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Major international offshore and land drilling contractor Rowan Companies, Inc., recently had its first Alternative Compliance Program (ACP) rig, the Bob Palmer, surveyed under the program with three more under construction enrolled in ACP.

The United States Coast Guard’s ACP is designed to reduce the regulatory burden on the maritime industry while maintaining existing levels of safety and increased flexibility in the construction and operation of U.S. flag vessels. The ACP allows ABS to conduct surveys on behalf of the USCG in order for operators to meet the the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

ABS surveyors are given the authority to inspect U.S. Flag vessels as agents of the USCG.

Delivery of the semisubmersible 'ENSCO 7500' in 2000 marked the first rig to complete ACP.

In essence ACP creates 'one-stop shopping' for rig certification. The majority of those enrolled in the program are ships, however, ABS has about a half a dozen rigs enrolled in the ACP program. Read more for background on ABS and the ACP Program.