In brief
An offshore container is a portable unit designed for the repeated transport of goods or equipment between vessels and offshore installations. It is engineered for lifting on the open sea and the dynamic loads encountered during such operations. Consequently, offshore containers and their lifting sets must meet specific requirements regarding design, testing, marking, and periodic inspection.
An offshore container is designed for repeated lifting operations between supply vessels and offshore installations. These operations can involve significantly different stresses—caused by sea states, vessel motion, and impact loads—compared to standard container handling in ports and terminals.
For this reason, specific requirements apply to the load-bearing structure, lifting points, and associated lifting gear. A standard shipping container does not automatically become an approved offshore container simply by adding crane eyes or lifting chains.
The relevant regulatory frameworks include:
The EN 12079 series is a predecessor to EN ISO 10855. It may still be referenced in older certificates, tenders, and technical specifications. The specific edition and certification required for a particular project must be verified against operator requirements and contract documentation.
The current ISO 10855:2024 series consists of three parts:
The scope of ISO 10855-1 covers offshore containers with a maximum gross mass of up to 25,000 kilograms that are repeatedly transported to, from, or between offshore installations and ships. The 25,000-kilogram limit is therefore not a general weight specification for all conceivable offshore transport solutions, but rather part of the scope of this standard.
Offshore containers are manufactured in various designs depending on their purpose. These include, among others:
The design can be compact and specifically tailored to the respective cargo. Offshore containers therefore do not have to correspond to the standard dimensions of a 20- or 40-foot shipping container.
Specially designed lifting sets are used for offshore handling. These can include multi-leg chain or wire rope slings and a master link for the crane hook.
Containers and lifting sets form a safety-critical system. Lifting points, slings, connecting elements, and markings must match the respective unit. The maximum gross mass of the container must not be exceeded.
Before being put into service, the design and manufacture are assessed in accordance with the applicable regulations. Depending on the certification, this includes the review of technical documentation, inspections during production, as well as load and lifting tests.
Regular inspections and testing are required during use. The type, scope, and frequency depend on the applicable standard, the certification, and the condition of the container. The same applies to the associated lifting gear.
Damage, severe corrosion, deformed lifting points, or illegible markings must be professionally assessed before further use.
Offshore containers are used in industries such as oil and gas, offshore wind farms, and for maintenance, supply, and research projects at sea. They are used to transport items such as tools, spare parts, technical equipment, consumables, or waste.
No. A standard shipping container does not automatically have the necessary design and certification for repeated lifting operations on the open sea. For this purpose, the entire unit, including the lifting points and lifting gear, must be designed and tested according to an appropriate offshore standard.
DNV 2.7-1 is the former and still commonly used name for the DNV standard for offshore containers. The current designation is DNV-ST-E271. The standard contains requirements and guidelines for the approval and certification of offshore containers and their lifting gear.
No. Both sets of regulations cover offshore containers and have overlapping content, but they are not identical. The required certification must be determined for each specific project.
Suitable and tested lifting gear is required for offshore handling. It must be designed for the container, its maximum gross mass, and the intended lifting operations. The requirements for such lifting gear are described in standards including ISO 10855-2.
A conversion alone is not sufficient. If the unit is to be used as an offshore container, the design, materials, welding, lifting points, testing, and documentation must meet the requirements of the intended standard. Whether an existing container is technically suitable for this must be assessed on a case-by-case basis by specialist planners and the responsible inspection or certification body.