Updated NR 483 demonstrates Bureau Veritas’s commitment to provide rules for safer and cleaner naval ships

The new edition of NR 483 replaces the rules issued in 2020 and addresses improvements coming from the evolution of military and civilian references, changes related to installations associated with aircraft operations, the introduction of new additional class notations as well as the updating of existing service notations and additional notations. These developments have been made in collaboration with our partners, navies and shipyards in order to consider their specific requirements, whilst facilitating the application of these new rules by all of our potential clients.

Relevant IACS requirements have been implemented in the new edition when considered applicable to naval ships including rules concerning environmental matters which are becoming important to navies and naval shipyards. As an example requirements for the storage and use of SCR reductants (IACS UR M77) are now integrated within the rules for naval vessels, helping provide confidence to navies regarding the safety of crew and environment.

Revised NATO standards have also been taken into account, including expanded and updated requirements within the additional class notation SEA-KEEP covering sea-keeping analysis.

Matters related to the installation of new technologies such as electromagnetic aircraft catapults and arresting gear systems are now accounted for on aircraft carriers, preparing the rules and application on future programs, alongside the requirements for traditional systems based on steam technology. Rules pertaining to the protection of aircraft fuel tanks have also be rewritten, permitting a more convenient handling of internal space as a result of optimized standards for cofferdams around aircraft fuels with a flash point above 60°C.

A new additional class notation LSA has been developed to cover life saving appliances, addressing the specific needs of Naval Ships unable to comply with classic LSA codes for reasons such as available space and visual discretion as well as the possible use of small craft for life saving purposes and for operational missions. The additional class notation FFS for flooding fighting systems has also been refreshed taking into consideration the remarks of our partners and feedback from application on completed naval vessels.

The consideration of feedback and experience gained through the approval of naval ships is  a key aspect of our process for rules development, ensuring continual improvement of our requirements and maximising the technical contributions for our clients  In this new edition, a good example are the fire insulation requirements around ammunition spaces  which have been made clearer as a result of consultation with our clients and lessons learnt on past projects.

This new edition of NR 483 reflects the advantages offered by Bureau Veritas to our naval clients, drawn from collaboration with industry, consideration of the latest developments in the civilian world, application of new technologies and the feedback from our day-to-day activity in support of navies and naval shipyards around the world. Importantly, these developments support our commitment to provide rules for safer and cleaner naval ships. We hope to see you at Euronaval 2022 from the 18th to the 21st of October.