ABS: Rules for Building and Classing Single Point Moorings

The American Bureau of Shipping has revised its Rules for Building and Classing Single Point Moorings.

These Rules were published on January 1st, 2023.

This edition of the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Single Point Moorings (SPMs) primarily reflects changes in format and references to ABS and other standards that have occurred since the previous edition was issued.

Changes to the technical criteria include revisions made to other pertinent ABS Rules that are the basis of SPM criteria; such as, the introduction of an adjustment factor (Q) to account for higher strength steels in the determination of buoy scantlings.

Also, the section on Moorings and Anchoring Section (3-4-1, herein) has been updated to reflect industry practice and to specifically allow the option to use the criteria found in the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Floating Production Installations for this topic.

The January 2023 edition includes updates to add a new Chapter 5 to Part 4 and a new Chapter 3 to Part 5, to provide the requirements for charging station installation onboard SPMs.

In addition, a new optional notation OCC is introduced.

PART 1 (1 January 2008)

For the 2008 edition, Part 1, "Conditions of Classification" was consolidated into a generic booklet, entitled Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units and Structures (Part 1) for all vessels other than those in offshore service.

The purpose of this consolidation was to emphasize the common applicability of the classification requirements in "Part 1" to ABS-classed vessels, other marine structures and their associated machinery, and thereby make "Conditions of Classification" more readily a common Rule of the various ABS Rules and Guides, as appropriate.

Thus, this supplement specifies only the unique requirements applicable to single point moorings.

This supplement is always to be used with the aforementioned Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units and Structures (Part 1).

The requirements for conditions of classification are contained in the separate, generic ABS Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units and Structures (Part 1).