Notices and General Information

RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING

MOBILE OFFSHORE UNITS

2020

NOTICES AND
GENERAL INFORMATION

American Bureau of Shipping

Incorporated by Act of Legislature of
the State of New York 1862

 2020 American Bureau of Shipping. All rights reserved.

1701 City Plaza Drive
Spring, TX 77389 USA
part
T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

Notices and General Information

CONTENTS
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1
TABLE 1 Applicable Editions of Booklets Comprising 2020 MOU
Rules .........................................................................................2
TABLE 2 Division and Numbering of Rules..............................................2
Rule Change Notice (2020) ............................................................................................. 3
TABLE 3 Summary of Changes from the 2019 Rules ..............................3

ii ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MOBILE OFFSHORE UNITS . 2020
Notices and General Information

Introduction
1. ABS Rules and Guides are developed and updated to keep pace with the offshore industry. This has
resulted in a complex library of Rules and Guides. Many requirements are repeated throughout
the ABS Rules and Guides making use and maintenance of Rules/Guides more challenging. To
address the duplication of requirements and to provide a set of Rules that is easier to navigate,
ABS is consolidating Rules for both Vessels and Offshore Units.
For offshore units, the Rules for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Drilling Units and the
Guide for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Units are being consolidated into the Rules for
Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Units (the Mobile Offshore Unit Rules).
For the period from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2020, designers can choose to use the Mobile
Offshore Unit Rules or the applicable MODU Rules or MOU Guide. On 1 January 2020, the
MODU Rules and MOU Guide will be withdrawn and only the Mobile Offshore Unit Rules will
remain for the design of offshore units.
2. The year 2020 edition of the Rules for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Units consists of
the nine (9) booklets as shown in Table 1.
The purpose of the generic title ABS Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units and
Structures (Part 1) is to reflect the expanded contents of PART 1, as a result of including
consolidated 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 to
emphasize the common applicability of the requirements to ABS-classed vessels, other marine
structures and their associated machinery, and thereby make PART 2 more readily a common
“PART” of various ABS Rules and Guides, as appropriate. The Rules for steel, aluminum, and
FRP materials have been consolidated into a single Part 2.
Part 8 is a new Part that covers additional requirements for each type of unit (Drilling and Non-
drilling Units). The requirements for drilling units have been relocated from Parts 3 through 6 of
the MODU Rules. The requirements for non-drilling units are based on the MOU Guide.
3. The numbering system applied in the Rules is shown in Table 2.
4. The primary changes from the 2019 Rules are identified and listed in Table 3. The effective date
of the indicated Rule Changes is 1 January 2020, unless specifically indicated otherwise.
5. The listing of CLASSIFICATION SYMBOLS AND NOTATIONS is available from the ABS
website www.eagle.org for download.

ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MOBILE OFFSHORE UNITS . 2020 1
Notices and General Information

TABLE 1
Applicable Editions of Booklets Comprising 2020 MOU Rules
Notices and General Information 2020
Part 1: Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units and 2020
Structures
Part 2: Rules for Materials and Welding 2020
Part 3: Hull Construction and Equipment 2020
Part 4: Machinery and Systems 2020
Part 5: Fire and Safety – Measures and Features 2020
Part 6: Rules for Equipment and Machinery Certification 2020
Part 7: Surveys 2020
Part 8: Specific Unit Types 2020
Chapter 1 Mobile Offshore Units
Chapter 2 Drilling Units
Chapter 3 Accommodation Units
Chapter 4 Crane Units
Chapter 5 Construction and Maintenance Units
Chapter 6 Drilling Tenders
Chapter 7 Pipe and Cable Laying Units
Chapter 8 Wind Turbine Installation, Maintenance,
and Repair Units

TABLE 2
Division and Numbering of Rules
Division Number
Part Part 1
Chapter Part 1, Chapter 1
Section Section 1-1-1
Subsection (see Note 1) 1-1-1/1
Paragraph (see Note 1) 1-1-1/1.1
Subparagraph 1-1-1/1.1.1
Item 1-1-1/1.1.1(a)
Subitem 1-1-1/1.1.1(a)i)
Appendix Appendix 1-1-A1 or Appendix 1-A1-1
Note:
1 An 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 text
and associated cross-references, as applicable, within the Rules and associated process instructions, check sheets,
etc.

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Notices and General Information

Rule Change Notice (2020)

TABLE 3
Summary of Changes from the 2019 Rules

EFFECTIVE DATE 1 July 2019 – shown as (1 July 2019)

(based on the contract date for new construction between builder and Owner)
Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/Remarks
PART 3 Hull Construction and Equipment
3-4-1/7 Mooring Systems and Equipment Mooring requirements are consolidated in ABS Guide for Position
Mooring Systems.
3-4-A1 Position Mooring Systems Mooring requirements are consolidated in ABS Guide for Position
Mooring Systems
PART 4 Machinery and Systems
4-1-1/Table 3 General To align with MSC.1/Circular.1572, 5 SOLAS Regulations II-1/40 –
General – and II-1/41 – Main Source of Electrical Power and Lighting
Systems
4-2-3/3.7 Tank Vents and Overflows Level indicating device may be accepted as a means of sounding.
However, level switch is not acceptable as a means of sounding since
the same is a sensing device of the predetermined value.
PRC is to clarify that level switches cannot be used as a required level
4-2-5/1.1.1(a) Fuel Oil Systems and Tanks To provide clear description, by adding the phrase "of not more than
two sides" in 4-2-5/1.1.1(a).
PART 6 Material, Marine Equipment and Machinery Certification
6-1-10 Mooring Systems and Equipment Add equipment certification requirement for TAM and Pre-laid
notations currently included in the TAM and Pre-laid Guides, which
will be retired.

