Section
2 Character of Classification and Class Notation
2.1 General
2.1.1 For the purpose of these Rules the terms used have the meanings defined
in the following paragraphs unless expressly provided otherwise.
2.1.2 A submersible is, for the purpose of these Rules, a vessel, whether
sea-going, used in fresh water or fixed to the sea bed (or forming part of a marine
structure), designed to be capable of submerging beneath the surface to an maximum
operating depth and for an approved operating time. It may be manned or unmanned.
Included under this heading are submarines, habitats, submersible diving chambers or
submersible personnel transfer chambers, observation chambers, diving bells and
underwater containers, including items for sub-sea completions required for purposes
such as mineral workings.
Note Stationery items of exposed (unprotected) plant and
equipment situated on the sea bed or anchored thereto are not submersibles
within the meaning of the Rules (e.g. an open framework wellhead completion).
2.1.3 A submersible may be propelled, towed, suspended, anchored or bottom
supported. Propulsion may be by tracks, wheels, propellers, water jets or other
approved means.
2.2 Definitions
Types of submersibles are defined as follows:
2.2.1 A manned submersible is a submersible designed to be capable of
carrying personnel while submerged. Such vessels may be self-contained or externally
sustained. Surface access only may be available, or underwater pressurized or
non-pressurized access may be fitted.
2.2.2 A wet submersible is a manned submersible designed to be free
flooding so that the pilot, crew and passengers dive to a given operational depth
while wearing diving’ equipment of either scuba or umbilical type.
2.2.3 An unmanned submersible is a submersible designed to be operated
by remote control or autonomously, and without carrying personnel while submerged.
2.2.4 A submersible craft is a submersible designed to be operated while
suspended, towed or self-propelled without contact with the bottom or sea bed.
2.2.5 A diving bell is a tethered, submersible compression chamber which
can be lowered into the water and from which divers can operate.
2.2.6 A submersible vehicle is a self-propelled submersible propelled by
contact with the bottom or sea bed, or a towed submersible intended to operate, in
service, only on the bottom or sea bed.
2.2.7 A submersible habitat is a manned submersible designed for
operation as living quarters, on a temporary or permanent basis, or work chamber
under water but not arranged to be self-propelled or towed, while submerged with
personnel on board.
2.2.8 A submersible container is an unmanned submersible containing
plant or other equipment that must be protected from the sea, has an internal volume
in excess of 1 m3 and is anchored to the sea bed or a fixed offshore structure.
2.2.9 A passenger submersible is a craft designed to carry passengers in
addition to the crew, for leisure or commercial purposes who are not permitted to
operate equipment to control the submersible or participate in its operation.
2.2.10 A rescue submersible is a craft specifically designed to evacuate
personnel from underwater habitats or crafts in emergency situation.
2.2.11 An Atmospheric Diving Suit (ADS) is a tethered one man submersible in which
the operator’s arms, or arms and legs, move inside articulated joints to provide
mobility and protection to carry out the underwater task. The operator is not
subject to a pressure greater than 100 millibars above atmospheric pressure.
2.2.12 An Atmospheric Diving Suit System (ADS System) includes the ADS and associated
support components/systems such as support stands, access and service platforms, the
handling system and the ADS control station.
2.3 Other Definitions
2.3.1 Other definitions appropriate to these Rules are as follows:
- A bottle is a pressure container for the storage and
transport of gases under pressure.
- A chamber is a pressure vessel with access for personnel
and with means of controlling the differential pressure between the inside
and the environment.
- Autonomous units: Submersible craft which although
manned in some cases, are designed to operate without physical connection to
surface support vessel.
- Breathing Gas All gases which are used for breathing
during diving operations.
- Breathing Mixture All mixtures which are used for
breathing during diving operations.
- Category A machinery space means spaces and passageways
as defined in the 1974 International SOLAS Convention as amended.
- Collapse depth: The depth at which general collapse of
the pressure hull will take place.
- Compression is the gradual increase of pressure to match
a given water depth.
- Compression chamber A pressure vessel for human occupancy
under pressure.
- Crew refers to the person or persons within the
submersible required to operate equipment to control the submersible. They
may be required to exit from certain submersibles while under water.
- Deck compression chamber and transfer chamber are the
pressure vessels and equipment used in association with a submersible having
hyperbaric capacity, but sited on board an attendant floating or fixed
structure.
- Decompression is a controlled return to atmospheric
pressure from a hyperbaric or equivalent pressure.
- Decompression stop (or stage) is a pause at a particular
pressure level or depth of water, during ascent to the surface pressure, to
avoid the occurrence of decompression sickness.
- Depth should normally be measured to the lowest part of
the submersible’s pressure hull, or equivalent structure on vessels without
a pressure hull.
- Diving system means the whole plant and equipment
necessary for the conduct of diving operations and includes certain types of
tethered submersibles such as diving bells and observation chambers,
transfer chambers, and deck compression chambers and relevant LARS.
