Rules for Building and Classing

Mobile Offshore Units

Notices and General Information

January 2022
RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING

MOBILE OFFSHORE UNITS

JANUARY 2022

NOTICES AND
GENERAL INFORMATION

American Bureau of Shipping

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

 2022 American Bureau of Shipping. All rights reserved.

ABS Plaza
1701 City Plaza Drive
Spring, TX 77389 USA
Notices and General Information

CONTENTS
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1
TABLE 1 Applicable Editions of Booklets Comprising 2022 MOU
Rules......................................................................................... 2
TABLE 2 Division and Numbering of Rules ............................................. 2
Rule Change Notice (2022) ............................................................................................. 3
TABLE 3 Summary of Changes from the 2021 Rules ............................. 3

ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MOBILE OFFSHORE UNITS . 2022 ii
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 has consolidated 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 have been consolidated into the Rules for
Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Units (the Mobile Offshore Unit Rules).
2. The year 2022 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 2021 Rules are identified and listed in Table 3. The effective date
of the indicated Rule Changes is 1 January 2022, 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 . 2022 1
Notices and General Information

TABLE 1
Applicable Editions of Booklets Comprising 2022 MOU Rules
Notices and General Information 2022
Part 1: Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units and 2022
Structures
Part 2: Rules for Materials and Welding 2022
Part 3: Hull Construction and Equipment 2022
Part 4: Machinery and Systems 2022
Part 5: Fire and Safety – Measures and Features 2022
Part 6: Rules for Equipment and Machinery Certification 2022
Part 7: Surveys 2022
Part 8: Specific Unit Types 2022
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.

ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MOBILE OFFSHORE UNITS . 2022 2
Notices and General Information

Rule Change Notice (2022)

TABLE 3
Summary of Changes from the 2021 Rules
EFFECTIVE DATE 1 July 2021 – shown as (1 July 2021)

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

PART 1 Rules for Conditions of Classification – Offshore Units and Structures
OFFSHORE ABS Type Approval Program To clarify that prototype tests/type tests need to be conducted at a
1-1-A2/5.1.2 and recognized independent testing facility for consideration from ABS to
5.9.3 accept the results without a Surveyor present, and otherwise, a
Surveyor needs to witness the testing.
OFFSHORE Tiers of Approval To clarify for each tier when unit certification is required and that
1-1-A3 PDA is only required when seeking Type Approval, and update
verbiage for surveys.

EFFECTIVE DATE 1 July 2021 – shown as (1 July 2021)

(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
3-1-4/1.1.3 and Material Selection To improve the quality and reliability of steel pipes used in the
1.1.4 secondary application structure of legs on a self-elevating unit and to
update reference to pipes is updated to tubulars to align with industry
wide definitions and align with ABS Rules Part 2-1-2, 2-1-3 and 2-1-
8.
3-2-3/15.12 Self-Elevating Units To introduce explicit requirements for the swage panels in
superstructures and deckhouses of mobile offshore units that are very
similar to the corresponding requirements in MVR.
3-2-4/3.9.1, 3.9.3 Column-Stabilized Units To update the pillar formula in 3-2-4/3.9.4 of the MOU Rules and to
and 3.9.4 add HT40 steel in 3-2-4/3.9.1 and 3.9.4 for consistency with 3-2-8/3.1
and 3.7 of MVR, and to move definition of c from 3-2-4/3.9.3 to
3.9.4.
3-3-2/1.1 Stability and Watertight/Weathertight To add reference to MOU 8-4-1/9 for requirements pertaining to
Integrity overturning moment considerations for crane units.
3-3-A2/7.3 Onboard Computers for Stability To be in line with Section 4.1.3 of IACS UR L5, Rev. 4
Calculations
3-4-1/1, 3.3 and Mooring Systems and Equipment To add a new Circle E* notation to cover temporary mooring
Table 2 equipment complying with alternative requirements to Circle E
notation as per 3-4-1/3.3 of the MOU Rules and 3-5-1/3.5 of the
Liftboat Guide.
PART 4 Machinery and Systems
4-3-2/9.13.5 Electrical Systems To specify that application of undervoltage protection in lieu of
undervoltage release protection for consumers not immediately
essential for safety navigation.
4-3-2/13.3.1 Electrical Systems To specify the acceptable arrangement of the automatic power
change-over switch.
4-3-3/1.11, 5.13.1 Onboard Installation To add Cable Transit Seal Systems Register requirements as required
by IACS UR Z28.
4-3-5/1.13.4 Specialized Installations To accept one meter access at the rear of the HV Switchboards, in line
with IEC 60092‐503, section 5.3.2 and IEEE‐45.7‐2012, section 5.3
Table 1.
4-3-5/7.1.3 Specialized Installations To align 4-3-5/7.1.3 of MOU Rules with 6.5.2 of MODU Code
amended by MSC.435(98).

