Anchoring equipment is covered by DNV’s class and is crucial for the vessel’s operational safety. Consequently, DNV requires that all components shall be delivered from the manufacturer with DNV product certificates.
Anchoring equipment includes:
- anchor
- anchor chain
- anchor chain attachments
- chain-stopper
- anchor winch (windlass)
The anchoring equipment required is the minimum considered necessary for temporary mooring of the vessel in moderate weather condition when it is awaiting berth, tide, dock, lock, etc. The equipment must be certified by DNV in order to ascertain that it meets the quality requirements and relevant capacity for use on board a specific vessel. The capacity requirements applied are identical to all major classification societies. (Unified IACS Rules).
Capacity
For mobile offshore installations the capacity shall cover both permanent operational mooring as well as offshore emergency anchoring. The anchoring equipment for mobile offshore installations also includes special column fairleads.
DNV’s process for certification of anchoring equipment normally requires:
- Design approval.
- Manufacturing survey.
- Testing.
Design approval
Design approval for anchoring equipment is mostly ordered for unspecified manufacturing assignments for an agreed time window, enabling a Type Approval Certificate to be issued. It is, however, also possible to request a case-by-case design approval for a specific manufacturing order or number of orders.
Anchors, anchor chains and anchor chain attachment links/swivels/shackles, etc. may be certified by DNV only by manufacturers certified for such production.