- Diving System-SAT – this notation will be assigned to
the systems designed for saturation operation.
- Diving System Surface – this Class notation will be
assigned to the systems operating to the maximum depth of 60msw with diving
time restriction.
- An explosion is the violent bursting of a body outwards.
It may be caused by a decrease in external pressure.
- Tethered signifies having externally sustained means
comprising some or all power and life-support systems fed from a vessel in
attendance, or from a fixed structure.
- Fixed System A diving system installed permanently on
ships or fixed offshore structures or offshore installations.
- Free flooding means capable of being flooded by water at
any depth without the use of pumps.
- A hull penetration is an opening which allows systems and
fittings to be inserted into a pressure chamber.
- Handling System The plant and equipment necessary for
raising, lowering and transporting the diving bell between the work location
and the surface compression chamber usually called Launch and Recovery
Systems - LARS.
- Hazardous Area Those locations in which an explosive
gas-air mixture is continuously present, or present for long periods (zone
0), in which an explosive gas-air mixture is likely to occur in normal
operation (zone 1); in which an explosive gas-air mixture is not likely to
occur and, if it does, will persist for only a short time (zone 2).
- Hyperbaric Evacuation System A system whereby divers
under pressure can be safely evacuated from a ship or fixed or offshore
installation to a position where decompression can be carried out.
- Hyperbaric Evacuation Unit – (HEU) A unit where divers
under pressure can be safely evacuated from a ship or floating structure to
a place where decompression can be carried out (please refer to IMO
Guidelines Res A.692 m).
- Hyperbaric Lifeboat – (HLB) please refer to Hyperbaric
Evacuation Unit.
- Hyperbaric pressure is the pressure, in excess of
atmospheric, resulting from the depth of submergence.
- Implosion is the violent collapse of a body inwards.
- Isobaric pressure is a constantly maintained pressure,
usually not significantly differing from atmospheric.
- Laid up is the state when the submersible and its
systems and components have been treated in order to afford protection from
dirt, corrosion, unauthorized interference, etc., during an inactive period.
Such treatment would include the suitable sealing of any systems, from which
items may have been removed for separate storage, to prevent deterioration
or loss.
- Life-support systems are those providing and maintaining
breathing atmosphere, temperature, humidity, waste disposal, feeding and
fumes to render a submersible or chamber habitable.
- Linked means connected, while in operation, to an
attendant ship, submersible or structure by a mooring line, suspension cable
or umbilical.
- Living compartment means the part of the surface
compression chamber which is intended to be used as the main habitation for
divers during diving operations and which is equipped for such purpose.
- Log Book means the documented record of inspection and
maintenance and details of dives performed. Log Books may be in the form of
a Register and may contain other information of a more specific nature.
- Main Components of a diving system Surface compression
chamber, diving bell, handling system, fixed gas storage facilities, gas
treatment and life support systems.
- A manipulator is a remotely operated work arm.
- Mating Device The equipment necessary for the connection
and disconnection of a diving bell to a surface compression chamber.
- Maximum Operating Depth of the Diving System The depth in
metres of seawater equivalent to the maximum pressure for which the diving
system is designed.
- Operating time is the total duration of normal
life-support and/or power system, whichever be the lesser, including time
for descent and ascent, but excluding emergency reserves.
- Passengers are persons carried within the submersible
but not permitted to operate equipment to control the submersible. If
trained as divers they may be required to exit from certain submersibles
while under water.
- A pilot is a person in direct command of the submersible
and all personnel on or within it.
- Portable Diving System (P): A diving system designed and
built to remain largely independent of the vessel or offshore unit on which
they are installed and may be easily disconnected and transported to the
other vessel or the offshore unit, commissioned and installed again.
- Pressurized access is a hatch, airlock, etc., for the dry
entry and exit of personnel to and from one chamber to another at hyperbaric
pressure, in a controlled way.
- Pressure vessel A container capable of withstanding an
internal working pressure of 1 bar or over.
- Recognized means recognized by the Committee of Lloyd’s
Register.
- Recompression is the return to high pressure following
previous high pressure exposure — usually associated with divers to prevent
or treat decompression sickness.
- Saturation diving is the technique in which divers are
exposed to hyperbaric pressure, or its equivalent, for a period such that
the decompression required will not change for any additional time at this
pressure.
- Scrubber – an apparatus used to remove impurities from
breathing gas.
- Self-sustained means having power and life-support
equipment and systems incorporated in the submersible.
- Surface access is a hatch for entry and exit of personnel
or equipment which is suitable for use only when the submersible is not
submerged.
- Surface compression chamber: A pressure vessel for human
occupancy, that is not intended to be submerged, with means of controlling
and monitoring the pressure and the other life supporting parameters. See
also definition of Life-support systems.
