Rules for Building and Classing

Marine Vessels

Notices and General Information

July 2024
RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING

MARINE VESSELS
JULY 2024

NOTICES AND
GENERAL INFORMATION

American Bureau of Shipping

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

 2024 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 Parts Comprising July 2024
Marine Vessel Rules ................................................................. 4
TABLE 2 Division and Numbering of Rules ............................................. 5
Rule Change Notice (1 July 2024) ................................................................................... 6
TABLE 3 Summary of Changes from the January 2024 Rules ............... 6

ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MARINE VESSELS . 2024 ii

Notices and General Information

Introduction
1. The 2024 edition of the Rules for Building and Classing Marine Vessels has undergone a major
update to improve the clarity and ease of use of the Rules:
a) A goal-based standards approach has been introduced as an alternative path to compliance
appropriate for novel concepts, new technologies, and alternative arrangements.
b) Non-mandatory guidance has been added as Commentaries within the text of the Rules.
c) Notations have been clearly indicated as mandatory or optional.
The same updates have also been made to the generic Parts 1A, 2, and 7.
2. The 2024 edition of the Rules for Building and Classing Marine Vessels consists of the Parts as
shown in Table 1. In this regard, we would bring the following to the user’s attention:
a) The purpose of the generic title ABS Rules for Conditions of Classification (Part 1A) is to
reflect the expanded contents of PART 1A, as a result of including consolidated requirements
for “Classification” applicable to all types of and sizes of vessels, barges and specific
shipboard arrangements/systems, etc., except for those in offshore service, as specified in
the Foreword to Part 1A. The supplemental requirements previously contained in
individual Rules and Guides have been consolidated into Chapters of Part 1A.
b) The purpose of the generic ABS Rules for Alternative Arrangements, Novel Concepts and
New Technologies (Part 1D) is to introduce a procedure for acceptance of alternative
arrangements, novel concepts, and new technologies based on Goals and Functional
Requirements, including a consolidated list of Tier 1 Goals.
c) The purpose of the generic title ABS Rules for Materials and Welding of PART 2 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.
d) The purpose of the generic title ABS Rules for Survey After Construction (Part 7) is to
reflect the expanded contents of PART 7, as a result of including consolidated requirements
for “Surveys After Construction” applicable to all types and sizes of vessels, barges and
specific shipboard arrangements/systems, etc., as specified in Part 7, Chapter 1, Section 1.
3. The numbering system applied in the Rules is shown in Table 2.
4. The primary changes from the January 2023 Rules are identified and listed in Table 3. The
effective date of the indicated Rule Changes is 1 July 2024, unless specifically indicated otherwise.
For certain changes that have a major impact on shipyards, designers and vendors, ABS has
instituted a two-year Rule cycle to give the industry more time to prepare for these changes. The
text of these changes will appear in a box along with the effective date just under the existing Rule
requirement.
5. The listing of CLASSIFICATION SYMBOLS AND NOTATIONS is available from the ABS
website http://www.eagle.org/absdownloads/index.cfm for download.

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Notices and General Information

6. In association with the harmonization of the Common Structural Rules (CSR) for Bulk Carriers
and Oil Tankers, on 1 July 2015, the three Sub-parts, 5A, 5B, and 5C, of Part 5 of the Rules for
Building and Classing Marine Vessels are as follows:

Contents
Part 5A: General Hull Requirements (IACS CSR Part 1)
Part 5B: Ship Types (IACS CSR Part 2)
Part 5C: This Part is divided into two separate booklets as follows:
Chapters 1 to 6: Tankers and Bulk Carriers not covered by Part 5A
and Part 5B and Container Carriers
Chapters 7 to 22: Passenger Vessels, Liquefied Gas Carriers, Chemical
Carriers, Vessels Intended to Carry Vehicles, Vessels
Intended to Carry Liquid Cargoes in Bulk (other than
Oil or Chemical), Membrane Tank LNG Carriers,
Vessels Using Gases or other Low-Flashpoint Fuels,
Fire Fighting Vessels, Oil Recovery Vessels, Escort
Vessels, Vessels Under 90 m (295 ft) Intended for
Towing, Fishing Vessels, Box-Shaped Bulk Carriers,
General Dry Cargo Vessels, Heavy Lift Ships, and
Anchor Handling Vessels.
Part 5D: Offshore Support Vessels for Specialized Services
Application – Oil Tankers
The structural requirements in Part 5A, Pt 1 and Part 5B, Pt 2, Ch 2 of the Rules are
applicable for double hull oil tankers of 150 m in length and upward, with structural
arrangements as specified in Part 5A, Pt 1, Ch 1, Sec 1, [1.3].
For oil tankers with structural arrangements not covered by Part 5A, Pt 1 and Part 5B,
Pt 2, Ch 2, the requirements in Part 5C, Chapters 1 or 2, are to be complied with.
Application – Bulk Carriers
The structural requirements in Part 5A, Pt 1 and Part 5B, Pt 2, Ch 1 of the Rules are
applicable for single side skin and double side skin bulk carriers of 90m in length and
upward, with structural arrangements as specified in Part 5A, Pt 1, Ch 1, Sec 1, [1.2].
For vessels intended to carry ore or bulk cargoes, other than the single side skin or double
side skin bulk carriers of 90 m in length and upward with structural arrangements as
specified in Part 5A, Pt 1 and Part 5B, Pt 2, Ch 1, the requirements in Part 5C, Chapters 3
or 4 are to be complied with.
Application – ABS Construction Monitoring Program
These compulsory requirements for CSR notation are specified in Part 5C, Appendix 1,
Section 2.
Application – Onboard Systems for Oil Tankers and Bulk Carriers
The onboard systems for all tankers are to comply with the requirements of Part 5C,
Chapter 2, Section 3, and for all bulk carriers are to comply with the requirements of Part
5C, Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Rules.
Application – References
Other Parts of the ABS Rules that are referenced within Part 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are also
to be applied.

