ADELTE, a Barcelona-based engineering group and world leader in the design and manufacture of Passenger Boarding Bridges (SPBBs), is pleased to announce that the Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE, has recently approved and published UNE 27800:2020, a new safety and security standard for Passenger Boarding Bridges (SPBBs) intended for Cruise and Ferry Terminals.
This new Spanish standard specifies the safety and security requirements, as well as the performance and operational specifications, for SPBBs (Supplemental Power Breakers), which are used to service all types of cruise ships and ferries. This standard aims to improve compliance with the stipulations established in the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, establishing a minimum, vital, and specific criterion for safe and durable SPBBs.
For over a decade, various stakeholders in the Spanish cruise and ferry industries have insisted on the need to regulate this type of equipment, as there is currently no harmonized European standard under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. Therefore, in 2018, ADELTE took the initiative to promote the creation of a working group within the UNE Technical Standardization Committee CTN 27, with the aim of developing a reference standard. This group has worked for two years with the participation and consensus of all interested parties: Cruise Terminal Operators, Cruise Shipyards, Cruise Lines, Certification Bodies, and Engineering Companies.
The standard specifies the technical requirements for manufacturers or authorized representatives to minimize risks that may arise during the commissioning, operation, and maintenance of SPBBs, as well as anticipating the most common errors during berthing maneuvers. It also stipulates other essential requirements recommended by Port Authorities, Cruise and Ferry Companies, as well as Cruise and Ferry Operators, Terminal Operators, and Engineering firms.
For more information, please visit the website of the Spanish Association for Standardization: www.une.org
