~ RITCHIE re-designs its portfolio of handling solutions to comply with the standard certificate for offshore units ~
Handling, storage and security specialist, RITCHIE has announced that the re-design of its range to meet the standards required by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) 2.7-1:2006 is nearing completion. The products have been adapted to meet the new requirements when their certification has lapsed or they have been required by different customers.
DNV 2.7-1: 2006, the Standard for Certification of Offshore Units, covers the transportation of gas packs and offshore cargo and ensures that the container used can withstand the rigours of offshore life. The redesign process also has to consider any associated permanent equipment for handling, filling, emptying or safety. Furthermore, the choices of material and protection and the ease of repair and maintenance have to be such that the equipment is suited to repeated use.
From the customer’s specification, RITCHIE will determine the container loadings and design the section dimensions and material grade using FEA (Finite Element Analysis) software to establish the load carrying capacity of the supporting frames and panels. The company’s engineers then go on to determine the grade of material, thickness and hole diameter in the padeye to accommodate the correct sizes of slings and shackles to suit the specification requirements.
When the design is finished, RITCHIE performs a variety of tests on its gas pack frames. This process requires a close involvement and a final sign off by a DNV surveyor who also checks the paperwork, the drawings, the material test certificates and the paint condition and then puts a DNV stamp on the frame.
However, the process is less arduous for RITCHIE than for many of its competitors, thanks to the Manufacturing Survey Arrangement (MSA) the company has been awarded by DNV. RITCHIE was the first UK business to be endowed with this status for 2.7-1. As a result, instead of having its products checked at every stage by a DNV assessor, they are only checked when the equipment is complete.
“An MSA takes several years to achieve,” explained John MacAskill, sales and marketing director of RITCHIE. “It states that we are authorised to perform testing and inspection of containers during manufacture without the attendance of the surveyor and to prepare a declaration of conformity, which will be the basis of product certificates issued by DNV. An MSA is reviewed every four years and it’s a standard we are extremely proud of - safety is clearly our number one priority. No matter what project we are working on, no matter who the customer is or where they are, we are always focused on making sure they can move their goods without fear of accident. DNV 2.71 is just part of this.”
Established in 1864, Det Norske Veritas is an independent foundation with the objective of safeguarding life, property, and the environment at sea and ashore and is a leading international provider of services for managing risk.
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For further information contact: John MacAskill,
RITCHIE, Carseview Road,
Forfar, Scotland, DD8 3BT
Telephone: 01307 462271
Fax: 01307 464081
e-mail: jmacaskill@ritchie-uk.com
www: http://www.ritchie-uk.com/
Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 24A Waldram Park Road,
Forest Hill, London, SE23 2PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/
About David Ritchie Implements Limited: RITCHIE provides innovative handling, storage and security solutions for the offshore, industrial gas & chemical, defence, glass, distribution, automotive, rail and utility sectors. The business was established over a century ago and today employs over 120 people in two sites, supplying businesses across the globe.
Ref: RIT002/06/07