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Notices and General Information

The following flow chart indicates the application of the Rules and typical Class Notations for tanker and bulk
carrier vessels, of which arrangements and scantlings are in full compliance with the Rules:

Vessels Intended to Carry Oil in Bulk Vessels Intended to Carry Ore or Bulk Cargoes

No No
L ≥ 150 m? L ≥ 90 m?

Yes Yes

No Arrangement and Arrangement and No

layout comply with layout comply with
5A-1-1/1.3 and 5A-1-1/1.2 and
5A-1-1/Figure 3? 5A-1-1/Figures 1 & 2?

Yes Yes

Part 5A and Part 5B, Chapter 2: Part 5A and Part 5B, Chapter 1:
Common Structural Rules Common Structural Rules
and and
Part 5C, Appendix 1, Section 2 Part 5C, Appendix 1, Section 2
Part 5C, Chapter 2, Section 3: Part 5C, Chapter 3, Section 7:
ABS Marine Vessel Rules ABS Marine Vessel Rules

À A1 Oil Carrier, CSR, AB-CM À A1 Bulk Carrier, CSR, AB-CM

plus plus
appropriate notations for oil carriers appropriate notations for bulk carriers

Part 5C, Chapter 1 Part 5C, Chapter 3

Part 5C, Appendix 1, Section 1 Part 5C, Appendix 1, Section 1
ABS Marine Vessel Rules ABS Marine Vessel Rules
(L ≥ 150 m) (L ≥ 150 m)
Or

À A1 Oil Carrier, SH, SHCM À A1 Bulk Carrier, SH, SHCM

plus plus
appropriate notations for oil carriers appropriate notations for bulk carriers

Part 5C, Chapter 2 Part 5C, Chapter 4

ABS Marine Vessel Rules ABS Marine Vessel Rules
(L < 150 m) (L < 150 m)

À A1 Oil Carrier À A1 Bulk Carrier

plus plus
appropriate notations for oil carriers appropriate notations for bulk carriers

ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MARINE VESSELS . 2024 3

Notices and General Information

TABLE 1
Applicable Editions of Parts Comprising July 2024 Marine Vessel Rules
Notices and General Information July 2024
Part 1A: Rules for Conditions of Classification July 2024
Part 1D: Rules for Alternative Arrangements, Novel Concepts and January 2024
New Technologies
Part 2: Rules for Materials and Welding July 2024
Rules for Testing and Certification of Materials
Rules for Welding and Fabrication
Part 3: Hull Construction and Equipment July 2024
Part 4: Vessel Systems and Machinery July 2024
Part 5A: Specific Vessel Types July 2024
General Hull Requirements (IACS CSR Part 1)
Part 5B: Specific Vessel Types July 2024
Ship Types (IACS CSR Part 2)
Part 5C: Specific Vessel Types July 2024
Chapter 1 General Hull Requirements for
SafeHull Vessels (New)
Chapter 2 Oil Carriers
Chapter 3 & 4 Bulk Carriers
Chapter 5 & 6 Container Carriers
Part 5C: Specific Vessel Types July 2024
Chapter 7 Passenger Carriers
Chapter 8 Liquefied Gas Carriers
Chapter 9 Chemical Carriers
Chapter 10 Vehicle Carriers
Chapter 11 Vessels Intended to Carry Liquid
Cargoes in Bulk (other than Oil or
Chemical)
Chapter 12 Liquefied Gas Carrier with Membrane
Tanks
Chapter 13 Vessels Using Gases or other Low-
Flashpoint Fuels
Chapter 14 Fire Fighting Vessels
Chapter 15 Oil Recovery Vessels
Chapter 16 Escort Vessels
Chapter 17 Vessels Under 90m (295 ft) Intended
for Towing
Chapter 18 Fishing Vessels
Chapter 19 Vessels Intended to Carry Bulk Cargoes
without Upper Wing Tanks and Lower
Wing Tanks
Chapter 20 General Dry Cargo Vessels
Chapter 21 Heavy Lift Ships
Chapter 22 Anchor Handling Vessels

