Material Handling Solutions

NORSOK R-002 B.5

Material handling philosophy applies to all areas, equipment and operations of mobile offshore installations. This philosophy shall provide guidelines for the engineers to achieve a robust technical design that will promote efficient and safe handling of equipment, as well as to secure access for maintenance in all operational conditions.

The document answers the following:

• How do you handle equipment on board?
  • What is the heaviest/biggest equipment in each room/area?
  • What lifting equipment to use?
  • How to transport it all the way to workshops or supply vessel?
• Does the lifting equipment have sufficient capacities?
• Does deck on board have sufficient capacities?
• Is there enough space for handling/transporting the equipment?

NORSOK R-002 B.7

During the late phase of the building process, material handling surveys should be carried out to verify the following factors.

• Installation of lifting equipment
• Transportation routes

NORSOK R-002 B.6

Offshore Crane Study is the feasibility study of handling loads by the offshore crane.

The document answers the following:

• How can the crane operator transfer a load at the installation in a safe way?
• Will there be any blind zones for the crane operator during lifting operations?
• What is the weight and height limitations for the different laydown areas?
• In which situations shall the crane boom be brought into rest position?

The offshore crane study is a basis for preparing operational procedures.

NORSOK R-002 B.7

Identify all equipment above 25 kg that needs to be handled due to regular maintenance.

• Describe the method to be used
• Lifting equipment to be used
• Describe the transport route to be used

Equipment requirements for material handling is shown in NORSOK R-002.

The material handling report shall be updated periodically to reflect the latest changes in equipment layout, Material Handling Philosophy, significant change in equipment/component weights and dimensions until this report reaches “completion of fabrication” stage. 

NORSOK R-002 B.3.3

The main purpose of lifting zones study is to analyse the potential effect of a “load’ being dropped and drop of crane boom over certain lifting areas/zones.

The document answers the following:

• What is the consequence if the load is dropping in a certain area?
• Where can the crane operator bring his load and not?
• What parts of the installation do I need to protect – dropped object protection (DOP)?
• What are the maximum weights/heights I can bring into these areas?

All areas within the working area of the deck crane are to be evaluated and classified according to the consequences of dropped objects. A lifting restriction chart shall be made for the installation.