The Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE, has just published a pioneering standard in Europe: UNE 27800:2020 Passenger boarding bridges for cruises and ferries.
This Spanish standard specifies the safety and protection requirements, as well as the performance and operation specifications for Seaport Passenger Boarding Bridges (SPBB) that are used to provide service to all types of cruise ships and ferries. The standard specifies technical requirements to minimize hazards that may arise during the commissioning, operation and maintenance of SPBBs, and foresee the most common errors in use.
The standard was spearheaded by ADELTE, an engineering group dedicated to the design and manufacture of these bridges, with the participation and consensus of all the parties involved. A technical body was thus established within the Technical Committee for Standardization CTN 27, on Shipbuilding and ship repair industry, marine equipment and technology within the UNE. The standard was developed with the participation of stakeholders including cruise terminal operators, shipbuilders, cruise lines, certification bodies and engineering companies.
The standard is intended to improve fulfilment of the stipulations laid out in the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, setting specific and vital minimum criteria for safe, durable and practical boarding bridges.
