BV A460 Shipbuilding Steel Plate

Technical Reviewer: Jack | SHH STEEL Material Solutions Department · Updated: 2026-10-27

Bureau Veritas titles extra-high-strength plate at 0 °C as BV A460 (BV A460) — official form without H (A420, not AH420). IACS Unified Requirement W16 covers this strength band (yield 460 N/mm²); BV implements corresponding requirements in NR216 Materials rules. Minimum yield is 460 N/mm², tensile 570–720 N/mm², elongation 17 % min., with Charpy at 0 °C. It sits above the AH–FH 40 higher-strength family (max yield 390 N/mm² under UR W11). Commercial enquiries use BV A460 or BV A460 shipbuilding steel plate.

Equivalent grades: BV A460 ≈ ASTM A131 (no direct grade at this strength) ≈ ABS AH46 / AQ47 ≈ DNV NV A460 ≈ LR AH46 ≈ CCS AH460 ≈ NK KA460 ≈ KR RA47 ≈ RINA A460 ≈ GB 712 Grade AH460 (all class-approved, stamped by the issuing society).

Naming note: Bureau Veritas titles this strength band as A460 / BV A460 (no H — write A420, not AH420 or AH42). DNV often titles the same yield as AH460 / DNV NV A460. LR titles AH46. ABS often titles AH46 (official ABS AQ47). ASTM A131 has no grade at this strength. Write BV A460 on the BV purchase order.

BV A460 is almost always produced TM or QT by a BV-approved mill to order rather than taken from open stock. SHH STEEL sources extra-high-strength plate from mills with Bureau Veritas approval for the grade, under Surveyor attendance, with optional multi-class (ABS/DNV/LR) and EN 10204 3.2.

Maximum plate thickness depends on delivery condition and the mill’s BV approval sheet — typically TM up to about 100–150 mm and QT higher, but treat the approval limit as governing (UNCERTAIN without local NR216 PDF). Primary commercial scope we quote is within ~100 mm unless the mill approval and BV survey confirm otherwise.

Product (check) analysis column: BV NR216 specify heat (ladle) limits; no numeric product-analysis tolerance is tabulated in the rule text reviewed, so product (check) limits are agreed on the order or taken from the approved mill specification and certificate.

Source: IACS UR W16 chemistry envelope (ABS 2-1-8 Table 4A aligned) as implemented by Bureau Veritas for BV A460 via NR216 — exact ladle limits depend on delivery condition (TM vs QT) and toughness letter. Values above are the rule envelope with every alloy / microalloy row listed; the purchase order and mill approval sheet govern. Product analysis: as per standard and mill certificate. All intentionally added elements and Ceq (or CET/Pcm) are to be reported. Flagged UNCERTAIN where a local BV NR216 PDF was not available to quote paragraph numbers.

Final acceptance values are as per standard and mill certificate under BV survey. For thick plate, additional mid-thickness tensile/impact positions may apply — confirm at enquiry. Test frequency is typically each heat-treatment batch of same cast/condition/thickness.

Charpy temperature is fixed by the grade letter: A → 0 °C. Indicative average energy 46 / 31 J (L/T) from IACS UR W16 aligned tables — confirm exact figures on the BV-endorsed certificate. Unlike UR W11 higher-strength tables, EHS energies are usually stated as a single pair rather than rising through many thickness bands; thick-plate mid-thickness rules may still apply.

Allowed delivery conditions are primarily TM and QT within the mill’s approved thickness. Vacuum degassing is commonly required for higher categories and for thicker plate — follow the mill approval. State TM or QT on the PO; do not leave delivery condition blank for A460.

Bureau Veritas applies IACS UR W13 unless the PO states otherwise (confirm minus class on PO; see UNCERTAIN). Surface repair limits follow the applicable BV / UR rules; state primer/surface class on receipt if needed. For QT plate, avoid notching cut edges; follow mill cutting recommendations.

Extra-high grades such as BV A460 are rarely held as open stock; the table shows the size bands we quote against scheduled mill rolls. Quantities are indicative. All plates sold as BV class carry BV A460 marking and a Bureau Veritas–endorsed mill certificate. Typical mill lead time including BV survey is about 6–10 weeks (commercial estimate — confirm per quote). Send your size list and we will reply with the next available rolling slot.

Packing. Plates are bundled by size with steel strapping, marked with heat number, grade and BV stamp, and shipped in containers (up to about 11.8 m) or break bulk for longer plates.

These are comparisons, not substitutions. Always write the BV stamp BV A460 on the PO, plus any additional society stamps you need. Other BV EHS siblings are linked via BV Steel Plates until each product page is live.

Use A460 when scantlings need yield 460 N/mm². Do not substitute AH40/EH40 (390 N/mm² max under UR W11) without redesign. Within the 460 band, letter choice is toughness: A 0 °C → D −20 °C → E −40 °C → F −60 °C. Neighbouring strengths are 420 / 500 — swapping strength needs class approval of the drawing change.

When BV BV A460 is the right choice: typical uses are extra-high-strength hull girder plating and primary members on BV-classed ships and offshore units where 0 °C toughness and yield above 390 N/mm² are specified at extra-high yield — weight-critical hull girder strakes, polar and ice-class primary structure, and offshore units where 460 N/mm² is specified. See offshore platform steel plates for related offshore grades.

Typical uses: extra-high-strength hull girder plating and primary members on BV-classed ships and offshore units where 0 °C toughness and yield above 390 N/mm² are specified at ReH 460 N/mm²; strength deck and shell of large container ships and gas carriers where EHS is specified; ice-belt and polar primary structure; selected offshore members. See offshore platform steel plates.

Welding: BV A460 is an extra-high-strength steel supplied TM or QT. Welding must follow a procedure qualified for this grade and approved by BV. Ceq/CET/Pcm from the ladle analysis govern hydrogen control, preheat, interpass and heat-input windows. Too much heat input can lower HAZ strength and toughness in QT plate. We send the certificate values before shipment so your welding engineer can confirm the procedure fits. We do not give generic preheat temperatures.

Processing notes: BV A460 owes its strength to TM or QT processing. Hot forming or stress relieving above the tempering temperature can lower the properties, so any heat treatment after delivery must be agreed with the mill and BV. Cold forming and bending radii should follow the mill’s data sheet. Thermal cutting parameters follow mill recommendations so the cut edge is not damaged.

BV survey at the mill; certificate includes ladle chemistry (full alloy set + Ceq/CET/Pcm as applicable), tensile (ReH ≥ 460, Rm 570–720, A ≥ 17 %), Charpy at 0 °C, delivery condition, UT if ordered, and plate identity. Optional EN 10204 3.2 and multi-class with ABS/DNV/LR.

On receipt: verify BV A460 stamp, 0 °C impact data, energies ≥ ordered/certified minima, thickness within tolerance, Surveyor endorsement, UT report if required.

Charpy acceptance for BV A460 (IACS UR W16 aligned; actual results as per standard and mill certificate):

For thickness above ~100 mm, additional mid-thickness rules may apply — confirm at enquiry. If the PO asked for 3.2, the inspector’s report must name the witnessed tests and plate numbers.

• Ordering “BV 460” without the letter (A) — toughness missing
• Writing AH460 / AH46 / AH460 on a BV PO — BV official form is A460 (no H)
• Writing ABS AH46 or DNV AH460 or LR AH46 on a BV-class PO without arranging that society’s survey (wrong stamp)
• Leaving delivery condition blank (TM vs QT changes price, mill and properties)
• Expecting ASTM A131 dual-cert at this strength (A131 has no EHS grade)
• Skipping UT on thick EHS plate when the yard specification requires it
• Missing BV endorsement / assuming GB 712 Grade AH460 alone is class approval
• Omitting alloy / microalloy rows (Al, Nb, V, Ti, Cu, Cr, Ni, Mo, B, N) from the certificate check

Write grade ({g}, no H), TM/QT, impact temperature, UT level and certificate type into the PO.

Specify BV A460 (BV A460), delivery condition TM or QT, thickness × width × length × qty, Z/U/UT level, multi-class, certificate type, port. Send to SHH STEEL.

Sample PO line: “Steel plate to Bureau Veritas NR216 Materials, Grade A460 (BV A460), delivery condition [TM/QT], 30 × 2500 × 12000 mm, 10 pcs, marked BV A460 / BV A460, certificate endorsed by BV Surveyor, EN 10204 3.2 [if required], UT [EN 10160 / ASTM A578 level], CIF [port].”

BV A460 / BV A460 is extra-high-strength hull steel (IACS UR W16 band; BV official no-H naming): yield 460 N/mm², tensile 570–720 N/mm², Charpy at 0 °C, marking BV A460. Lock on the order: TM or QT, UT level, Ceq/CET/Pcm reporting, multi-class and 3.2.

SHH STEEL supplies BV A460 plate rolled by Chinese mills that hold Bureau Veritas works approval for the grade, so every plate carries the BV A460 stamp and a Surveyor-endorsed certificate traceable to its heat. Sizes are scheduled into the mill rolling cycle with BV survey arranged at the mill. On request we add EN 10204 3.2 certificates with third-party witness (TÜV, SGS, LR or another agency) and joint certification with ABS, DNV, LR, CCS, NK, KR or RINA.

We accept T/T or L/C payment, with inspection before the balance is paid. Small quantities in several sizes, or BV A460 with neighbouring EHS sizes or higher-strength AH–FH 40 where the drawing allows, can be combined in one container. A dedicated coordinator sends production and shipping updates with photos, and our own workshop cuts to size, bevels, drills and machines plates before shipment so they arrive ready for fabrication.

Request a quotation: send SHH STEEL the grade (BV A460 / BV A460), thickness, width, length, quantity per size and destination port, plus any multi-class, Z/U or 3.2 certificate requirement. We reply with price, available stock and lead time.