The need for the new standard is highlighted by the fact that until recently there have been no comprehensive, stand-alone rules specifically for linkspans, other than set Rules for the classification of linkspans produced by classification society Lloyd's Register in 1998, the standard being LR's reaction to its own realisation that there were no published standards either in Europe or worldwide for the design and construction of these vital links between ship and shore.

Prior to the issue of these 1998 Rules, LR's requirements for linkspans were brief and were incorporated into LR's Ship Rules as Part 7, Chapter 6.

These Rules cross-referenced other parts of the Ship Rules as well as LR's Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment. More recently, Transport Canada initiated a programme of work on ferry linkspans, and produced its own standard - CSA S826 - which recognised the fact that ferry operators must adapt to new realities, including longer, heavier trucks and increasing numbers of vehicle movements.

The new British Standard has been drafted by a panel set up by the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the British Standards Institute (BSI). Steve Osborn, a consultant at Posford Haskoning who had input into the new Code, explained that the draft code has been well received so far, although it has also been criticised because it is essentially about the design of structures, and not the machinery associated with them.

'People are rightly concerned that machinery should be covered as it's the machinery that is usually the cause of problems and not the structures themselves.

However, we believe that we have addressed many machinery issues, ' said Osborn. 'We think that this is the first draft structural standard that requires designers to start with a fundamental risk assessment - very much a 'machinery' type approach.

We also require designers to contribute to the operations and maintenance manuals for the facility. Both these requirements are in the second and third clauses of General Requirements, which gives these issues a very high priority.'

'Although we have set out proposals in the draft standard, we will be sending out questionnaires to people in the port industry to gather feedback on these proposals.

This is an additional initiative to the consultation process that the BSI will coordinate, ' said Osborn.