Offshore Crane Operations &

Safety Conference 2005

ONBOARD & OFFBOARD LOAD RATINGS

(STATIC & DYNAMIC LOAD RATINGS)

Randy Long
Stress Engineering Services
(281) 955-2900
[email protected]
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OBJECTIVES
Provide a brief background of load ratings as
developed in API 2C specification
Discuss what went into the oldAPI 2C static
& dynamic rated load development
Discuss what went into developing the new
API 2C (2004) ONBOARD & OFFBOARD LOAD
RATINGS
Discuss the various options in the code to
determine ratings and the advantages of each
option

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 Overall Objective

INCREASE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW

CRANE LOAD RATING CHARTS ARE
DERIVED

INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AS TO
WHEN AND HOW THE VARIOUS TYPES OF
CHARTS SHOULD BE USED

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Rating Terminology

API 5TH EDITION API 6TH EDITION

STATIC ONBOARD
Ratings are used for lifts to / from the deck Ratings are used for lifts to / from the deck
of the platform or floating installation of the platform or floating installation

DYNAMIC OFFBOARD
Ratings are used for lifts to / from Ratings are used for lifts to / from
the supply boats the supply boats

Static and Dynamic Rating

Terminology is no Longer Used

Note: API RP 2D has Not Been Updated for

the Onboard / Offboard Terminology

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 In the Beginning

Pre-1971 No API crane specification.

Most cranes were built very similar to land
cranes and many were rated as though
they were being operated on land.

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And then there was API 2C

1971 1st Edition API 2C. Required cranes

to be designed with a 1.33 load factor to
account for added uncertainties compared
to land based crane operations. No
separation of onboard / offboard
conditions (static / dynamic).
1972 2nd Edition API 2C. Lots of
additions but similar rating requirements
as 1st Edition.

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1983 3rd Edition API 2C Major Revision
Static and dynamic rating methods defined.
Static ratings for lifts where no relative
motion exists between load and crane
(ONBOARD lifts fixed platforms).
Dynamic ratings for lifts when there was
relative motion (OFFBOARD lifts or moving
floating platforms).
1988 (4th Edition) & 1995 (5th Edition)
Ratings definitions stayed about the same.

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2004 6th Edition API 2C Major Revision.

Added help in developing ratings of Floating

Platforms (TLPs, Spars, Drillships, FPSOs
Semisubmersibles) due to platform motions

Changed to ONBOARD & OFFBOARD

terminology to recognize motions on floating
platforms for Onboard lifts as well

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WHY DO WE NEED DIFFERENT RATING CHARTS FOR
ONBOARD AND OFFBOARD LIFTS?
Onboard Fixed Platform conditions lifting off
fixed platform with no motions and the crane
boom tip centered over the load. Hoist speed low
while starting the pick.
Offboard Fixed Platform conditions lifting off
moving supply boat. The crane boom tip may not
be centered over the load as a result. Also the
load is moving up and down with the boat. Hoist
speed high to quickly lift clear of the boat.
Floating Platform add in the platform motions

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WHY DO WE NEED DIFFERENT RATING

CHARTS FOR ONBOARD AND OFFBOARD
LIFTS?

ONE CHART CAN NOT FIT ALL CONDITIONS

EITHER IT WILL BE UNSAFE FOR SOME
CONDITIONS OR OVERLY CONSERVATIVE
FOR OTHERS

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 Some Definitions that May Help

Load Factor A design coefficient that is

multiplied by Safe Working Load (SWL) to
provide an increased design load. It
provides a means of accounting for the
increase in force due to motions.
Side Load A force applied sideways to
the boom tip due to load swing, supply
boat motions, etc

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Some Definitions that May Help

Offload A force applied outward to the

boom tip due to load swing, supply boat
motions, etc
Seastate The wave conditions existing at
the time of the crane lift. Usually described
by a significant waveheight.

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 FIXED
PLATFORM
CRANES

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FIXED PLATFORM CRANES ONBOARD LIFT

vs OLD STATIC LIFT CRITERIA
Static (pre-2004 2C Spec) load ratings
based on a 1.33 load factor, 2% sideload,
with no wind, no offload, crane level, load
onboard the fixed platform
Onboard fixed platform (2004 2C Spec)
load ratings based on a 1.33 load factor,
2% sideload, crane off level in two 90
directions, wind at 40 mph or user
specified

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FIXED PLATFORM CRANES OFFBOARD LIFT
vs OLD DYNAMIC LIFT CRITERIA

Dynamic (pre-2004 2C Spec) load ratings

two ways approved to develop load ratings

Offboard (2004 2C Spec) load ratings for

fixed platforms still two ways with a few
slight changes in the methods

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FIXED PLATFORM CRANES OFFBOARD LIFTS

RATING METHODS
1) General Method (Calculated Load Factor).
The load factor, sideload, and offload are
calculated based on equations using
supply boat motions and the response of
the particular crane as it lifts a load
starting with the supply boat motions.

