RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSINGMOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS 2015NOTICES ANDGENERAL INFORMATIONAmerican Bureau of ShippingIncorporated by Act of Legislature ofthe State of New York 1862Copyright 2014American Bureau of ShippingABS Plaza16855 Northchase DriveHouston, TX 77060 USANotices and General InformationCONTENTSIntroduction (1)TABLE 1 Applicable Editions of Booklets Comprising 2015 Rules (2)TABLE 2 Division and Numbering of Rules (2)Rule Change Notice (2015) (3)TABLE 3 Summary of Changes from the 2014 Rules (3).2015 ii ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITSNotices and General InformationIntroduction1.The year 2015 edition of the Rules for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Drilling Unitsconsists of the nine (9) booklets as shown in Table 1.The purpose of the generic title ABS Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units andStructures (Part 1)is to reflect the expanded contents of PART 1, as a result of includingconsolidated requirements for “Classification” applicable to all types of offshore units, pipelines,risers, and other offshore structures, as specified in the Foreword to Part 1.With regard to Part 2, the purpose of the generic title ABS Rules for Materials and Welding is toemphasize the common applicability of the requirements to ABS-classed vessels, other marinestructures and their associated machinery, and thereby make PART 2 more readily a common“PART” of various ABS Rules and Guides, as appropriate.2.The numbering system applied in the Rules is shown in Table 2.3.The primary changes from the 2014 edition of the Rules are identified and listed in Table 3. Theeffective date of the indicated Rule Changes is 1 January 2015, unless specifically indicated otherwise.4.The effective date of each technical change since 1993 is shown in parenthesis at the end of thesubsection/paragraph titles within the text of each Part. Unless a particular date and month areshown, the years in parentheses refer to the following effective dates:(2000) and after 1 January 2000 (and subsequent years) (1996) 9 May 1996(1999) 12 May 1999 (1995) 15 May 1995(1998) 13 May 1998 (1994) 9 May 1994(1997) 19 May 1997 (1993) 11 May 19935.Until the next edition of the Rules for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Drilling Units ispublished, Rule Change Notices and/or Corrigenda, as necessary, will be published on the ABSwebsite – www. – only, and will be available free for downloading. It is not intended topublish hard copies of future Rule Change Notices and/or Corrigenda to existing Rules or Guides.The consolidated edition of the Rules for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Drilling Units,which includes Rule Change Notices and/or Corrigenda using different colors for easy recognitionwill be published on the ABS website only when RCN and/or Corrigenda are issued.6.The listing of CLASSIFICATION SYMBOLS AND NOTATIONS is available from the ABSwebsite for download..2015 1 ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITSNotices and General Information2ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS .2015TABLE 1Applicable Editions of Booklets Comprising 2015 RulesNotices and General Information 2015Part 1: Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units andStructures (1)2015 (2)Part 1: Conditions of Classification (Supplement to the ABS Rules forConditions of Classification – Offshore Units and Structures) (1)2015Part 2: Rules for Materials and Welding 2015 (2)Part 3: Hull Construction and Equipment 2015Part 4: Machinery and Systems 2015Part 5: Fire and Safety – Measures and Features 2015Part 6: Rules for Equipment and Machinery Certification 2015Part 7: Surveys 2015Notes:1The requirements for conditions of classification are contained in the separate, generic ABS Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units and Structures (Part 1). Additional specific requirements are contained in Part 1of these Rules.2 The latest edition of these Rules is to be referred to. These Rules may be downloaded from the ABS website at, Rules and Guides, Downloads or may be ordered separately from the ABS Publications onlinecatalog at , Rules and Guides, Catalog.TABLE 2Division and Numbering of RulesDivision NumberPart Part 1Chapter Part 1, Chapter 1Section Section 1-1-1Subsection (see Note 1) 1-1-1/1Paragraph (see Note 1) 1-1-1/1.1Subparagraph 1-1-1/1.1.1Item 1-1-1/1.1.1(a)Subitem 1-1-1/1.1.1(a)i)Appendix Appendix 1-1-A1orAppendix 1-A1-1Note:1An odd number (1, 3, 5, etc.) numbering system is used for the Rules. The purpose is to permit future insertions of even-numbered paragraphs (2, 4, 6, etc.) of text and to avoid the necessity of having to renumber the existing textand associated cross-references, as applicable, within the Rules and associated process instructions, check sheets,etc.Notices and General InformationABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS .2015 3Rule Change Notice (2015)TABLE 3Summary of Changes from the 2014 RulesEFFECTIVE DATE 1 January 2014 – shown as (2014)Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/RemarksPART 1 Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units and Structures1-1-4/9.7.6 Definitions To correct the title of 1-1-A2/5.5. (Incorporates Notice No. 1)1-1-A2/1 General To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/3 Limitations To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.1 Product Design Assessment (PDA)Tier 2 To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates Notice No. 1)1-1-A2/5.3.1(a) Manufacturer’s Procedure To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.3.1(b) Recognized Quality Standard (RQS) To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.5 Product