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Notices and General Information

Part 5D: Offshore Support Vessels for Specialized Services July 2024
Chapter 1 Vessels Intended for Offshore Support
Services
Chapter 2 Offshore Supply
Chapter 3 Anchor Handling and Towing
Chapter 4 Fire Fighting
Chapter 5 Diving and Remotely Operated
Vehicles (ROVs) Support
Chapter 6 Oil Spill Recovery
Chapter 7 Safety Standby Rescue
Chapter 8 Pipe Laying
Chapter 9 Heavy Lift
Chapter 10 Well Intervention
Chapter 11 Well Stimulation
Chapter 12 Well Test
Chapter 13 Escort
Chapter 14 Wind Turbine Installation, Maintenance
and Repair (Wind IMR)
Chapter 15 Cable Laying
Chapter 16 Subsea Services
Part 6: Specialized Items and Systems July 2024
Chapter 1 Strengthening for Navigation in Ice
Chapter 2 Refrigerated Cargo Vessels
Chapter 3 Exhaust Emission Abatement
Chapter 4 Low and High Voltage Shore
Connection
Chapter 5 Alternative Fuels (New)
Part 7: Rules for Survey After Construction July 2024

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 (1 July 2024)

TABLE 3
Summary of Changes from the January 2024 Rules
EFFECTIVE DATE 1 July 2024 – shown as (1 July 2024)

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

PART 1A Rules for Conditions of Classification
1A-1-2/13 Suspension and Cancellation of To provide alternatives for vessels with "Restricted Service".
Classification (1998)
1A-1-2/7.1 Suspension and Cancellation of To clarify that any statutory certificates issued to a facility by ABS are
Classification (1998) invalidated and no longer supported when class is suspended.
1A-1-7/9 Submission of Plans To add clarification and commentary to asbestos free declaration in
line with current ABS practice.
1A-1-8/5 Conditions for Surveys After To clarify that a vessel owner is to contact ABS in the event of their
Construction craft being boarded by a Port State authority or Flag State
administration resulting in a detention or found deficiencies that affect
class or statutory certificates issued by ABS.
1A-1-A3/5.5 ABS Type Approval Program To replace final approval by the Manager of the Type Approval
Program with local area operations manager, since Operations will
take the responsibility in issuing PQA certificates and letters to clients
per the updated ABS practice.

EFFECTIVE DATE 1 July 2024 – shown as (1 July 2024)

(based on the date of purchase order of the materials)
Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/Remarks
PART 2 Materials and Welding
2-3-13/27 Piping, Valves and Fittings for Low- To update 2-3-13/27 Piping, Valves and Fittings for Low-temperature
Temperature Service [Below -18°C service [Below -18°C (0°F)] - Witnessed Tests, in line with updates to
(0°F)] MVR 4-1-1/Table 6.
2-3-7A1/3.1, 3.7 Repair and Cladding of Shafts To provide requirements for rudder repair without welding of
rudder/stock shaft not fitted with a liner, in line with MVR 3-2-
14/15.1.6.

EFFECTIVE DATE 1 July 2024 – shown as (1 July 2024)

(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
3-2-7/4.7.2 Beams and Longitudinals To align with latest CSR and IACS UR A2 Rev.5.
3-2-11/3.3.2 Superstructures, Deckhouses and To reduce the minimum plate thickness for ships of less than 65m in
Helicopter Decks length, inline with IACS UR S3 rev.2.
3-2-14/3.1, 7.3, Rudders and Steering Equipment To reflect IACS UR S10 rev. 7.
7.5, 11.5, 13.3.2,
13.3.3, Figure 4C,
15.1.1, 15.1.6,
17.3, 17.9, Figure
9A
3-2-15/9, 13 Protection of Deck Openings To reflect IACS UR S21 rev. 6 and S26 rev.5.
3-2-20/9.1 Guidance on Finite Element Analysis To add guidance on how to evaluate working stress to the
Commentary.

