ASTM F3257-17(2022)

Standard Guide for Design, Construction, and Operation of Vessels Providing Accommodation Service to Offshore Installations

SCOPE
1.1 Objectives—Guidelines are provided for the design, construction, and operation of an Accommodation Service Vessel (ASV) intended to provide accommodation services to an offshore installation. The goal of these guidelines is to focus attention on the safety aspects of design. These guidelines are recommended for each vessel providing accommodation service to an offshore installation for more than 36 persons.  
1.2 Relationship with Regulatory and Classification Standards—This guide covers information for designing, constructing and operating ASVs and includes considerations not generally addressed in classification or statutory requirements intended for traditional cargo or passenger ships. While portions of this guide may refer to standards, it is not intended to supersede any classification or statutory requirements.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2022
• ICS: 47.020.80 - Accommodation spaces
• ICS: 75.180.10 - Exploratory, drilling and extraction equipment
• Technical Committee: F25 - Ships and Marine Technology
• Drafting Committee: F25.01 - Structures

Relations

• Refers: ASTM F1337-10 - Standard Practice for Human Engineering Program Requirements for Ships and Marine Systems, Equipment, and Facilities
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2010
• Refers: ASTM F1337-91(2006) - Standard Practice for Human Engineering Program Requirements for Ships and Marine Systems, Equipment, and Facilities
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2006
• Refers: ASTM F1337-91(2001) - Standard Practice for Human Engineering Program Requirements for Ships and Marine Systems, Equipment, and Facilities
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-1991
• Refers: ASTM F1337-91(1996) - Standard Practice for Human Engineering Program Requirements for Ships and Marine Systems, Equipment, and Facilities
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-1991

Overview

ASTM F3257-17(2022), Standard Guide for Design, Construction, and Operation of Vessels Providing Accommodation Service to Offshore Installations, establishes essential guidelines for the safe and effective operation of Accommodation Service Vessels (ASVs). The standard focuses particularly on vessels accommodating more than 36 persons, highlighting critical safety aspects. It addresses design, construction, and operational considerations unique to ASVs supporting offshore installations, such as oil and gas platforms, that are not covered by traditional cargo or passenger vessel requirements.

This standard aligns with international principles on standardization recognized by the World Trade Organization and acts as a complementary resource to existing regulatory and classification frameworks like SOLAS, IMO codes, and US Coast Guard regulations.

Key Topics

• Safety-Centric Design and Construction: The standard emphasizes risk assessment and the adoption of features that enhance safety for accommodated personnel, including fire protection, watertight integrity, and lifesaving equipment.
• Operational Guidelines: Recommendations cover emergency procedures, personnel transfer methods, training requirements, and compatibility with the offshore installation’s safety management systems.
• Regulatory Compliance: ASVs should meet or exceed international conventions such as the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), Safety Management System requirements, and be certified by recognized classification societies.
• Risk Management: Owners and operators are guided to address specific hazards such as hydrocarbon exposure, environmental threats, and complexities related to remote offshore locations.
• Personnel Transfer and Accommodation: Provisions are included for safe transfer using approved gangways and transfer baskets, helicopter operations, and the design and monitoring of portable accommodation modules.
• Training and Competency: Requirements for training and documentation ensure that all personnel are equipped to respond to emergencies and fulfill their roles safely.

Applications

The ASTM F3257-17(2022) standard is applied in the following scenarios:

• Design and Newbuild Projects: Naval architects and maritime engineers use these guidelines during the conceptualization and construction of new accommodation service vessels tailored to offshore installation support.
• Retrofitting and Upgrading Existing Vessels: Shipowners reference this standard when modifying vessels to provide accommodation services or upgrading safety systems to comply with international best practices.
• Operational Management: Offshore facility operators and vessel managers apply the recommendations to enhance compatibility between vessels and installations, implement effective safety management systems, and ensure comprehensive emergency preparedness.
• Training and Certification: The standard is essential for developing training programs for accommodated personnel and crew, supporting compliance with the STCW Convention and other international best practices.
• Regulatory Compliance Checks: Authorities and auditors use the guide as a performance benchmark to verify that vessels providing accommodation services conform to international safety standards applicable to offshore environments.

