The American Petroleum Institute (API) has published API Specification 2C and Recommended Practices (RP) 2D and 2D-2, a suite of standards developed to support proper construction, safe operation and maintenance of offshore pedestal-mounted cranes for natural gas and oil platforms, as well as training for offshore crane operators. 

“Safe operation and maintenance of cranes in the offshore environment is paramount to the natural gas and oil industry. API’s updated standards for offshore cranes include new design technologies; operator training requirements; and maintenance considerations to help our industry achieve the highest levels of safety and environmental protection in offshore operations,” API Global Industry Services (GIS) Senior Vice President Debra Phillips said. “Cranes are invaluable assets on offshore platforms, and these changes embody API’s commitment to embrace new business practices and innovations to continuously improve our operations and safety performance.”

Below are details of the three standards included in the suite:

• 8^th Edition of API Specification 2C, Offshore Pedestal-mounted Cranes, incorporates two new design methodologies related to structural considerations and subsea lifting. API Spec 2C is also part of API’s Monogram program, which certifies the manufacturing process for select products used by the industry.
• 1^st Edition of API RP 2D-2, Training for Offshore Pedestal-Mounted Crane Riggers, Operators, and Inspectors, establishes guiding principles for training personnel to operate and maintain these cranes. The standard also provides the requirements for personnel to be certified as either a crane operator, rigger or inspector.
• The 7^th Edition of API RP 2D, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, provides greater clarity on the requirements of API RP 2D-2 and is also a companion to API Spec 2C that establishes general principles for the safe operation and maintenance of these offshore cranes. API offers extensive training opportunities on RP 2D across the globe to improve operating techniques and safety.

All three standards are interrelated and work together to help maintain safety, environmental protection, and sustainability across the lifespan of pedestal-mounted lifting assets. API will host a webinar on the 8^th edition of API Specification 2C, December 2 at 11:00 a.m. ET and encourages participation from all industry stakeholders looking to learn more about the updates to this standard. For more information on these standards, please visit our website.

API standards are developed under API’s American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited process, ensuring that the API standards are recognized not only for their technical rigor, but also for their third-party accreditation which facilitates acceptance by state, federal and increasingly international regulators. The GIS division is responsible for standards setting, certification, training, events, publications and safety programs for industry operations.