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Notices and General Information

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

3-2-A5/3.1.2, Guidelines for Calculating Bending To reflect IACS UR S10 rev.7.
3.1.3 Moment and Shear Force in Rudders
and Rudder Stocks
3-2-A8 (New) Buckling Strength Assessment of To include UR S35 as MVR 3-2-A8.
Ship Structural Elements
3-5-1/3.1, 11.3, Anchoring, Mooring, and Towing To reflect IACS UR A1 rev. 8 and Rec. 10 rev.5.
Table 1A, Table Equipment
1B
3-7-1/1 Tank, Bulkhead and Rudder To specify "tightness" (i.e., fuel/lo tanks) and add definitions of
Tightness Testing watertight and weathertight in line with MVR 3-1-1/31 & 33.
PART 4 Vessel Systems and Machinery
4-1-1/9 Classification of Machinery To bring published Rules in line with current practice for multiple
drives which include azimuthing thrusters as well as tunnel thrusters
providing lateral thrust.
4-1-1/Table 6 Classification of Machinery To update MVR 4-1-1/Table 6 due to inconsistency and ambiguity in
ABS rule requirements for pipe fittings.
4-2-1/Table 4, Internal Combustion Engines To update based on UR M72 REV.3 (APRIL 2023) and to add
Table 5 and Table superscripted numbers in Tables 4, 5, 6 to match the footnotes.
6 Note 3
4-2-1A8/7.5 Guidance for Evaluation of Fatigue To update text for the equations for stress at the crankpin and journal
Tests needed to be updated to clarify that they are done at the fillet, based
on IACS UR M53 REV.5 MAY 2023.
4-2-2/5.3, 5.7 Turbochargers To update based on IACS UR M73. REV.2 MAY 2023 and to add
additional guidelines for containment test.
4-3-2/7.3.3iv) Propulsion Shafting - Aft S/T Bearing To clarify how the definition for L (length) under 4-3-2/7.3.3iv)
Length Definition Clarification should be interpreted.
4-3-2/8, 16 Propulsion Shafting To provide references to the ESA Guide and Requirements for
Sterntubeless vessels with Water Lubricated Bearings in 4-3-2/8 and 16.
4-4-1/1.1, 1.3.1, Boilers and Pressure Vessels and To include diesel oil fired air-heating furnaces used on the Great
1.3.3, 18 Fired Equipment Lakes during winter lay-up periods in accordance with NTSB Report
MIR-22/19, Recommendation M-22-2 and to update the definitions of
"Design Pressure" and "Design Temperature".
4-6-1/3.19, Table General Provisions To be in line with MVR 4-1-1/Table 6 and to update the definition of
2 "Maximum Allowable Working Pressure" in 4-6-1/3.19 to be in line
with other ABS publications.
4-6-2/9.13.2 ii Metallic Piping To clarify that butterfly valves with threaded lugs are acceptable
means for shell valves where the inboard pipe can be removed for
maintenance while in service.
4-6-3/TABLE 3 Plastic Piping To update based on IACS Rec.86 Rev.2 (March 2019).
4-6-4/13.5.1 Ship Piping Systems and Tanks To add a footnote to clarify that any fuel oil which requires post
service tank heating to achieve the required injection viscosity is not
to be regarded as MDO in the context of these examples shown, based
on IACS UI SC123 REV.5 (JULY 2023), and to provide clarification
to the term "short length".
4-6-7/7.5.4,13 Other Piping Systems To provide details on pressure relief devices mounted on the gas
piping system to protect the cylinder against rupture in the event of
overpressure due to thermal exposure, to add Goal Based Standards
and other clarifications, and to add definition for Stand-alone unit as
per ENVIRO notation.
4-7-1/9, 11.9, General Provisions To add an amendment for the first footnote of Reg. II-2/15.2.4 of
11.19 SOLAS (Adding IMO Resolution A.1116(30) for the preparation of
the shipboard fire control plans) and to update the definition of "Cargo
Spaces" and "Oil Fuel Unit "in 4-7-1/11.9 and 4-7-1/11.19, in line
with other ABS publications.
4-8-2/1,11.1 System Design To delete the requirements for LVSC & HVSC in MVR 4-8-2 are
deleted and add a cross-reference to MVR 6-4 for LVSC & HVSC.