Quality AssuranceCertification (PQA) Tier 4 To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates Notice No. 1)1-1-A2/5.7.1 Unit-Certification To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.7.2 Issuance and Updating of Certificates To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.7.5 Overdue Audit To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.9.1 Agreement To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.9.2 Representation as to Product TypeApproval To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates Notice No. 1)1-1-A2/5.9.3 Suspension of Certification To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.9.4 Validity To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.9.6 Limitation To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.9.7 Hold Harmless To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.9.8 Arbitration To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.9.9 Time Bar to Legal Action To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.9.10 Limitation of Liability To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/5.9.11 Scope of Certification To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates NoticeNo. 1)1-1-A2/Figure 1 Process of the Type ApprovalProgram To adopt new Tier system for Type Approval. (Incorporates Notice No. 1)1-1-A3 (New) Tiers of Approval To define new tier system of classifying equipment. (IncorporatesNotice No. 1)Notices and General Information4ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS .2015EFFECTIVE DATE 1 February 2014 – shown as (1 February 2014)Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/RemarksPART 1 Conditions of Classification (Supplement to the ABS Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units and Structures)1-1-5/1.13 <No Title> To incorporate text from the 2009 IMO MODU Code (and 1989 Code)to include guidance to operating personnel on routine recording anduse of updated lightship characteristics. (Incorporates Notice No. 1) EFFECTIVE DATE 1 July 2014 – shown as (1 July 2014)(based on the contract date for new construction between builder and Owner)Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/RemarksPART 3 Hull Construction and Equipment3-1-4/5.7.2 CVN Requirements To waive the requirement for mid thickness Charpy tests duringproduction where it has been established by first article testing andsatisfactory manufacturing production control that adequate midthickness Charpy values and internal quality are maintained.(Incorporates Notice No. 2)3-1-4/5.7.4 Extra High Strength Steels To waive the requirement for mid thickness Charpy tests duringproduction where it has been established by first article testing andsatisfactory manufacturing production control that adequate midthickness Charpy values and internal quality are maintained.(Incorporates Notice No. 2)EFFECTIVE DATE 1 January 2015 – shown as (2015)(based on the contract date for new construction between builder and Owner)Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/RemarksPART 3 Hull Construction and Equipment3-1-4/Table 1 Material Selection Requirements forABS Ordinary and Higher StrengthSteelsTo provide requirements for selection of FH36 grade material.3-2-3/9 Hull Interface Structure with Legs To update reference to jacking system requirements and to clarifyfriction requirements.3-3-1/3 Inclining Experiment To clarify the requirements regarding allowable limit of lightweightand principal horizontal dimension between successive units of aseries and the first unit, in line with the 2009 MODU Code and 2008IS Code.3-3-2/3.1 General To clarify the requirements and align them with the 2009 MODUCode and 2008 IS Code.PART 4 Machinery and Systems4-1-1/7.7 Ambient Temperature To clarify the terminology in line with 4-1-1/Tables 3 and 4, to notethat normal practice of using DST for marine deck equipment andstructures remains in effect, and to permit use of industrial standardssuch as API for the temperature rating of industrial equipment whichis designed to that standard under the Rules.4-1-1/Table 2 Ambient Temperatures for Machinery,Equipment and Appliances in Unitsof Unrestricted Service To clarify the terminology in line with 4-1-1/Tables 3 and 4, to note that normal practice of using DST for marine deck equipment and structures remains in effect, and to permit use of industrial standards such as API for the temperature rating of industrial equipment which is designed to that standard under the Rules.4-2-2/7.1 General To incorporate the requirements of IMO Resolution MSC.313(88). 4-2-2/7.5.6 Fire Endurance To incorporate the requirements of IMO Resolution MSC.313(88).Notices and General InformationABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS .2015 5Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/Remarks4-2-2/7.7.1(a) <No Title> To incorporate the requirements of IMO Resolution MSC.313(88). 4-2-2/7.15.4(b) <No Title> To incorporate the requirements of IMO Resolution MSC.313(88). 4-2-2/Table 2 Fire Endurance Requirements Matrix To incorporate the requirements of IMO Resolution MSC.313(88). 4-2-5/3.9 Valves on Oil Tanks To align the requirements for valves of the emergency generator fueltank and the emergency fire pump fuel tank with 4-6-4/13.5.3 of theSteel Vessel Rules.4-2-5/7.10 (New) Isolating Valves in Fuel Supply andSpill PipingTo require the fuel supply and return piping is to be individuallyprotected where multiple engines are installed in Category Amachinery spaces, in line with requirement of Steel Vessels Rules4-2-6/7.3 Spill Containment To specify that each skid should be provided with a coaming when thepump skid is separate from the dispenser/coalescer skid.4-3-2/5.1.1 Basic Requirement To prohibit the installation of other unrelated equipment in the emergencygenerator room4-3-3/3.9 Switchboard To align the requirements with 4-8-4/7.1.1 of the Steel Vessel Rules. 