What DNV 2.7-1 actually covers
The standard sets requirements for offshore containers and other portable units — structural design, lifting set strength, materials, welding qualification, marking, and the inspection regime that keeps the certificate valid. It does not cover what is inside the box, only the box and how it is lifted.
The five things to check before you accept a container
1. Inspection date and certificate validity
Annual inspection is the headline. Make sure the certificate is current — not expiring during your charter window. Ask for the most recent inspection report, not just the certificate.
2. Padeye and lifting-set condition
Visual signs of corrosion, gouges, distortion or repair welding around the padeyes are red flags. The lifting set itself should match the container class, with current colour-code and traceable certificates per leg.
3. Door seals and gasket integrity
Survey kit cares about water ingress. A container that meets DNV structurally can still flood the equipment inside if the door seals are old.
4. Internal fit-out for survey use
If you are renting a survey cabin (acquisition workstation, racks, AC, UPS), make sure the fit-out has been added in a way that does not compromise the structural integrity. Cable penetrations through structural members done badly can void the cert.
5. Mark and identification
Tare weight, max gross weight, certificate number and DNV mark must be visible and legible. If they have been over-painted, ask for a re-mark before mobilisation.
Lift integrity is the part of the survey project nobody thinks about until it goes wrong.
Survey containers vs. offshore containers
The two things often get confused. A survey container is a fitted-out cabin with workstations, racks, AC and connectivity for an acquisition crew. An offshore container is a load-rated, DNV 2.7-1 unit for transporting equipment to and from offshore installations. The two roles can be combined — an offshore-rated survey cabin is common for offshore work — but you should know which one you are renting and what its constraints are.
What we do
ASIANGEOS supplies both classes of container on rental:
- Survey cabins — fully fitted out for offshore acquisition, AC, UPS, connectivity, ergonomic for 12-hour shifts.
- DNV 2.7-1 offshore containers — current inspection, calibrated lifting sets, traceable certificates.
For projects that need both, we can match a fitted survey cabin to a load-rated transport container so the survey kit is mobilised and demobilised in one paperwork chain.
Talk to us
If you have an offshore mobilisation coming up and the container scope is still being finalised, the conversation about cert dates, lifting sets and fit-out is best had a few weeks before sail-out, not on mobilisation day.