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Notices and General Information

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

4-8-4/17 Shipboard Installation and Tests To provide acceptance criteria for use of flexible cables serving
portable apparatus in hazardous areas.
4-9-1/5.1.14 General Provisions To update the definition for “unmanned propulsion machinery space”
for clarity and to prevent confusion by indicating “centralized control
station” in the definition as it is dependent of the notations requested.
4-9-3 Computer-based Systems To include Testing, Inspection, and Certification of Computer-Based
Systems, to match the current ABS Type approval format in other
sections to update most of the documents requested 'for Information
upon request' to 'for information' for CBS Cat II, III Systems for
consistent application of the Rules, and to update 'approval'
documents to 'approval/review' to match current ABS stamping
practice.
4-9-9/1,13,15 Equipment To add a cross-reference to MVR 4-9-3 and MVR 4-9-14 for
equipment-related computer-based system and cyber resilience
requirements.
4-9-10/5 Installation, Tests and Trials To add test requirements for computer-based systems and cyber
resilience based on IACS UR E22, rev.3, UR E27, rev.1 to MVR 4-9-
10/5.1, 5.2.
4-9-13 Cyber Resilience for Vessels To incorporate IACS UR E26, rev.1 into a new Section 4-9-13.
4-9-13A1 Overview of Requirements To provide an overview of the requirements in Section 4-9-13 with the
applicable functional elements and phases for each.
4-9-13A2 Summary Table of Requirements and To provide a summary of requirements and documents required by
Documents Section 4-9-13, in line with Appendix II of IACS UR E26, Rev.1..
4-9-14 Cyber Resilience for On-board To incorporate IACS UR E27, rev.1 into a new Section 4-9-14.
Systems and Equipment
PART 5C Specific Vessel Types
5C-1 General Hull Requirements for Reorganize 5C-1, 5C-3, 5C-5 and 5C-12 to consolidate common text
(Whole Chapter) SafeHull Vessels and reorganize like CSR.
Add goals and functional requirements and make the following
technical changes:
1. Adopt CSR FE Modelling Convention
2. Bow Impact FEA
3. Define the Load Calculation Point (LCP) and adopt elementary
plate panel (EPP)
4. Clarify Fatigue Procedure & Fatigue Life Formula
5. Curved Panel Buckling
6. Address Asymmetric Loads
7. Buckling of Panels with Openings
8. Buckling of Irregular Panels
9. Idealization of Bulb Plates
5C-2-1/1.3,1.5 Introduction To clarify the application of MVR Part 5C, Chapter 2 to oil tankers of
length 150 m or grater with structural arrangements not covered by
5A-1-1/1.3 and length less than 150 m.
5C-2-3/1.3.7, Cargo Oil and Associated Systems To provide clarification and commentary for alternative means to
3.3.1(k), 31.15.5 meet the intent of the Rule (Based on OCIMF document in original
Rule change) and to clarify the definition of "cargo area" and align
with definition in 7-1-1/3.15.
5C-3 Vessels Intended to Carry Ore or Reorganize 5C-1, 5C-3, 5C-5 and 5C-12 to consolidate common text
(Whole Chapter) Bulk Cargoes (150 meters (492 feet) and reorganize like CSR.
or more in Length) Add goals and functional requirements and make the following
technical changes:
1. Direct engineering analysis for BC-A, BC-B or BC-C notations
2. Delete OBO notations and relevant definitions
3. Define the Load Calculation Point (LCP) and adopt elementary
plate panel (EPP)
4. Address Asymmetric Loads
5C-3-4/19 Initial Scantling Criteria To reflect IACS UR S21 rev.6 for buckling strength of hatch cover
structures.

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Notices and General Information