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Notices and General Information

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

PART 5 Fire and Safety – Measures and Features
5-2-4/3.17 Portable Fire Fighting Systems To specify that the two-way portable radiotelephone apparatus should
be of certified safe type suitable for use in zone 1 hazardous areas, as
defined in IEC Publication 60079.
PART 6 Material, Marine Equipment and Machinery Certification
6-1-6/7.3.2 Piping Systems To delete paragraph in conflict with 6-1-6/7.3.2, to add section for the
Type Approval Program, in line with MVR 4-6-1/7.5, and to add
reference to shell valve section.
6-1-8/7 Fire and Safety - Equipment and To address the current practice of accepting fire doors, at least A-0
Systems class, as gas-tight doors with due attention to the self-closing system.
6-1-9/25 and Jacking and Associated Systems "To clarify the scope of certification of material and equipment in
Table 2 Table 2, to incorporate survey requirements for certification of
Motors, Gears and Brakes, and to delete section 15.3 Hydraulic Motor
Drive and reinstate as para 17.1 under Hydraulic System.
PART 8 Specific Unit Types
8-4-1/3.1 & 9.1 General To indicate the specific applicability of Crane Units in our Rules, and
also to include a statement in 8-4-1/3.1 to include crane lifting
operational limitation with reference to Intact Stability CODE 2008 as
Amended by IMO Res. MSC.415(97).
8-A1 General To update criteria applicability to IMO Code on Intact Stability 2008
as Amended by IMO Res. MSC.415(97) based on detail criteria study.

EFFECTIVE DATE 1 January 2022 – shown as (2022)

(based on the contract date for new construction between builder and Owner)
Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/Remarks
PART 4 Machinery and Systems
4-1-1/Table 4 General To delete item (g), (i), (j) and (l) since they should be considered as
primary essential service as per MSC.1/Circ. 1572.
4-2-2/9.1.2 Pumps, Pipes, Valves, and Fittings To bring 4-2-2/9.1.2 of the MOU Rules in line with 4-6-2/5.15 of the
Marine Vessel Rules.
4-2-4/11.9 Bilge and Ballast Systems and Tanks To bring MOU Rules in line with MVR 4-6-4/7.7 and BWT Guide
1/1.
4-2-6/7.1.2 Other Piping Systems and Tanks To reference 4-3-6/6.5 and delete text that essentially repeats what is
already addressed under 4-3-6/6.5.
4-3-2/1.7 Electrical Systems To incorporate requirements of MVR 4-8-1/5.1.5 into the MOU
Rules.
4-3-2/9.13.5(b) Electrical Systems To remove fire pumps and other fire extinguishing medium pumps,
since they have been defined as Primary Essential Services in 4-1-
1/Table 4.
4-3-3/3.7.2(b) Onboard Installation To clarify the definition of "well ventilated".
4-3-3/3.31 Onboard Installation To specify that store rooms having 4 m2 or more are regarded as high
fire risk area, based on SOLAS II-2/9.2.3.3.2.2 (9) and SOLAS II-
2/9.2.4.2.2.2 (9).
4-3-3/9.1.2(d) Onboard Installation To align MOU 4-3-3/9.1.2(d) with MVR 4-8-4/27.5.1.
4-3-3/9.3.2(a) Onboard Installation To align MOU Rules 4-3-3/9.3.2 (a) with MVR 4-8-4/27.7.1 (c).
PART 6 Material, Marine Equipment and Machinery Certification
6-1-3/3.5.1(a) Prime Movers To align MOU 6-1-3/3.5.1(a) FIGURE 1 with MVR 4-2-1/Figure 1.
FIGURE 1
PART 8 Specific Unit Types
8-2-1/9.11 General To further clarify the number of air changes for ventilation of
hazardous areas

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Notices and General Information

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., 7-2-4/1 and 3 “Annual Surveys” (1 July 2021) is to apply for units
undergoing survey on or after 1 July 2021].

EFFECTIVE DATE 1 July 2021 – shown as (1 July 2021)

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

PART 7 Surveys
7-2-4/1 and 3 Annual Surveys To align with Rules for Survey After Construction (Part 7) and to
provide needed clarifications for Hull and Machinery Surveys during
Annual Surveys.
7-2-5/15.3.1 Special Periodical Surveys To replace continuous machinery survey requirement that
approximately 20% of items are done per year with following the
owner's plan, in line with IACS UR Z18, UR Z20 and UR Z27.
7-2-6/1, Table 1 Drydocking Surveys or Equivalent To clarify for Spud Cans of approved designs where they cannot be
accessed during Special Surveys and to add wording to specify the
need for a Survey Planning Document (SPD) as per Section 7-2-3 of
these Rules.
7-2-12 Lifting Appliances To add reference to new location of Lifting Appliances survey after
construction requirements in Rules for Survey After Construction
(Part 7).

EFFECTIVE DATE 1 January 2022 – shown as (2022)

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

PART 7 Surveys
7-2-5/1.7, 9, Special Periodical Surveys To align with Marine Vessel Rules (ABS Rules for Survey After
Tables 1 through Construction (Part 7), to align with IACS UR Z15, and to incorporate
4 the ABS Guide for Survey and Inspection of Jacking Systems.
7-2-A2 Survey of Portable Modules To update the MOU Rules to match the MVR and pull survey
requirements from Portable Accommodation Modules Guide.

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