USCG has issued policy letter to provide guidance on Coast Guard standards for design, plan review, installation, inspection, and documentation of Portable Accommodation Modules (PAM) built for and/or installed on inspected vessels/facilities.
According to the policy letter, officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) should verify that PAMs are reviewed, certified, and installed on inspected vessels/facilities in accordance with this policy. PAM fabricators, Authorized Classification Societies (ACS) and vessel/facility operators should refer to this policy to assist in the design, plan submission, and installation phases. ACSs should use this policy to review and approve the installation of PAMs on vessels enrolled in the ACP, for which the ACS is issuing the relevant SOLAS safety certificates. Supplements should be updated to reflect this policy, to conduct such work.
The installation of PAMs on inspected vessels and facilities has become more prevalent with the evolution of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activities toward deeper waters. While modular units have been used in the offshore industry for many years with a satisfactory safety record, the expanding use of various modules leads to inconsistency among approving offices and introduces the risk of uncertified spaces on otherwise certificated vessels/facilities.
Under the plan approval and inspection regulations of each certification subchapter in 46 CFR, the Coast Guard is responsible for the construction, arrangement, and equipment of spaces, of which PAMs are a portable version. The various host vessel/facility regulations apply to PAMs.
The policy is meant to be used as a consolidated guide by the officers in charge of marine inspections, PAM fabricators, authorized classification societies, and vessel and facility operators for design, plan review, installation, inspection and documentation of PAMs built for and/or installed on inspected vessels or facilities.
Further information may be found by reading the policy letter below:
Source: USCG