BV issued new Rules for the Classification of Steel Ships

Eda Zenic -

Classification Society Bureau Veritas (BV) has issued new Rules for the Classification of Steel Ships.

The January 2025 edition introduces several key updates compared to the July 2024 edition. One significant change is the introduction of new service notations, such as the "Wind Farm Installation Vessel" for ships primarily intended for offshore wind turbine installations, and the "Wind Farm Operation Vessel," which covers vessels used for maintenance, inspection, and support operations for wind farms. The previous notation for "Wind Farm Service Ship" has been replaced by these two more specific categories.

Additionally, the notation for "Liquefied Gas Carrier" now includes an extra feature related to cargo containment types. The update also brings new class notations, including "EVFP," for ships equipped with systems designed to manage fires involving electric vehicles, and "REALTIME," which applies to ships equipped with digital solutions to calculate emissions for international or regional reporting standards.

Changes in the Hull and Stability section include clarifications and updates regarding structural design, hull girder strength, and testing requirements. The rules now provide more detailed requirements for external pressures, the strength of the hull in various conditions, and the minimum thickness of certain components. In machinery and systems, updates have been made regarding machinery testing, especially related to controllable pitch propellers, and the handling of CO2 storage access. New guidelines for refrigerants and changes to how fuel systems should be tested have also been introduced.

In the Electrical and Automation sections, there are updates on earthing systems, battery energy storage systems, and lightning protection for non-metallic structures. The automation requirements have also been revised, particularly around alarm systems and testing procedures.

For fire protection and offshore vessels, the new edition includes updated requirements for fire-fighting ships, including machinery and system updates. Lastly, the update brings various changes to existing and new additional class notations, such as the introduction of "CLEANSHIP" for managing biofouling, which helps prevent the transfer of invasive aquatic species, and revisions to refrigerant standards.