Load Factor Cb = 1 + (Vh + Vd) (K/gL)1/2

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FIXED PLATFORM CRANES OFFBOARD LIFTS
RATING METHODS
2) Default Offboard Rating uses a 2.0 load
factor, 2% sideload, no wind, no offload,
and a level crane. Spec 2C allows this only
for fixed platforms in very mild sea and
wind conditions and only if the supply boat
position is maintained such as by tethering
the supply boat to the platform (or for a
dynamically positioned DP supply boat).

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WHICH OFFBOARD METHOD SHOULD I USE

FOR A FIXED PLATFORM?

1) General Method (Calculated Load Factor)

ratings are more accurate - based on your
crane for a specific seastate. Usually
results in operator having several offboard
load charts (one for 4 sea, one for 6sea,
etc). Operator must pick which chart based
on the conditions he is observing.

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 WHICH OFFBOARD METHOD SHOULD I USE
FOR A FIXED PLATFORM?

2) Default Offboard Rating Only good for

fixed platform with a tethered or DP
workboat and only good for very mild
seas .
What is very mildfor my equipment? At
what seastate condition, supply boat
motion, wind speed is this chart not safe
and adequate?

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HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TYPE OF

LOAD CHART MY FIXED PLATFORM CRANE HAS?

1) Onboard Rating Should be labeled as a Static

or Onboard Load Chart.
2) Offboard Rating Should be labeled as a
Dynamicor Offboard Load Chart. If it does not
indicate that it was done for a specific seastate,
wind, etc, then it is probably a Default Offboard
(Dynamic) Chart.

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 AND IF THAT WASN
T COMPLICATED ENOUGH..

FLOATING PLATFORM LOAD RATINGS

(TLP
s, SPARS, FPSO
s, DRILLSHIPS,
SEMISUBMERSIBLES)

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1983 3rd Edition API 2C

Floating Platform Crane Ratings
Spec provided the basicsof how to
perform these ratings. An adjusted formula
was given for calculating the load factor.
The spec recognized the added
complexities and dynamics present but did
not give definitive guidance on how to
calculate added loading effects

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 2004 6th Edition API 2C
Floating Platform / Vessel Crane Ratings

Ratings for cranes on Floating Platforms /

Vessels depend on crane movements for
Onboard lifts and these plus the motions of
the supply boat for Offboard lifts
There are two methods provided in the
2004 Spec 2C to establish load ratings

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 2004 6th Edition API 2C
Floating Platform / Vessel Crane Ratings
Vessel Specific Method Uses motions and
accelerations based on your vessel and your crane
locations on the vessel. This provides the best
ratings for your crane.
General Method Uses load factors and
accelerations developed for representative crane
locationson TLP s, Spars, FPSO s, Drillships, &
Semi s.
DEFAULT OFFBOARD RATING IS NOT AN OPTION
Seastate must be known and the associated
ratings chart used.

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WHICH METHOD SHOULD I USE FOR MY

FLOATER?

1) Vessel Specific Method ratings are more

accurate - based on your crane and vessel
details for a specific seastate.
Requires information from user on vessel
motions (RAO s) for the crane location on
the platform and requires more effort to
develop load ratings.

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 WHICH METHOD SHOULD I USE FOR MY
FLOATER?

2) General Method should be used in the

absence of Vessel Specific information,
and are much better than not accounting
for floater motions at all.
How do you know if they are adequate for
your crane and floater? Or if they have a lot
of conservatism for your crane and floater?

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HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TYPE OF LOAD CHART MY

FLOATING PLATFORM / VESSEL CRANE HAS?

1) Onboard Rating Should be labeled as a

Staticor Onboard Load Chart. Per the
2004 API 2C it should indicate allowable
seastate, wind, etc.
2) Offboard Rating Should be labeled as a
Dynamicor Offboard Load Chart. It
should indicate allowable seastate, wind,
etc. If it doesn
t, then it should.

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 SUMMARY FIXED PLATFORM CRANES
You need both onboard and offboard
charts. One chart can not cover both
operating conditions (either it
s UNSAFE
for offboard conditions or overly
conservative for onboard conditions)
Default Offboard Charts must only be
used as they are intended. Very mild sea
conditions and tethered or DP supply
boat

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SUMMARY FLOATING PLATFORM CRANES

Default Offboard Charts are not an option.

You need both onboard and offboard charts that
account for floating platform / vessel motion
(and supply boat motion for offboard lifts).
Charts based on Vessel Specific motions for your
crane and your vessel are the best, but charts
based on General Method motions are much
better than not accounting for floater crane
motions at all.

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 Offshore Crane Operations &
Safety Conference 2005

ONBOARD & OFFBOARD LOAD RATINGS

(STATIC & DYNAMIC LOAD RATINGS)

Randy Long
Stress Engineering Services
(281) 955-2900
[email protected]
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