A new standard for ports and marine operations for offshore wind energy structures is giving enormous potential to offshore wind energy development.
Currently, offshore wind structures are based at sea, which poses significant construction and maintenance challenge. However, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), based in Switzerland, has released the ISO 29400:2015, Ships and marine technology – Offshore wind energy – Port and marine operations to improve the safety and accessibility of the sites.
The standard provides comprehensive requirements and guidance for the planning and engineering of port and marine operations, encompassing all related documents and works necessary for the installation and maintenance of offshore windfarms. This includes the design of the components, systems, equipment and procedures required to perform port and marine operations, as well as the methods or procedures developed to carry them out safely.
The standard is the first in a series of six aimed at achieving a high level of reliability in the planning and execution of components and systems involved in the support and operations of offshore wind energy. These include supply chain information flow, personnel transfer systems and work and living conditions offshore.
“The objective of these standards is to ensure port and marine operations are carried out within defined safety and reliability levels, no matter where they are in the world, providing confidence but not hindering innovation,” ISO/TC 8 Captian Charles H. Piersall said.
