DNV GL launched a revised Recommended Practice (RP) that contains a new approach for assurance of non-class equipment and systems during recommissioning. When the market moves back from a downturn, vessels are leaving the lay-up buoys and the focus shifts from preservation to recommissioning.
Mainly, through 2018 until today, the number of inactive vessels has decreased from approximately 850 in the early days of 2018 to 800 inactive ones, today, according to Lloyd’s List intelligence.
For many in the shipping sector, the new numbers have brought opportunities and challenges, based on how well a vessel has been maintained and preserved during the lay-up period.
According to DNV GL, the quality of maintenance and preservation is a major factor when bringing back the vessel into operation.
DNV GL collaborated with a variety of ship and MOU owners and operators on implementing cost-effective practices for preservation and recommissioning.
Some usual challenges coming from this experience, are:
- The preservation execution log was not properly registered, and required actions for dedicated equipment and systems for recommissioning were not prepared systematically. This made it very difficult to prepare a good recommissioning plan.
- Compatibility of additive added to the system was not properly evaluated in advance. Some of the additives damaged the hydraulic system.
- Lack of turning/preservation for key rotating machinery was not covered by class scope. Hence, the system needed be completely overhauled /renewed upon recommissioning.
- In response to market needs, DNV GL has recently updated its “DNVGL-RP-0290 Lay-up and recommissioning of ships and mobile offshore units” with a focus on industrial best practices for preservation and recommissioning.
The revised RP provides a dedicated section to respond to the challenges during recommissioning, focusing on equipment that is not covered by class.
The PR includes:
- Guidance for lay-up;
- Guidance for preservation;
- Guidance for clean lay-up;
- Guidance for recommissioning;
- DNV GL lay-up services.
Concluding, DNV GL recommends that vessel owners prepare the process carefully before reactivating their vessel. The DNVGL-RP-0290 contains best-practice recommendations for a successful layup and recommissioning process.
