Bureau Veritas creates new notation for floaters in Brazil

Bureau Veritas (BV), a provider of testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services, has formalized guidelines and a classification notation for floating, production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) and floating production units (FPUs) designed for operation in Brazil’s deep waters.

BV said on Thursday that the new class notation IVBS-BRA was an independent verification approach that the Bureau adopted in Brazil.

This notation will help clients to demonstrate compliance with Brazilian regulations and address the requirements which need to be implemented for offshore units, from design to operation.

The compliance requirements for all types of offshore installations, including FPSOs and FPUs designed to operate in Brazilian waters, are governed by a range of national agencies addressing health and safety, environmental, and labour requirements.

The Bureau added that ensuring these requirements would be vital. The company has provided the insight, support, and service required to help the designers, shipbuilders, and operators developing Brazilian projects to navigate the complexity of the country’s national requirements.

Regulations addressed include requirements issued by the National Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels Agency (ANP), the Maritime Authority (DPC), the Labor Inspection Secretary (SIT/ENIT), the Brazilian Environmental Institute (IBAMA), the National Environmental Council (CONAMA), and others.

Marie-Françoise Renard, commercial director of offshore and services at Bureau Veritas, said: “Brazil is a complex regulatory environment and clients are looking to demonstrate how they are addressing the requirements to operate safely in Brazilian waters.

“IVBS-BRA formalizes our approach and provides the necessary framework to demonstrate that requirements have been met.

“BV provides a wide range of compliance-related services and support to help ensure clients are able to fully meet and implement the required regulatory scope for operations in Brazil in a manner that is fully integrated with the project classification process and all control processes”.