NI 432, Sec 1
December 2018 Bureau Veritas 5
SECTION 1 GENERAL
1 General
1.1 Scope
1.1.1 This Guidance Note defines the procedures and
requirements for the certification of fibre ropes intended for
use as load-bearing components in the station-keeping sys-
tem of a floating offshore unit, or for other offshore deepwa-
ter applications, as defined in [1.2].
Note 1: The term “deepwater” is used here as illustrative of the cur-
rent field of application of ropes in the offshore industry, in systems
where the rope is a “critical component” for safety or asset integ-
rity. However, it is not meant as a limitation, neither on the service
conditions of ropes nor on the scope of this Guidance Note.
Note 2: For the related design and operating criteria of mooring
systems and information on the background of certification require-
ment, reference is made to App 1.
1.2 Field of application
1.2.1 Fibre ropes for station-keeping systems
This Guidance Note is applicable to fibre ropes used as ele-
ments of anchoring lines for the station-keeping of perma-
nent floating offshore platforms or mobile floating offshore
units, at their operating site, or similar applications and
made of fibres as per Sec 3, [1.1.1].
The conditions and criteria for use of fibre ropes in a sta-
tion-keeping system are defined in App 1.
Note 1: The certification of ropes is to be generally performed as a
part of activities for the classification of an offshore unit, and the
granting of a POSA notation covering the station-keeping system of
that unit (as per NR493, see [1.5.1]
).
Note 2: This Guidance Note covers the compliance of ropes to ISO
18692 (see [1.5.2]), and related rope certification.
1.2.2 Tethers
This Guidance Note is also applicable to fibre ropes used in
similar conditions as anchoring lines (i.e. free spanning
between terminations) such as tension members (tethers) in
subsurface systems.
The provisions indicated for station-keeping lines are gener-
ally applicable to such ropes.
1.2.3 Sub-sea lowering and other applications
Subject to adjustments of the technical requirements on
rope design and to adequate testing, this Guidance Note is
also applicable to fibre ropes used for:
• sub-sea lowering lines for a (deepwater) fibre rope han-
dling system, and
• other offshore “deepwater” applications.
Some guidance is given for such ropes.
1.2.4 Limits of scope
This Guidance Note may be referred to when agreed by
involved parties.
However, this Guidance Note is in principle not intended to
cover the certification of synthetic fibre ropes for other
marine applications, such as:
• single point mooring (SPM) hawsers
• FSRU mooring lines
• towing lines, mooring lines (ship to terminal, ship to ship).
Note 1: The type approval and inspections of SPM hawsers is nor-
mally performed with reference to the OCIMF guidelines (see
[1.5.3]
).
Note 2: The type approval (if requested) and the inspections of
ropes for other services is performed based on applicable Rules,
with reference to recognised product standards (such as ISO stand-
ards or Cordage Institute documents).
Note 3: NI 658 is however applicable to fibre qualification for such
applications.
1.2.5 Termination fittings
Termination fittings, such as thimbles or similar devices are
covered in this Guidance Note only for their interface prop-
erties with rope and for testing (see Sec 4, [3] and App 3).
Shackles or other connecting devices are not covered by
this Guidance Note.
Note 1: When requested and/or for classification purpose, reference
is to be made to the relevant provisions of NR493 (see
[1.5.1]
).
1.3 Certification conditions
1.3.1 The certification activities defined in Sec 2 are carried
out within the framework of Bureau Veritas Marine & Off-
shore - General Conditions.
1.3.2 The certification scheme defined in Sec 2 and related
requirements within this Guidance Note are based on the
present State of the Art in using fibre ropes for the applica-
tions defined in [1.2].
The Society reserves the right to modify the content of this
scheme or associated requirements, or to call for specific
requirements for a particular product or usage or service
condition.
1.3.3
In addition to the requirements of this Guidance Notes,
the certification activities are performed with reference to:
• other publications of Bureau Veritas, as applicable (see
[1.5.1])