DNV GL Issues First “Clean Lay-up” Declaration

The guideline enables shipowners and managers to demonstrate that their vessel is laid up in a responsible manner, taking into account noise, emission and environmental concerns, while fulfilling all safety requirements. Bluewater’s Munin FPSO, laid up in Labuan, Malaysia, recently received the first declaration of this kind.

“As a result of the tight business climate, we are seeing an increasing number of enquiries from owners and managers who need to put their vessel into lay-up, but want to do this in a way that respects the local environment and the communities around these sites,” says Richard Tao, Discipline Leader of DNV GL’s Maritime Advisory and Project Manager for the new lay-up guideline. 

“In response we have developed a new lay-up guideline that brings the best practices in the field together. In it we address a broad spectrum of issues including noise, air emissions (NOx and SOx), onboard waste and hull cleaning. The new declaration can be obtained alongside our current lay-up declaration to ensure that vessels enjoy a safe and responsible lay-up and an efficient and cost-effective recommissioning,” he adds.

“We are working closely together with DNV GL and the lay-up provider to ensure our FPSO is well managed during this period so that she can be re-activated smoothly when the market turns,” says Pieter Dofferhoff, Regulatory Compliance Engineer and Project Manager Cold Lay-up for the Munin FPSO. 

“We developed a strategy for the clean cold lay-up of our FPSO which meets the requirements of the DNV GL class guideline for lay-up of vessels. This strategy has been completely implemented on board in good cooperation with the crew of the FPSO, the lay-up provider and local authorities in Labuan,” he explains. 

“We also selected a DNV GL approved lay-up provider to carry out the lay-up preservations and maintenance routines during the lay-up to ensure that the integrity of the hull, machinery and other systems are maintained in the best way possible with the least impact on the environment in both normal situations and emergencies,” Dofferhoff adds.

In order for a vessel to receive a ”Clean Lay-up” declaration, the following aspects are to be evaluated and assessed in line with the detailed requirements illustrated in the new guideline: mooring arrangement, the safety and security of the vessel lay-up, emergency preparedness, the procedures in place to prevent pollution, air and noise pollution, as well as the antifouling coating treatment and marine growth.

“With almost 13,000 vessels in class, DNV GL has the accumulated know-how and insight to advise shipowners on how best to lay up their vessels – from ships to offshore units. The newly revised class guideline for vessel lay-up provides customers our recommended practices, gained from experience during the major lay-ups in the shipping industry of the 1970s, 1980s and 2000s. It provides a systematic and cost-effective approach for preparing vessels for lay-up and maintaining them in a safe and optimal condition during lay-up,” says Tomas Solli, Business Development Manager of Offshore Class in DNV GL.