The regulations governing petroleum activities in the Newfoundland offshore area require that operators of production, drilling, diving and accommodation installations obtain a Certificate of Fitness from a recognized Certifying Authority (CA) for these installations before the C-NOPB may authorize their use.

Because these installations are large and technically complex industrial structures, it was considered impractical to attempt to establish and maintain within government a group with the diverse expertise required to assess the adequacy of their design and construction. Therefore, the federal and provincial governments have recognized four organizations with internationally recognized expertise in these areas to act as Certifying Authorities under the regulations. They are:

American Bureau of Shipping
Bureau Veritas
Det norske Veritas, and
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping

A Certificate of Fitness attests that the installation to which it refers:

• Has been designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the applicable regulations and any conditions established by the relevant regulatory authorities
• Is fit for the purpose for which it is to be used and can be operated safely at the intended location without polluting the environment
• Has an established inspection, maintenance and weight control program that will ensure the installation retains its “fit for purpose” condition.

The scope of work for the CA’s certification activities respecting an installation must be acceptable to the Board’s Chief Safety Officer who may require additional design reviews, surveys or examinations to be conducted by the CA at any time.