What is it?
Offshore containers need to be inspected and certified by an approved body before they can be used. That's because they're built to withstand harsh conditions, and sometimes, dangerous cargo, used in the offshore oil and gas industry.
The standards for offshore containers, which include offshore skids and waste skips, are more strict than intermodal/ISO containers.
What's the regulation?
Manufacturers of offshore containers must design, build, and test their products according to guidelines set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The regulation governing offshore container design, construction, and testing is called the IMO MSC/Circ. 860, a supplement to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG). This is set as law in 162 countries around the world.
To meet the regulation, manufacturers can use two different standards, including EN 12079, "Offshore containers and associated lifting sets." An ISO standard is also in development.
What we do.
As a recognized certification body by the IMO, we can provide full life-cycle certification services for offshore containers.
Lloyd's Register has been involved with setting standards for the container industry since 1966 when we first published "Recommendations for Container Construction and Certification."
Today, our offshore container certification services are provided around the world on a global basis by an experienced team of inspectors. We know your project can depend on quick turnarounds, so we're fast and flexible. We can provide:
- Design review and approval
- Internationally recognised and accepted certificates
- Container type approval
- Technical advice
- Owner acceptance
- In-service (periodic) inspection and certification
Whether you manufacture, buy, rent, or just use offshore containers, your company likely needs to know about the rules. We can also help you better understand the rules through technical workshops or trainings.