BV issues Rules for the Classification of Harbour Equipment

Classification Society Bureau Veritas, on March 1st, 2023, published the Rules for the Classification of Harbour Equipment.

This Rule Note is effective from March 1st, 2023.

This Rule Note gives the requirements for assignment and maintenance of class for harbour equipment, as defined in [1.2.5], operated in smooth stretches of water.

Harbour equipment intended to be operated on stretches of water where different conditions of water may be encountered are to comply with Ch 1, Sec 3, [1.2.4] and Pt D, Ch 8, Sec 4.

The class assigned reflects the discretionary opinion of the Society that the harbour equipment, for declared conditions of use and within the relevant time frame, complies with the rules applicable at the time the service is rendered.

The general conditions valid at the time of signing of the contract with the Owner or prospective Owner, the Building Yard or Other Interested party apply.

The application criteria of the different parts of the present Rules are the following:

• Part A - Classification and Surveys, applies to all harbour equipment

• Part B - Hull Design and Construction, applies to all harbour equipment, but is to be complemented by applicable requirements of the Society’s Rule Notes / Guidance Note:

  • NR561 Hull in Aluminium alloys, for harbour equipment assigned additional service feature A
  • NR546 Hull in Composite Materials and Plywood, for harbour equipment assigned additional service feature C or W
  • NI594 Design and Construction of Offshore Concrete Structures, for harbour equipment assigned additional service feature CR

• Part C - Machinery, Systems and Electricity, applies to all harbour equipment

• Part D - Additional Requirements for Notations, applies to specific harbour equipment types.

Where necessary, the extent of application is more precisely defined in each Chapter of these parts.

The classification of harbour equipment other than those dealt with in the above-mentioned Part B, Part C and Part D is covered by specific Rules published by the Society.

Classification according to this Rule Note applies primarily to new buildings constructed under survey of the Society.

Classification may also be applied to existing harbour equipment by a survey for admission to class/classification after construction, if sufficient documentation is available. See Ch 2, Sec 4, [1.2].

This Rule Note will be applied for structural elements of the hull and for components of the machinery and electrical installations of harbour equipment, subject to agreement between the Prospective Owner, the Other Interested party and the Building Yard for the classification order to the Society.

A harbour equipment not covered by any of the service notation defined in Ch 1, Sec 3 will be dealt with on a case-by case basis.


For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):


Rules for the Classification of Harbour Equipment


Register for free and subscribe to our newsletter: