ABS publishes the updated Rules for Conditions of Classification - Offshore Units and Structures (Part 1)

Matko Rak -

The American Bureau of Shipping on 1 July 2023 published the updated Rules for Conditions of Classification - Offshore Units and Structures (Part 1).

Application of Rules

General

The requirements of the following Rules and Guides are applicable to those features that are permanent in nature and can be verified by plan review, calculation, physical survey or other appropriate means.

Any statement in the Rules and Guides regarding other features is to be considered as guidance to the designer, builder, manufacturer, Owner, operator or other client.

Where reference is made herein to the Rules or Guides, the latest edition of those Rules or Guides is intended.

● Rules for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Units

● Rules for Building and Classing Offshore Installations

● Rules for Building and Classing Single Point Moorings

● Rules for Building and Classing Floating Production Installations

● Rules for Building and Classing Facilities on Offshore Installations

● Guide for Building and Classing Liftboats

● Guide for Building and Classing Subsea Pipeline Systems

● Guide for Building and Classing Subsea Riser Systems

● Guide for Building and Classing Floating Offshore Liquefied Gas Terminals

● Guide for Building and Classing Gravity-Based Offshore LNG Terminals

● Guide for Building and Classing Bottom-Founded Offshore Wind Turbines

● Guide for Building and Classing Floating Offshore Wind Turbines 1.3Application

Application

The application of the Rules and Guides is, in general, based on the contract date for construction between the shipbuilder and the prospective Owner. (e.g., Rules which became effective on 1 July 2004 are not applicable to an offshore unit or structure for which the contract for construction was signed on 30 June 2004.) See also 1-1-4/3.

The requirements in these Rules are the common requirements for conditions of classification of offshore units and structures.

Any unique requirements for a specific type of offshore unit or structure are specified in the supplement to these Rules in each of the following Chapters.

These Rules are to be used together with the applicable supplemental Rules for the specific type of unit or structure.

Asbestos Free Declaration

In the July 2023 edition, in Chapter 1 (Scope and Conditions of Classification), under Section 7 (Plans and Design Data to be Submitted), this part was added:

The party requesting ABS review or approval of plans declares and warrants that all materials used for the structure, machinery, piping, electrical installations and equipment are asbestos free in accordance with SOLAS and IACS interpretations.

ABS reserves the right to perform unscheduled surveys of the hull, equipment, or machinery when ABS has reasonable cause to believe that the Rule requirements for periodical, damage and other surveys are not being complied with.

If you need more information, please visit the ABS Rules and Guides page, where the document is available FOR FREE.