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

5C-3-A7/5.5 Hull Girder Ultimate Strength To clarify that, in case of an asymmetric hull transverse section
Assessment of Bulk Carriers (2013) design, the rotation of horizontal neutral axis does not need to be
taken into account.
5C-5 Vessels Intended to Carry Containers Reorganize 5C-1, 5C-3, 5C-5 and 5C-12 to consolidate common text
(Whole Chapter) (130 meters (427 feet) to 450 meters and reorganize like CSR.
(1476 feet) in Length) Add goals and functional requirements and make the following
technical changes:
1. Publish Containership TSA Load Balancing Procedure
2. Container Structure Reduction beyond 0.4L
3. Define the Load Calculation Point (LCP) and adopt elementary
plate panel (EPP)
4. Address Asymmetric Loads
5C-5-2/Figure 1, Design Considerations and General To update design corrosion value for watertight bottom girder as pipe
Table 1 Requirements duct space to 1.5mm.
5C-5-6/1.3 Hull Structure Beyond 0.4L To include the requirements for Main Supporting Members and Fuel
Amidships Oil Tank Tops, which may be also determined in accordance with the
requirement within 0.4L amidships, similar to the Plating and
Stiffeners of Transverse Bulkhead.
5C-5-7/3.3 Cargo Safety To add commentary to consider the inevitable flanged connection of
the bilge pipe in the pipe duct.
5C-5-A2d/3.3.1 Hull Girder Ultimate Bending To clarify that, in case of an asymmetric hull transverse section
Capacity of Container Carriers design, the rotation of horizontal neutral axis does not need to be
taken into account.
5C-8-1/5 General (ABS) (2016) To include additional submittal items including details of
reinforcement for cargo tank lifting and strength calculation, Cargo
Operations Manual and Inspection/survey plan for the liquefied cargo
containment system to be in line with the LCO2 Requirements
document Section 1/4.
5C-8-16/7.1.4(a) Use of Cargo as Fuel (2016) To add reference to 5C-8-A7/3.13 for type test of explosion relief
devices in combustion air inlet and exhaust gas manifolds of gas fuel
engines.
5C-8-A7/ Dual Fuel Diesel and Single Gas Fuel To add new subsection 5C-8-A7/3.13 added, in line with IACS UR
3.1.1(c)(i), Engines (ABS) (2018) M82 (new) published in March 2023 and make editorial changes.
3.3.1(a)i), 3.13
(new) and
7.3.1(c)
5C-8-A7/3.5.1 Dual Fuel Diesel and Single Gas Fuel To align with current marine practices and industrial standards and to
Engines (ABS) (2018) provide clients with alternative approaches to flame arrestors as
prescribed in current Rules.
5C-12 Liquefied Gas Carriers with Reorganize 5C-1, 5C-3, 5C-5 and 5C-12 to consolidate common text
(Whole Chapter) Membrane Tanks (2014) and reorganize like CSR.
Add goals and functional requirements and make the following
technical changes:
1. LNG Buckling Capacity Reduction Factor
2. LNG Sloshing Load for TSA
3. LNG Pressure Relief Valve Updates
4. Define the Load Calculation Point (LCP) and adopt elementary
plate panel (EPP)
5. Address Asymmetric Loads
5C-12-3/Table Load Criteria To clarify that V is to be taken as 10 knots for internal pressure
1B calculation for the additional IGC TSA loading condition for main-
supporting member shear check.
5C-13-5/4 and 8 Ship Design and Arrangement To move mandatory requirements from Commentaries to main text.
5C-13-9/2 Fuel Supply to Consumers To align with IACS UI GF 19 (NEW) Dec 2023.
5C-13-10/ Power Generation Including To provide clients with other alternative approaches to providing
3.1.1(a), 3.1.12, Propulsion and other Gas Consumers flame arrestors as prescribed in current Rules.
3.1.13(b)

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Notices and General Information

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

PART 5D Offshore Support Vessels for Specialized Services
5D-1-2/5.1.1 Special Purpose To delete 5D-1-2/5.1.1 for the administration approval of intact
stability, in order to avoid confusion.
5D-1-5 Industrial Personnel To incorporate the new International Code of Safety for Ships
Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Code) by Resolution MSC.527(106)
Code into ABS Marine Vessel Rules and propose new IP notation for
vessels which comply with IP Code.
PART 6 Specialized Items and Systems
6-1-1/Table 1 Introduction (2012) To address feedback that the Baltic ice notations with minimum
engine output power specified are too long.
6-1-3 Machinery Requirements for Polar To update based on IACS UR I3 REV.2.
Class Vessels (2012)
6-1-4/3.1 First Year Ice Classes To address feedback that the Baltic ice notations with minimum
engine output power specified are too long.
6-1-5/3iv), Table Requirements for Icebreaker* To address client feedback and clarify the requirements.
1, 9, 17, 19 Notation
6-3-2/7.15i) EGC – SOx Scrubbers To incorporate the deviation in lightweight weights, the longitudinal
or vertical position of the center of gravity as interpreted by
MSC.1/Circ.1362.Rev.1 and IACS UI SC297.
6-3-2/11.3.3ii) EGC – SOx Scrubbers To add alternative arrangements for EGC washwater overboard
discharge piping.
6-3-2/11.3.3, EGC – SOx Scrubbers To update based on IACS UR M81 Rev.1 (July 2023).
11.5.1 and 11.5.8
6-6-1 General To relocate requirements for Ballast Water Treatment from ABS
BWT Guide to MVR Part 6 Chapter 6 and add new 6-6-1/7.5 and
TABLE 1 for minimum requirements when BWT/BWT+ notation is
not requested.
6-6-2 System-Related Installation Criteria To add goal-based standards, commentary and other clarifications,
modify ventilation and gas detection requirements in 6-6-2/3.3 to
align with the Regulations, update requirement of door and ventilation
for hazardous BWMS compartment in 6-6-2/3.4.2 to align with IEC
60092-502, modify Computer-based system requirements on 6-6-
2/3.11.3 to align with Section 4-9-3, and delete 6-6-2/17 (Sediment
Control) since this item is not a requirement for ballast water
treatment and the G2 Guidelines require the information regarding the
sediment management and control to be included in the BWMP.
6-6-3 Consideration for Oil, Gas, and To add goal-based standards and other clarifications, delete
Chemical Carriers requirements for Tank Barges in 1.1 since these requirements will be
moved to the Barge Rules, and delete the requirements on 6-6-3/3.iii
for gas carriers since the leakage to inter-barrier space does not affect
gas migration to engine room.
6-6-3-A1 Acceptable Arrangement for To clarify Appendix 1, add requirement to Item 6 for hazardous area
Sampling System Piping in Non- of 3 m from power ventilation outlet of the cabinet to align with the
Hazardous Area Connected to a requirements of 4-8-4/27.3.3(a), add requirements for water seal or
BWMS in a Hazardous Area of an equivalent in the return line in accordance with IACS UR
Oil or Chemical Tanker M74.3.2.4.4, delete requirement for “zero” of valves since these
valves are closed when BWTS is not in operation and open when
BWTS in in operation, delete requirement for safety valves for the
sampling pipe in the hazardous area, since the safety valves in the
sampling piping will not function as means of isolation, and delete
Figure 2 and updated Figure 1 based on IACS UR M74.
6-6-3-A2 Acceptable Isolation Arrangement of To clarify Appendix 2 and updated FIGURE 1, add Commentary for
a BWMS Dosing System on Oil or alternative arrangements in-lieu of the water seal arrangement shown
Chemical Tankers (From a Non- on FIGURE 1, and delete requirement for “zero” of valves since these
hazardous Area to a Hazardous Area) valves are closed when BWTS is not in operation and open when
BWTS in in operation.