EFFECTIVE DATE 1 January 2020 – shown as (2020)

(based on the contract date for new construction between builder and Owner)
Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/Remarks
PART 3 Hull Construction and Equipment
3-2-3/15.1 Self-Elevating Drilling Units If the deck houses are not considered buoyant in the stability
calculations, weathertight doors are required for deck houses which
are used as a protection for openings leading to spaces below main
deck. Since weather tight doors are acceptable, those deck houses
designed as weather tight shall be accepted too. It seems not logical to
require a watertight boundary equipped with weather tight doors.
3-2-4/3.15 Column-Stabilized Drilling Units 1) To make reference to ABS Guidance Notes on Air Gap and Wave
Impact Analysis for Semi-submersibles for air gap and horizontal
wave impact analysis
2) To add proposed requirements on windows if negative air gap
occurs
3-2-4/9.1 Column-Stabilized Drilling Units To make reference to the ABS Guidance Notes on Air Gap and Wave
Impact Analysis for Semi-submersibles for air gap and horizontal
wave impact analysis

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Notices and General Information

Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/Remarks

PART 4 Machinery and Systems
4-2-2/7.1, 7.5, Pumps, Pipes, Valves, and Fittings To introduce two (2) additional fire endurance test levels (L1W and
Table 2 L2W), and by Res. MSC.399(95) to take into account technological
developments and the 2010 FTP Code requirements, in line with
IACS UR P4 Rev.5 (Dec.2018).
4-3-2/7.1.6(b) Electrical Systems To specify requirements for automatic bus transfer.
and 7.1.6(d) To address separation of transforming equipment and transforming
equipment where a localized fire in one transforming equipment may
impact the other transforming equipment and operation of or access to
a separate manual or automatic bus transfer switch.
4-3-3/Table 1 Onboard Installation To address the fact that PA/GA speakers with IP 55 enclosure can not
embedded-installed which is unsightly. In fact, most of the PA/GA
speakers in bathrooms and showers are IP44 and embedded-installed
on the top or on the wall where is not directly exposed to water splash.

Part 7 “Surveys”
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., 7-1-2/4 “Surveys at Builder's Yard – Hull Structure and Outfitting”
(1 July 2019) is to apply for vessels undergoing survey on or after 1 July 2019].

EFFECTIVE DATE 1 July 2019 – shown as (1 July 2019)

Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/Remarks

PART 7 Surveys
7-1-2/4 Surveys at Builder's Yard – Hull The purpose of this PRC is to extend the application of the OHCM
Structure and Outfitting notation to all types of mobile offshore units.
7-1-9/15 Surveys at Builder's Yard – Sea Trial Add equipment survey requirement for TAM and Pre-laid notations
currently included in the TAM and Pre-laid Guides, which will be
retired.
Updated to include the requirements for units that are required to have
temporary mooring in accordance with 3-4-1/3.3, but do not have a
Notation.
7-1-A1 Mooring Equipment and Systems Add equipment survey requirement for TAM and Pre-laid notations
currently included in the TAM and Pre-laid Guides, which will be
retired.
7-2-5/1.1 Special Periodical Surveys Add equipment survey requirement for TAM and Pre-laid notations
currently included in the TAM and Pre-laid Guides, which will be
retired.
Rules do not contain any requirements for units that are required to
have mooring capabilities in accordance with 3-4-1/3.3, but do not
have a symbol.
7-2-5/7 Special Periodical Surveys – Spud To reduce our examination requirements for units with lower risk
Can Entry profiles. This allows a reduction of spud can entry for units that meet
the 2008 MODU Rules, which required resistance to unequal leg
loading, and also have no substantial corrosion or fractures.
To allow the ACS to accept alternative means of examination for a
mat.
7-2-6/Table 1 Drydocking Surveys or Equivalent To reduce our examination requirements for units with lower risk
profiles. This allows a reduction of spud can entry for units that meet
the 2008 MODU Rules, which required resistance to unequal leg
loading, and also have no substantial corrosion or fractures.
To allow the ACS to accept alternative means of examination for a
mat.

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Notices and General Information

EFFECTIVE DATE 1 January 2020 – shown as (2020)

Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/Remarks

PART 7 Surveys
7-1-2/Table 1 Surveys at Builder's Yard – Hull Current MOU Rules 7-1-2/11.7 already require minimum extent of
Structure and Outfitting NDT to meet design of unit and calculated fatigue life of joint and
current table 1 requirements appear to exceed those requirements in
most cases. The new proposal is more reasonable and allows more
flexibility for surveyor to work with shipbuilder during the NDT plan
approval process.
For reference, ABS Guide for the Classification of Drilling Systems –
Minimum Extent of Surface NDT is 20% for CJP welds of Primary
Steel Structure (6-5/Table 1)
7-2-A4/9.1.3 and Preventative Maintenance Program Updated to include requirements for units required to have mooring,
11.1.3 (PMP) but no Notation is applied.

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