scope:

This Guide has been developed to provide requirements for the certification of offshore containers with a gross mass not exceeding 25,000 kg (55,116 lb), intended for repeated use to, from and between fixed or floating installations and ships.

These containers may not always conform to the standard design requirements of the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC). Some features that differentiate offshore containers from the containers that are designed according to the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) are indicated below:

● Containers conforming to CSC convention are designed for loading and unloading in ports and in inland transport only and are not designed for being handled in the open seas. However, offshore containers are designed to be lifted onto and off offshore installations and ships, and such operations may often take place in unfavorable weather and sea conditions.

● Offshore containers are not to be lifted using spreader beams or ISO Corner fittings and are to be lifted using padeyes or lifting lugs with the designated lifting sets only.

● Offshore containers, unlike ISO containers, are not standardized with regard to sizes or gross mass.

Therefore, the intention of this Guide is to provide a standard for containers that are utilized in the offshore industry by conforming to the Guidelines issued by IMO in MSC/Circ. 860.

This Guide only applies to the transport and lifting requirements for offshore containers with respect to design, manufacturing, marking, testing and periodic inspections. This Guide does not include requirements for containers intended for intermodal transport. For this application refer to the ABS Rules for Certification of Cargo Containers. This Guide does not include requirements for temporary or permanent installation of offshore containers on fixed or floating offshore facilities. For these applications refer to the ABS Guide for Portable Accommodation Modules or the ABS Rules.

Offshore containers that are certified to the requirements of this Guide will also comply with MSC/Circ.860, EN 12079:2006 and ISO 10855:2018. Offshore Container Production Certificates issued by ABS will indicate this compliance.

Certification of existing containers may be considered on a case by case basis. Refer to A1-5 of this Guide for requirements.