relevant:
• NR216 Rules on Material and Welding for the Classification of Marine Units
• NI 423 Corrosion Protection of Steel Offshore Units and Installations
• NR426 Construction survey of steel structures of offshore units and installations
• NR445 Rules for the Classification of Offshore Units
• NR493 Classification of Mooring Systems for Permanent Offshore Units
• NR494 Rules for the Classification of Offshore Loading and Offloading Buoys
• NR526 Rules for the classification of lifting appliances onboard ships and offshore units
• NR595 Classification of Offshore Handling Systems
• NI 605 Geotechnical and Foundation Design
• NI 621 Guidelines for Moonpool Assessment.
1.1.4 Other standards
Standards other than those mentioned in the present note may be used on a case by case basis, upon the acceptance of the Society.
1.1.5 The full list of standards which are specified and used for a given project are to be submitted to the Society before the
review of documents is started.
1.2 Definition
1.2.1 Certification
Certification is a formal procedure by which an accredited or authorized third party assesses and attests in writing by issuing a
certificate, that the characteristics, quality, qualification, or status of individuals or organizations, goods or services, procedures
or processes, events or situations, are in accordance with specified requirements, standards or national and international regula-
tions (in particular by delegation from different governments).
1.2.2 Classification
Classification consists of a representation of the level of compliance of a ship, vessel or offshore structure to the rules set up by
a classification society. This is established following plan approval and surveys carried out by the society’s experts, as provided
for in the rules. Unit classification provides a point of reference on unit safety and reliability to builders, repairers, brokers, char-
terers, Flag Administrations, insurers and the financial community. It is represented by a class, entered on classification certifi-
cates and transcribed in the register published periodically by the society.
The Society establishes and applies rules in relation to the design and construction of a unit, and assesses the structural strength
of the unit as well as reliability of the machinery on board during its life.