Related Standards

Several international standards and conventions are closely associated with ASTM F3257-17(2022):

• SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea): Fundamental for ship safety requirements.
• API RP 75: Recommended Practice for Safety and Environmental Management for Offshore Operations.
• 2008 SPS Code: Safety Code for Special Purpose Ships.
• 2009 MODU Code: Provides requirements specific to mobile offshore drilling units.
• ILO Code of Practice: Accident prevention on board ships at sea and in port.
• ISM Code: International Safety Management Code for the safe management and operation of ships.
• IMCA Guidance: Industry standards for personnel transfer and simultaneous operations.
• STCW Convention: International training standards for seafarers.
• U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): For vessel construction and operational standards on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

Keywords: Accommodation service vessels, offshore installations, safety management, SOLAS compliance, marine risk assessment, crew training, offshore vessel design, ship safety standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3257 − 17 (Reapproved 2022) An American National Standard
Standard Guide for
Design, Construction, and Operation of Vessels Providing
Accommodation Service to Offshore Installations
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3257; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This guide provides the marine industry with recommendations for the design, construction and
operation of vessels providing accommodation service to offshore installations.An owner or operator
of an accommodation service vessel (ASV) should be concerned about the safety of the vessel offered
by its design and construction because ASV operations may involve significant consequences due to
the presence of large numbers of people, that are typically far offshore and distant from search and
rescue assets, and may be located near high risk industrial activities.
1. Scope Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.1 Objectives—Guidelines are provided for the design,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
construction, and operation of an Accommodation Service
Vessel (ASV) intended to provide accommodation services to
2. Referenced Documents
an offshore installation.The goal of these guidelines is to focus
2.1 ASTM Standards:
attention on the safety aspects of design. These guidelines are
recommended for each vessel providing accommodation ser- F1337 Practice for Human Systems Integration Program
Requirements for Ships and Marine Systems, Equipment,
vice to an offshore installation for more than 36 persons.
and Facilities
1.2 Relationship with Regulatory and Classification
2.2 API Standards:
Standards—This guide covers information for designing, con-
API RP 75 Recommended Practice for Development of a
structing and operating ASVs and includes considerations not
Safety and Environmental Management Program for Off-
generally addressed in classification or statutory requirements
shore Operations and Facilities (3rd edition, May 2004)
intended for traditional cargo or passenger ships. While por-
tions of this guide may refer to standards, it is not intended to 2.3 International Labor Organization:
supersede any classification or statutory requirements.
ILO Practice for Accident Prevention on Board Ship at Sea
and in Port (2nd edition, 10 October 1996)
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
2.4 International Maritime Organization:
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life At
standard.
Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended, London, 2009
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Resolution A.1023(26) Code for the Construction and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (2009
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
MODU Code), 2009 London, December 2009, as
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
amended
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
1 3
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F25 on Ships and Available from American Petroleum Institute (API), 1220 L. St., NW,
Marine Technology and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F25.01 on Washington, DC 20005-4070, http://www.api.org.
Structures. Available from International Labour Organization (ILO), 4 route des Morillons,
Current edition approved July 1, 2022. Published July 2022. Originally approved CH-1211 Genève 22, Switzerland, http://www.ilo.org.
in 2017. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as F3257 – 17. DOI: 10.1520/ Available from​International Maritime Organization (IMO), 4, Albert
F3257-17R22. Embankment, London, SE1 7SR, United Kingdom, http://www.imo.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F3257 − 17 (2022)
STCW International Convention on Standards of Training, 3. Terminology
Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)
3.1 Definitions:
Convention and Code, London, April 1994, as amended
3.1.1 accommodation service, n—the provision of hotel-
2008 SPS Code Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships,
