| April 30, 2007
( Houston, TX) ABS, in partnership with members of the offshore supply vessel (OSV) community and the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at the University of Southampton, UK, is undertaking a study to calibrate and develop practical and achievable criteria for operators wanting to improve the operational and living conditions aboard these industry workhorses. Once the criteria are established, vessels that are built or modified in conformance with the standards will be eligible to receive the class society’s crew habitability notation.
ABS issued a Guide forCrew Habitability on Ships in 2001 and a Guide for Crew Habitability on Offshore Installations in 2002. Subsequently some of the leading operators of OSVs approached ABS to express their interest in applying the ABS’ crew habitability notation (HAB or HAB+) to their vessels.
“The guide was intended for large cargo ships,” explains Denise McCafferty, Manager, Risk and Human Factors, ABS Corporate Technology. “Because of the nature of the OSVs there has been some concern that the noise and vibration criteria were too conservative or restrictive for this vessel type.”
In response, ABS has launched a study into the operational characteristics of these vessels. Coordinated through the society’s New Orleans office, which is the center for ABS review of OSV designs, the study includes analysis of vessels from several OSV operators including Tidewater, Otto Candies, Inc. Edison Chouest and Rigdon Marine. ABS Human Factors Engineering (HFE) staff will go onboard a range of vessels and take measurements during both transit and dynamic positioning (DP) operation modes to compare the data with current habitability criteria.
“We may decide we need different criteria for the unique characteristics of an OSV or we may define ‘break points’ within the criteria that will allow operators to achieve a notation,” says McCafferty.
Although there will be close attention to vibration and noise, the study will take a comprehensive look at all the various habitability factors such as indoor climate, lighting, accommodation design and the prevailing research and standards for human performance and comfort.
“These assessments are voluntary and optional. However, there is ample scientific data to support the important contribution that HFE can make to improved vessel operations,” emphasizes McCafferty. “This vessel specific study will allow us to identify critical human performance issues and select appropriate accommodation design criteria, as well as to define limits for ambient environmental factors. The bottom line is we want to improve crew member performance and their living and working conditions.”
The study is in its initial stages with preliminary criteria being proposed by ABS. The society is also seeking additional OSV operators interested in participating, either by volunteering a vessel for study measurements or for the review of the data that will be used in developing the proposed Guide forCrew Habitability on Offshore Supply Vessels.
“ABS develops its Rules and Guides with industry participation and we want OSV operator input at this stage of the study,” says McCafferty. “We need to study a variety of OSVs in terms of length and tonnage and different operational activities for our measurements to provide valid statistical reporting.
ABS is a member of the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) which represents firms that own and operate marine service vessels as well as members associated with the industry. OMSA estimates there are approximately 2,500 OSVs worldwide.
Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities.
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