Section 1 General requirements
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Offshore Units, July 2022 - Part 4 Steel Unit Structures - Chapter 6 Local Strength - Section 1 General requirements

Section 1 General requirements

1.1 General

1.1.1 All parts of the structure are to be designed to withstand the most severe combination of overall and local loadings to which they may be subjected. Permissible stresses for direct calculation methods are to comply with the requirements of Pt 4, Ch 5 Primary Hull Strength.

1.1.2 The local effects of the loadings listed in Pt 4, Ch 3, 4 Structural design loads are to be considered and all parts of the structure are to be examined individually as necessary, and the calculations submitted. The minimum Rule scantlings of all structures are also to comply with the requirements of this Chapter, as applicable. These requirements are based on a net scantlings approach, see Pt 4, Ch 3, 7 Corrosion additions where the corrosion addition for structural elements is to be derived independently of the net scantling requirements, and is to consider the service life, operating environment and the inspection regime of the Owner/operator, as agreed with LR.

1.1.3 The design heads for local strength of column-stabilised, sea bed-stabilised and self-elevating units are to be in accordance with Pt 4, Ch 6, 2 Design heads.

1.1.4 The local strength of ship units is to comply with Pt 10 Ship Units. The local strength of other surface type units is to comply with Pt 4, Ch 4, 4 Surface type units.

1.1.5 The scantlings of machinery seatings are to be specially considered. On self-propelled units, full details of power, and RPM, etc. are to be submitted.

1.1.6 The connections to anchor points as defined in Pt 3, Ch 10, 10 Fairleads, bending shoes and stoppers and the structure in way of fairleads, stoppers, winches, etc. (see Pt 3, Ch 10, 10 Fairleads, bending shoes and stoppers and Pt 3, Ch 10, 11 Anchor winches and windlasses) forming part of anchoring or positional mooring systems are to be designed for a working load equal to the breaking strength of the mooring or anchoring lines main component it connects to. Permissible stresses are to be in accordance with Table 5.2.1 Factors of safety for the combined load cases – load case (d). Special consideration will be given to grouped line redundant positional mooring systems.

Note a) Exposure of the support structure to breaking loads is most likely to occur in an accidental scenario. Such scenarios may overload the mooring line component closest to the anchor (attachment or connection) point to Offshore Unit, short cutting any weaker component in the mooring line.
Note b) The breaking strength referred to here is the mean breaking strength plus two standard deviations (as new from test data) of the component considered (e.g. steel wire rope, chain or fibre rope) directly acting on or closest in the load path to the structure under consideration and is generally not to be taken lower than 110 per cent of the nominal minimum break strength of the component.
1.1.7 The mooring equipment between the unit and visiting vessels including supply boats and shuttle tankers is to be designed for a working load equal to the breaking strength of the mooring line. The supporting structure on the unit for these moorings is to be designed for a working load equal to the breaking strength of the mooring line. Permissible stresses are to be in accordance with Table 5.2.1 Factors of safety for the combined load cases – load case (d).
Note a) The breaking strength referred to here is the mean breaking strength plus two standard deviations (as new from test data) of the component considered (generally chain) directly acting on or closest in the load path to the fairlead and stopper structures and is generally not to be taken lower than 110 per cent of the nominal minimum break strength of the component.
Note b) The design of structural arrangements around fairlead and mooring line connection area should consider the potential shock load from recoil in case of mooring line failure under tension.

1.1.8 When the minimum breaking strength of the main mooring line component directly connected to the structure, is governed by design aspects other than strength criteria, such as fatigue, LR will give special consideration to the use of the maximum breaking strength of the next component inline as long as the likelihood of the mooring line component directly connected to the structure being subject to a pull equal or greater than its maximum breaking strength can be disregarded on the basis of the conclusions of a risk assessment.)

1.1.9 Towing brackets and supporting structure are to be designed for a working load equal to the breaking strength of the towline in accordance with the requirements of Pt 4, Ch 9 Anchoring and Towing Equipment.

1.1.10 The supporting structure in way of lifeboat davits is to be designed for the dynamic factors defined in Pt 4, Ch 4, 1.9 Lifeboat platforms and the permissible stress levels are to comply with Table 5.2.1 Factors of safety for the combined load cases – load case (a).

1.1.11 The supporting structure to turret bearings on ship units is to comply with Pt 10 Ship Units.

1.1.12 The scantlings of product swivels are to be determined in accordance with Pt 3, Ch 13, 6 Mechanical items and the supporting structure is to be integrated into the unit’s hull structure and the local permissible stresses are to comply with Pt 4, Ch 5 Primary Hull Strength.

1.1.13 The supporting structures to production and process plant are to comply with Pt 3, Ch 8 Process Plant Facility.

1.1.14 When a DRILL notation is to be assigned, the scantlings of the drilling derrick are to be determined in accordance with Pt 3, Ch 7 Drilling Plant Facility. The supporting sub-structure is a classification item and calculations are to be submitted in accordance with Pt 3, Ch 7 Drilling Plant Facility. The sub-structure is to be integrated into the unit’s hull structure and the local permissible stresses are to comply with Pt 4, Ch 5 Primary Hull Strength.

1.1.15 The application of the requirements for local scantlings to a column-stabilised unit is shown in Figure 6.1.1 Application of the requirements for local scantlings to a column-stabilised unit.

Figure 6.1.1 Application of the requirements for local scantlings to a column-stabilised unit

1.1.16 Where a pipe-laying system is installed, the structures and equipment mentioned in Pt 3, Ch 17, 2.2 General 2.2.1 are to be integrated into the unit's hull structure. The integration structure of the hull is a classification item and its local permissible stresses are to comply with Pt 4, Ch 5 Primary Hull Strength.


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