4-3-3/3.25 Receptacles and Plugs of DifferentRatingsTo align the requirements with the latest version of IEC 60092-306.4-3-3/5.1.4 Restricted Location of Cabling To prohibit the installation of cables in cargo tanks, ballast tanks, fueloil tanks, or water tanks unless the cables are suitable for liquidsubmersion.4-3-3/5.1.9 (New) Protection of Cables in Tanks To provide requirements for protection of cables from liquidsubmersion.4-3-3/9.1.1 General To clarify that IEC 60079 is based on an ambient temperature range of –20°C to 40°C and that (a) the ABS Rules are based on a wider range, asgiven in 4-1-1/Table 2 and (b) even more extreme temperatures maybe encountered at the location of equipment installation4-3-6/5 (Title only) Classification of Areas Associatedwith Drilling ActivitiesTo emphasize that the Subsection is applicable to hazardous areasassociated with drilling activities.4-3-6/6 (New) Classification of Miscellaneous Areas To consolidate requirements for classification of hazardous areas formud test laboratory, well test equipment, helicopter refuelingequipment, paint storage room, battery room and oxygen-acetylenestorage room.PART 5 Fire and Safety – Measures and Features5-1-1/3.17ii) <No Title> To clarify the requirement for external doors in located bulkheads ofsuperstructures and deckhouses.5-2-3/1.3 Drilling and Industrial Areas To provide clear definitions of drilling areas and mud processing areasfor the purpose of application of Fire Extinguishing System.5-2-3/9.3.5 Deck Integrated Fire Fighting System(DIFFS) To align with CAP 437, allowing the use of water-based DIFFS with a passive fire retarding system.PART 6 Material, Marine Equipment and Machinery Certification6-1-1/3.9 Skid Mounted Equipment orMachinery To clarify that the skid is also required to be design approved and subjected to survey in addition to the equipment itself.6-1-5/1 General To provide requirements for pressurized bulk storage tanks.6-1-7/9.9.6(a) General To align the requirements with 4-8-3/5.3.2(e) of the Steel Vessel Rules. 6-1-7/Table 4 Limits of Temperature Rise for Air-cooled Rotating MachinesTo align the ambient temperature with 4-1-1/Table 2.6-1-9/5 Plans and Data to be Submitted To update the list of submittals to add items not previously listed herebut contained in Section 6-1-9, and to clarify that NDE procedures anddetails must be submitted and acceptance/rejection criteria should beincluded.6-1-9/7 Failure Modes and Effects Analysis(FMEA) To identify scope of control systems to be evaluated and to Include timing effectsNotices and General Information6ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS .2015Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/Remarks6-1-9/9 Material To indicate that an MIP must be submitted, clarify material requirementsand specify that test coupons are to be qualified by comparison withtests from an actual product, indicate that chemistry and processingneeds to be controlled to avoid detrimental metallurgical characteristicsand that heat treatment sensitivity studies can be done when newprocesses are applied, and clarify that Charpy tests can be taken inlongitudinal or transverse directions.6-1-9/Table 1 Charpy V-Notch (CVN) ImpactRequirements for Steel Materials To include Charpy requirements for planetary carriers (same as for pinions).6-1-9/11 Strength Analysis To clarify the requirements and correct cross-references.6-1-9/13.3 Brakes To clarify the criteria for static vs. dynamic capacities and to addrequirements for documenting brake capacity.6-1-9/15 Electrical Power System To update motor requirements for jacking systems to consolidateinformation in Part 6, clarify requirements specific to these systemswhere reference is made to other Rules and standards, require designreview and survey or jacking motors regardless of power and addconfirmation for jacking service, adopt additional language from IEC61892-5 regarding electric motors capacity, add requirement formotors to be based on jacking service and matched to input power,specify shaft criteria for motors which have brakes placed on theopposite end from the planetary gear system, thereby subjecting thelength of the shaft to a torque load when brake is engaged, and addrequirements for hydraulic motors.6-1-9/19 Control, Monitoring and Alarm System To update alarm requirements, add RPD detection and control, and toidentify system categories for computer-based jacking control systems. 6-1-9/25.1 Inspection and Material Testing To clarify and make the survey requirements more explicit and toexpand on heat treatment requirements and include gears which canalso be surface hardened.6-1-9/25.3 Prototype Test To clarify and make the survey requirements more explicit and toexpand on heat treatment requirements and include gears which canalso be surface hardened.The reference date which is indicated in the parentheses following the title of the requirement in this Part is the date that the requirement becomes effective [e.g., 7-2-5/5.1.6 “Lightship Displacement” (2015) is to apply for vessels undergoing survey on or after 1 January 2015]EFFECTIVE DATE 1 January 2015 – shown as (2015)Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/RemarksPART 7 Surveys7-2-5/5.1.6 (New) Lightship Displacement To align ABS weight verification surveys with IMO MODU CodeCh.3.1.7-2-5/5.3.6 (New) Lightship Displacement To align ABS weight verification surveys with IMO MODU CodeCh.3.1.7-2-5/5.5.6 (New) Lightship Displacement To align ABS weight verification surveys with IMO MODU CodeCh.3.1.7-2-5/5.7.6 (New) Lightship Displacement To align ABS weight verification surveys with IMO MODU CodeCh.3.1.。
