Three Types of DNV 2.7-1 Containers
WHAT WE DO
Two offshore containers can have similar dimensions and still serve completely different purposes. DNV-ST-E271 separates offshore containers into three main categories: offshore freight containers, offshore service containers and offshore waste skips.
The category is not just a name on the certificate. It helps define what the unit is intended to do and gives engineering, fabrication and certification a common starting point.
Offshore freight containers
Freight containers are primarily used to transport goods. The category includes closed cargo containers, open cargo baskets, tank containers, bulk containers and special containers for dedicated cargo. A pipe basket and a closed cargo box may look very different, but both can belong to the same category when transport is their primary purpose.
Offshore service containers
Service containers are equipped for a specific offshore function rather than simply carrying cargo. Examples include workshops, laboratories, stores, power units, control stations and wireline units. Permanent equipment and its supports become part of the design problem, so interfaces and operational loads need to be considered before the container frame is finalised.
Offshore waste skips
Waste skips are open or closed containers used for storage and removal of waste. Their structural arrangement can differ significantly from a conventional framed freight container. That makes early classification important even when the unit looks straightforward.
Start with function, not with the shape
A common project sequence starts with a sketch: “we need a box”, “we need a basket” or “we need a skid”. The DNV route is then discussed after the physical concept has already gained momentum.
That reverses the useful order. First establish what the unit is expected to do. Is it transporting cargo, supporting an offshore operation or handling waste? Then establish whether the proposed arrangement fits the offshore-container concept.
This early decision affects more than terminology. Permanent equipment, structural load paths, lifting arrangements, access, testing and documentation all develop from the design basis. A classification question discovered late can therefore create engineering changes in a structure that is already detailed or fabricated.
There is also a boundary with DNV-ST-E273. Some portable offshore units perform a service function without qualifying as DNV 2.7-1 offshore containers. In those cases, the correct route should be resolved during concept development rather than during final certification.
GravityX supports that early classification and carries it through engineering and coordinated fabrication. Once the category is clear, continue with the DNV 2.7-1 design requirements and the route through testing and certification. If the boundary is unclear, compare DNV 2.7-1 vs 2.7-3.
Freight containers
Service containers
