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Norway’s Maritime Governing Authority Recognizes ABS MODU Rules

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Signing the agreement with the NMD in Haugesund, Norway is: (seated left) ABS President and COO Christopher J. Wiernicki with NMD Acting Director General of Shipping and Navigation Sigurd Gude. Looking on are personnel from ABS and NMD. (from left to right) Jon Strengehagen, ABS, Manager of Offshore Business Development, Norway; Kenneth Richardson, ABS, Vice President, Energy Project Development; John Gallagher, ABS Europe, Director of Offshore Technology & Business Development; Egil Legland, ABS Country Manager of Norway; Arild Viddal, NMD, Senior Advisor; Ove Tautra, NMD, Head of Dept. of Vessels and Seafarers and Eilif Fjon, NMD, Head of Dept. of Communication and Public Relations. (Photo by: Bente Amandussen, Norwegian Maritime Directorate)

N orway's maritime governing authority, NMD, has extended its authorization to class society ABS to include Mobile Offshore Drilling units (MODUs) in its scope as a Recognized Organization (RO).This is significant as it now authorizes ABS to class Norwegian-flagged rigs without having to perform additional safety equivalencies or a GAP analysis to verify that applicable standards meet Norwegian law.

This formal recognition is reflected in ABS’ newly revised Guide for Mobile Offshore Units Operating on Norwegian Continental Shelf, N-Notation. The guide outlines the classification requirements for the (N) symbol, a design verification indicating the unit complies with applicable ABS Rules and or Guides plus compliance with the latest maritime technical requirements of Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) as enforced by NMD.