- A surface controller is the person with overall
responsibility for the operation of a submersible and for the personnel,
tracking, communications and life-support systems associated with it. In
diver lock-out submersibles, the controller should be in the control cabin
but is not to be the pilot.
- An umbilical is the connecting link to a submersible
which may contain one or more life-support hoses, surveillance,
communication or remote control leads and/or power supply cables.
- Underwater access is a hatch for entry and exit of
personnel or equipment when the submersible is submerged.
- Work time is the operating time less time for descent
and ascent.
2.4 Character Symbols
2.4.1 All submersibles, diving systems and compression chambers, when classed,
will be assigned one or more character symbols as applicable. For the majority of
sea-going submersibles, the character assigned will be 100A or ✠100A. This character
will also be assigned to a deck compression chamber or diving system arranged to be
used in conjunction with a submersible that is so classed.
2.4.2 A full list of character symbols for which submersibles, diving systems
and deck compression chambers may be eligible is as follows:
| ✠
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This notation will be assigned to new
submersibles, diving systems and deck compression chambers
constructed, installed and tested under LR’s Special Survey
and in accordance with LR’s Rules.
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This notation will be assigned, at the time of
classing, to new submersibles, diving systems and deck
compression chambers constructed under the survey of a
recognised authority in accordance with the Rules and
Regulations equivalent to those of LR. In addition, the
whole of the machinery will be required to have been
installed and tested under LR’s Special Survey in accordance
with LR’s Rules.
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This distinguishing mark, will be assigned to
existing submersibles built under supervision of another
IACS member society and later assigned class with LR. For
such units the class notations will be reviewed separately
and equivalent notations will be assigned.
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| 100
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This character figure will be assigned to all
units considered suitable for sea-going service.
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| A
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This character letter will be assigned to all
units which have been built or accepted into class in
accordance with LR’s Rules and Regulations, and are
maintained in good and efficient condition.
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| 1
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This character figure will be assigned to:
- Units which are anchored permanently to
the sea bed or a fixed offshore structure, in
accordance with the Rules.
- Units having on board anchoring or
mooring equipment in accordance with the Rules.
- Units classed for special service, for
which no specific anchoring and mooring Rules have
been published, having on board, in good and
efficient condition, anchoring or mooring equipment
approved by the Committee as suitable and sufficient
for the particular service.
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| (F)
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This character letter will be assigned to the
Fixed Diving System as defined in Pt 1, Ch 2, 2.3 Other Definitions.
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| (P)
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This character letter will be assigned to the
Portable Diving System as defined in Pt 1, Ch 2, 2.3 Other Definitions.
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| T
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This character letter will be assigned to
tethered units which are intended to perform their primary
designed service function only while they are anchored,
moored, towed, suspended or linked, and which have
adequately attached equipment, in good and efficient
condition.
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| U
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This is an additional character letter which will
be assigned to all submersibles which will be unmanned at
all times, e.g. ✠100ATU; a new tethered and unmanned
submersible.
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| 100ASE
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These characters will be assigned at the time of
classing to a deck compression chamber in compliance with
the Rules and Regulations and to the satisfaction of the
Committee. The equipment may be static or ship borne and is
to be maintained in a good and efficient condition. The
equipment may have been classed originally with a particular
submersible but is no longer associated with it.
Alternatively, the Owner may have requested separate
classification of such equipment as spare units or for other
reasons acceptable to the Committee.
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| ✠ 100AT ADS
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These characters will be
assigned to a new ADS constructed under LR’s Special Survey, and
in accordance with LR’s Rules.
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| ✠ 100AT ADS System LA
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These characters will be
assigned to a new ADS System constructed under LR’s Special
Survey, and in accordance with LR’s Rules.
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| LA
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These character letters
will be assigned to all diving systems where the lifting
appliance is considered to be an essential feature, and is
mandatory. See
Pt 5, Ch 7 Lifting Appliances.
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2.4.3 In cases where anchoring, mooring, towing, suspending or linking
equipment, or a diving system or deck compression chamber, is essential to the safe
operation of a submersible and is included in the class of that underwater craft,
the class of the submersible will be liable to be withheld if any of the associated
equipment is found to be seriously deficient.
2.5 Class Notation
2.5.1 A class notation will be appended to the character of classification
assigned to be submersible (and/or a diving system or deck compression chamber) as
deemed necessary by the Committee or when requested by an Owner and agreed by the
Committee. This class notation will consist of one of, or a combination of: a type
notation (based on the definition in Pt 1, Ch 2, 2.2 Definitions), a special duties notation, a special features
notation and/or a service restriction notation, as appropriate.
2.6 Descriptive Notes
2.6.1 In addition to any class notation, descriptive notes may be assigned on
the Owners’ request at the discretion of the Committee. These notes will give more
details than the class notation, and/or will provide additional information about
design and operation. Descriptive notes are not LR class notations and are provided
solely for the information of users.
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