A Risk-Informed Approach to Performance Assurance - Structural Integrity of Offshore Wind Turbines - page 81

goal-based standards). There are parallels between the situations faced by
BOEMRE in rule development for offshore wind turbines and by IMO for
oceangoing ships:
1. IMO did not have the expertise or resources to develop rules with suf-
ficient specificity. Although the committee strongly recommends that
the size and capability of BOEMRE staff be enhanced, it is not envi-
sioned that BOEMRE will have the means to develop detailed rules.
2. The classification societies had well-developed and validated rules
before IMO's involvement in regulating hull structures. Similarly, inter-
national standards for offshore wind turbines (e.g., IEC 61400-3) and
class rules and guides (GL, DNV, and ABS) are already in place.
3. Deficiencies and inconsistencies among the various classification soci-
ety rules for shipbuilding were identified as an area of concern. Simi-
larly, there are deficiencies and inconsistencies in the rules for offshore
wind turbines, as discussed in Chapter 3.
4. In the case of both offshore wind turbines and shipbuilding, the clas-
sification societies and international standards groups are prepared to
maintain the currency of their rules and regulations through continu-
ous validation and revision.
The committee envisions the federally mandated goal-based standards
for offshore wind energy installations to be a relatively short document—
perhaps four or five pages. The goal-based standards should be high-level
objectives expressed in terms of performance expectations. The standards
will apply to the design, fabrication, and installation of offshore wind farms
within U.S. waters and are intended to ensure a level of consistency meet-
ing safety, environmental performance, and policy expectations, while
being sufficiently flexible to enable introduction of new technologies and
concepts.
While the committee does not have the time, the resources, or the
expertise to establish a complete set of specific criteria, an example of the
scope and type of evaluation criteria that should be incorporated is given
below. Tier 1-type high-level general requirements are given first, followed
by Tier 2-type functional requirements. In the latter, the numerical values
shown as examples for various items are provided for illustrative purposes
only. Actual criteria would be subject to development by BOEMRE and its
consultants.