like services, such as dining, berthing, and access to recre-
2008, London, 2008, as amended
ational facilities, for accommodated personnel.
IMO Res. A.1079(28) Recommendations for the Training
3.1.2 accommodation personnel, n—personnel who are not
and Certification of Personnel on Mobile Offshore Units
engaged in work aboard the vessel itself but are engaged or
(MOUs), London, March 2014
intended to engage in work on a nearby offshore installation;
IMO Res.A.741(18) International Safety Management Code
accommodated personnel may include, but are not limited to,
(ISM Code), as amended, London, 2014
personnel defined as offshore workers. Where these guidelines
IMO MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.8 Revised Guidelines for the op-
refer to a standard associated with a “passenger,” that term
erational implementation of the International Safety Man-
should be interpreted as intended to be addressed to an
agement (ISM) Code by companies
6 accommodated person.
2.5 International Marine Contractors Association:
IMCA Personnel Transfer Guidance Guidance on the Trans-
4. Summary of Guide
fer of Personnel to and from Offshore Vessels and
4.1 Functional Requirements—An owner, operator, or char-
Structures, IMCA SEL 025, Rev.1, IMCA M 202 Rev. 1,
terer of a vessel has the responsibility to exercise due diligence
June 2014
to provide a seaworthy vessel for its intended commercial
SIMOPS Guidance on Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS),
use. To meet this responsibility, each owner, operator, or
IMCA M 203, March 2010
charterer of a vessel that provides accommodation service
2.6 United States Code of Federal Regulations:
should properly address the risks to which the accommodated
Title 30, CFR Part 250 “Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations
personnel are exposed. Consideration should be given to:
in the Outer Continental Shelf” (30 CFR Part 250)
4.1.1 Meeting an international safety standard such as
Title 33, CFR Part 96 “Rules for the Safe Operations of
SOLAS and being classed;
Vessels and Safety Management Systems” (33 CFR Part
4.1.2 Ease of access between the ASV and the offshore
96)
installation it supports (that is, personnel transfer);
Title 46, CFR Chapter I, Subchapter H “Passenger Vessels”
4.1.3 Availability of emergency equipment and services on
(46 CFR Subchapter H)
the offshore installation being supported;
Title 46, CFR Chapter I, Subchapter I “Cargo and Miscella-
4.1.4 Degree to which the ASV would be expected to
neous Vessels” (46 CFR Subchapter I)
respondtoanemergencyonthesupportedoffshoreinstallation;
Title 46, CFR Chapter I, Subchapter L “Offshore Supply
4.1.5 Degree to which theASV and the offshore installation
Vessels” (46 CFR Subchapter L)
it supports are under common command and control;
Title 46, CFR Chapter I, Subchapter T “Small Passenger
4.1.6 Nature of the work being undertaken on the supported
Vessels” (46 CFR Subchapter T)
offshore installation(s) and the hazards related thereto (for
Title 46, CFR Chapter I, Subchapter I-A “Mobile Offshore
example, hydrocarbon exposure);
Drilling Units”, section 109.213 “Emergency training and
4.1.7 Ability of workers to discriminate between alarms and
drills” (46 CFR 109.213)
emergency instructions on the ASV and the offshore installa-
2.7 U.S. Coast Guard Notices and Circulars:
tion it supports;
NVIC 02-08 Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular
4.1.8 Duration of service;
02-08 “Crew Endurance Management Systems”
4.1.9 Distance from search and rescue (SAR) resources;
77 FR 70172 “Notice of recommended interim voluntary
4.1.10 Number, size and type of other vessels involved in
guidance on Lifesaving and Fire-fighting Equipment,
the offshore activity that are capable of rendering assistance in
Training and Drills Onboard Offshore Facilities and Mo-
an emergency;
bile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) Operating on the
4.1.11 Resilience of the ASV to maintain capability despite
U.S. Outer Continental Shelf,” (77 Fed. Reg. 70172,
incurring casualties such as fire or flooding;
November 23, 2012)
4.1.12 Number of persons on the ASV;
4.1.13 Protection of means of egress for accommodated
personnel;
4.1.14 Station-keeping, including dynamic positioning; and
4.1.15 Environmental hazards.
4.2 Guide Format—In view of the variety of vessel types
6 that can provide accommodation service and the multiple items
Available from International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), 52
Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0AU, United Kingdom, https://www.imca- to be considered in providing this service, an ASV design
int.com.
should retain flexibility to mitigate the risks associated with the
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of
Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20401-0001, http://
www.access.gpo.gov.
8 9
Available from U.S. Coast Guard, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, For example, 46 CFR 125.160.
Washington DC 20593-7000, https://www.uscg.mil. For example, 46 U.S.C. 30701 Note, § 4(1).
F3257 − 17 (2022)
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