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Notices and General Information

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

6-6-3-A3 Acceptable Isolation Arrangement of To clarify Appendix 3 and update Figure 1.
a BWMS Dosing Piping System on
Oil or Chemical Tankers (From a
Non-hazardous Compartment to a
Non- hazardous Area Routed
Through a Hazardous Area
6-6-3-A4 BWMS in a Non-hazardous Area To clarify Appendix 4, delete arrangements and requirements for use
of Water Column since it is duplicated from the Loop Seal on 6-6-3-
A4/3, and delete requirements on 6-6-3-A4/9, BWMS in the Engine
Room Serving a Non-hazardous Aft Peak Tank and Simultaneously
Serving Hazardous Ballast Tanks in the Cargo Block.
6-6-3-A5 Additional Arrangements for the To clarify Appendix 5 and update gas detection requirements in Item
Placement of Electrical Equipment in 4 to align with the SOLAS requirements.
Hazardous Areas
6-6-4 Operational Management and Survey To delete subsection 6-6-4/9.5 for Additional Survey since this
Requirements requirement is already included in MVR Part 1 and delete Subsections
6-6-4/11, 13 and 15 for BWMP, since the BWMP is a statutory
requirement in accordance with G4 Guidelines and MEPC.306(73)

Part 7 “Rules for Survey After Construction”

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., 7-2-1/7, 11.1.1 “Vessels for Unrestricted Service” (1 July 2024) is to
apply for vessels undergoing survey on or after 1 July 2024].

EFFECTIVE DATE 1 July 2024 – shown as (1 July 2024)

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

PART 7 Rules for Survey After Construction
7-1-1/1.7.1(a), General Information To align with IACS UR 10.1 (rev.25), 10.2 (rev.37) and Z11 (rev.6).
1.3.9 and 3.11
7-1-1/3.15, 3.37, General Information To update the definition of "Cargo Area-Tankers" in 7-1-1/3.15 to be
19 in line with other ABS publications, clarify the definition of lightering
service in 7-1-1/3.37, and to add Annual Survey, clarifications, and
commentary on 7-1-1/19.
7-1-1/3.43 General Information To update definition of "Oil Carrier – Double Hull" based on IACS
Rec 96 (Rev.2).
7-2-1/7, 11.1.1 Vessels for Unrestricted Service To align with IACS UR Z6 and clarify gauging requirements at the
time of drydocking and to clarify the intervals for Drydocking
Surveys.
7-2-2/9 Vessels in Great Lakes Service To clarify that gaugings of underwater portions of the hull are to be
taken at the time of drydocking and reference Great Lakes Special
Survey requirements as per Section 7-3-3.
7-3-2/1.1.11 Vessels for Unrestricted Service To include survey requirements that are required for all vessels in
MVR 4-6-7/9.3 and add a commentary with what is a helideck, vs.
landing area vs. winch only area is.
7-3-2/1.1.22 and Vessels for Unrestricted Service To add Annual Survey requirements for vessels on lightering service
3.1.5 to clarify Intermediate Survey section for lightering service.
7-3-2/1.7.1(i) Vessels for Unrestricted Service To replace "vents" with "air pipes".
7-3-2/1.7.5, Vessels for Unrestricted Service To change "POOR condition" to "less than GOOD condition" for bulk
1.19.4, 3.7.2(a) carrier ballast tanks in line with IACS UR Z10.2 (rev 37).
and 3.17.2(a)
7-3-2/1.19.4, Vessels for Unrestricted Service To incorporate requirements for double skin void spaces bounding
5.19.9 cargo holds, per Rev 20 f IACS UR Z10.5.

