Compliance with international agencies such as the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Bureau Veritas (BV), Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (LRS), and NORSOK ensure lifts meet global benchmarks for safety, performance, and sustainability. Each agency brings unique expertise based on its regional focus and operational priorities. HML are accustomed to working with the design requirements of these different agencies around the world, ensuring that our offshore lifts guarantee safety and meet the highest standards.
Find out more about our offshore lifts
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
Setting the standards for marine and offshore equipment in the Americas, ABS’ guidelines prioritise structural integrity, load-bearing capabilities, and operational safety in extreme offshore conditions, such as those faced in the Gulf of Mexico. They evaluate offshore lifts based on design blueprints, material specifications, and field inspections. Their process includes stress tests, corrosion resistance evaluations, and checks for redundancy in safety systems. ABS certification is widely respected, making it a critical component for equipment operating in international waters.
Our cargo platform lifts incorporate a hydraulic system and PAWL device aligning with ABS’s focus on secure operations under heavy loads ensuring precision and minimising the risk of damage by preventing the lift from sinking under load. The safety catch mechanisms and escape hatch of our crew lifts meet ABS standards for emergency preparedness for crew operations. We also use disruption-resistant parts to ensure reliable performance in critical operations.
Bureau Veritas (BV)
Headquarters: Paris, France
BV emphasise quality assurance, risk management, and environmental compliance. With a strong presence in Europe, Asia, and Africa, BV’s standards ensure offshore lifts perform reliably under diverse environmental conditions, from Mediterranean climates to tropical regions. BV certifications include a comprehensive review of operational safety features, ease of maintenance, and environmental impact. Their thorough inspection process includes testing for lift stability, load tolerance, and adaptability to local regulation, making BV a trusted partner for global projects.
Our offshore crew lifts include SOLAS A60 fire-rated doors that meet BV’s standards for fire prevention and containment while our low-disruption design helps to create a safe and comfortable working environment for crew members. Our hydraulic cargo lifts have closed lift shafts and a precise hydraulic system to reduce the risk of accidents and cargo damage with custom weather-tight hatches that help our lifts withstand severe marine conditions.
Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
Headquarters: Høvik, Norway
Renowned for their expertise in Arctic and Nordic marine operations, DNV’s standards focus on extreme weather resilience, ensuring offshore lifts can handle cold temperatures, ice loads, and severe storms. They use advanced simulation technologies to evaluate how offshore lifts perform under real-world conditions. Their certification process includes dynamic load testing, fatigue analysis, and detailed assessments of emergency backup systems, ensuring reliable performance in the harshest conditions.
Our crew lifts function seamlessly in diverse environments and our safety precautions, crew intercoms, and stretcher compatibility enhance crew safety, meeting DNV’s values. DNV emphasise reliability in extreme environments and our cargo lift’s ability to prevent sinking under load and the flush hatch design contribute to its operational safety, particularly in Nordic and Arctic conditions.
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (LRS)
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
LRS have a global reputation for advancing maritime safety and environmental sustainability. Their guidelines prioritise compliance with international regulations while incorporating best practices for operational efficiency. LRS certify offshore lifts by conducting extensive design reviews, material inspections, and operational tests. Their focus on reducing environmental risks, such as oil leaks or hydraulic failures, makes them a leader in eco-conscious offshore equipment standards.
Our cargo platform lift’s closed shaft eliminates hazards and the reduction in crane dependency reflect LRS’s priorities for operational efficiency and safety. The custom design is ideal for logistical efficiency aligning with LRS’s focus on optimising vessel operations and our use of durable parts and disruption-resistant technology meets LRS’s priorities for reducing downtime.
NORSOK
Headquarters: Norway (developed by the Norwegian petroleum industry)
NORSOK’s standards are tailored specifically for the Norwegian oil and gas sector. They emphasise worker safety, environmental protection, and operational efficiency, reflecting the unique challenges of the North Sea. NORSOK certification involves rigorous testing under simulated offshore conditions, including high winds, large waves, and freezing temperatures. Their process ensures lifts meet stringent safety requirements and integrate seamlessly into the demanding operational needs of offshore oil and gas platforms.
The safety features of our crew lifts help to improve worker conditions on offshore installations and the stretcher-compatible design reflects NORSOK’s emphasis on ensuring readiness for accidents or medical emergencies. Their strict safety guidelines are addressed by our cargo lift’s closed lift shaft ability to eliminate open deck holes providing a controlled environment for container transfer. The smooth operation of our platform lifts ensure efficient cargo handling which improves operational efficiency.
Read about all the safety features of our offshore cargo lifts
Why Compliance Matters
Adhering to the standards set by ABS, BV, DNV, LRS, and NORSOK is vital for offshore operations. Compliance ensures global adaptability, safety, operation efficiency, and environmental responsibility. Each aspect plays a crucial role in the success of offshore projects:
Global Deployment
- Simplified International Operations: With certifications from internationally recognised agencies, offshore lifts can be deployed seamlessly across different jurisdictions, reducing administrative and logistical hurdles.
- Universal Acceptance: Certifications from ABS, LRS, DNV, and BV are widely recognised, allowing operators to bypass redundant inspections and focus on operational readiness.
- Regional Flexibility: Adhering to multiple agencies’ standards ensures lifts meet the requirements of diverse environments, from the Arctic (DNV) to tropical regions (BV).
Safety Assurance
- Protecting Lives: Certifications require robust safety features such as emergency brakes, anti-fall mechanisms, and fail-safe systems that ensure worker and operator safety.
- Reliability in Emergencies: Agences like ABS and NORSOK emphasise contingency protocols, ensuring lifts can operate or safely halt during power outages or platform evacuations.
- Accident Prevention: Compliance reduces the likelihood of structural failures or mechanical malfunctions, critical in high-stakes offshore environments.
Operational Efficiency
- Reduced Downtime: High-quality, certified lifts require less frequent maintenance, enabling uninterrupted operations and minimising costly delays.
- Optimised Performance: Standards ensure that lifts are engineered to maximise load capacity and operational speed without compromising safety or durability.
- Standardised Components: Global certifications guarantee that replacement parts and tools are universally compatible, streamlining repairs and maintenance.
Environmental Responsibility
- Sustainability Standards: Agencies like LRS and NORSOK integrate eco-friendly practices, ensuring lifts are designed with materials and processes that minimise environmental impact.
- Prevention of Environmental Hazards: Compliance includes safeguards against potential oil spills, hydraulic leaks, and other risks that could damage marine ecosystems.
- Meeting Regulatory Demands: Certification demonstrates adherence to international environmental protocols, essential for operating in eco-sensitive regions.
Discover the features of our offshore crew lifts
We align our custom offshore lifts with the rigorous requirements of ABS, BV, DNV, LRS, and NORSTOK by designing cargo platform lifts and crew lifts suitable for global offshore applications. Trust HML with your offshore lifts; our custom designs are compliant with industry standards set by the most respected of international regulatory agencies. We incorporate features that meet their priorities, ensuring safety and efficiency in demanding marine environments.