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Notices and General Information

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

7-3-2/5.13.6(b), Vessels for Unrestricted Service To align with IACS UR Z10.4, Rev.18.
5.14.6(b)
7-3-3/7.5 Vessels in Great Lakes Service To refine the previously proposed requirements for thickness
measurements on Great Lakes Bulk Carriers.
7-6-2/1.1.10, Survey Requirements To include survey requirements that are required for all vessels in
1.1.17, 1.7.1 x), MVR 4-6-7/9.5, to include survey requirements for that are required
3.1.2(a), 3.7 (iii) for all vessels in MVR 4-6-7/7.3.1, 7.3.2 and 7.3.3 by adding
ventilation and electrical installation for gaseous fuel for domestic
services, and to make clear the three methods for crediting of main
engine bearings.
7-6-2/1.1.19, Survey Requirements To add requirements for computer-based systems in line with IACS
1.1.22, 3.15 UR E22.
7-6-2/1.7.3, 1.7.4, Survey Requirements To add new section (7-6-2/1.7.5) Additional Requirements for Vessels
1.7.5 using Methanol and Ethanol as Fuel.
7-6-2/3.1.1(s) Survey Requirements To align the survey requirements with the changes to MVR 4-6-
7/7.5.4 and address a TOTC comment.
7-6-3/3 Vessels in Great Lakes Service To add additional survey requirements for oil-fired air furnaces used
for heating during winter layups, based on findings from a recent
incident
7-9-15/9, 11 Environmental Safety (2011) To incorporate annual survey requirements in new 7-9-15/9 for EEDI-
Ph3 notation and 7-9-15/11 for NOx Tier III Notation..
7-9-16/3.1, 3.2 Crew Habitability on Ships and To specify the survey requirements for the ERGO TOP, ERGO ES,
Workboats (1 July 2015) ERGO VALVE, and ERGO MAINT notations and split the base HAB
and HAB(WB) notation requirements from the enhanced "HAB"
notations.
7-9-17/3.1, 3.2 Comfort on Ships and Yachts (1 July To specify the Special Periodical Survey requirements for the COMF
2015) and COMF(Y) notations and split the base notation requirements from
the enhanced "COMF" notations.
7-9-20/7 Tailshaft Condition Monitoring To include SAC requirements for new notation STBLess-W notation
(2007)
7-9-25/1, 3 Lithium Batteries (2018) To reflect the latest revisions to the Lithium-Ion Batteries Guide to
lower Battery Capacity limit to 20 kWh from 25 kWh.
7-9-26/3, 3.1 Ballast Water Exchange and To update 7-9-26/3 as it still notes the BWT Guide, and need to be
Treatment updated to applicable section of Part 6-6 Ballast Water Treatment
7-9-34/3 Wind Assisted Propulsion System To add Annual and Special survey requirements for Hybrid and All-
Installation Electric Power Systems based on the PRCs to Hybrid and All Electric
Power System Requirements.
7-9-45/ Lifting Appliances To add a reference to the Lifting Appliance Guide for details of the
1.1.1(a)xiv), crane capacity rating chart, revised the verbiage to clarify that the
1.7.1, 3, 5 repair procedures are to be submitted for review and approval before
the commencement of repairs, delete "on Great Lakes Vessels" in title
of 7-9-45/5 and add "Great Lakes" in title of 7-9-45/5.3.5 in line with
upcoming update to Lifting Appliances Guide.
7-9-47/1 Underwater Noise and External To add the new UWN (AL) and UWN (AT) notations and minor
Airborne Noise editorials.
7-9-57 (New) International Naval Ships Optional To relocate survey requirements from he ABS Guide for Building and
Notations Classing International Naval Ships into Part 7.
7-9-58 (New) Vessels Navigating in Ice To add survey requirements for Vessels Navigating in Ice.
7-11-3/1, 1.4, 1.7, Annual Surveys To update survey Requirements based on Rule Changes to the
1.9, 1.11, 1.13, Underwater Vehicles Rules.
1.15, 1.17, 11, 13
7-A1-9/7 Reporting Principles for ESP Vessels To align with IACS UR Z10.4, Rev.18 and UR Z10.5, Rev.20.
7-A1-14/Table 1 Surveys Based on Preventative To clarify that Main Engine Bearings should be fitted with Bearing
Maintenance Techniques Wear Monitoring System in order to be added in PMP.

ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MARINE VESSELS . 2024 12