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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between
classification and certification?
- What needs to be classed
on an offshore production facility?
- What are the costs related
to what ABS does? How am I charged for your services?
- What is the process for getting
ABS class on my offshore structure? How long will it take?
- Should I pay directly for
design reviews and surveys of equipment I am required to include
in classification? Vendors frequently want to mark up their ABS
costs.
- Which is better, having the
owner pay ABS costs or the shipyard?
- What is the difference in
the types of classification available? Why should I pick one over
others?
- What extra requirements (beyond
statutory) will I have to meet to obtain classification?
1. What is the difference between classification
and certification?
Certification
is a one-time verification that something meets a standard.
Certification is a process that ensures
that a system complies with either ABS, national, international,
industry or other standards at the time of certification. The
process of Certification generally concerns systems that will
become part of the platform. Typical equipment certification
programs include: thruster systems, elevators, drilling equipment,
mass produced equipment and machinery, cargo handling equipment,
process systems, diving systems and decompression chambers,
deck machinery, oil and gas production facilities, vapor emission
control systems.
Classification is part of a life-long
process to assure a platform, MODU or vessel is built and maintained
to ABS and industry-accepted standards. There are four steps to
Classification:
1. Development of Rules. ABS Rules
are developed in accordance with our own field and engineering
experience and are reviewed and approved by an extensive committee
system of foremost industry experts. Thus the Rules are acceptable
to a broad spectrum of owners, charterers, operators, and ABS
in-house experts. Not all classification societies have such
a "public" Rule-making process.
2. Design Review. Designers of marine
vessels submit their designs to ABS engineers to verify
that ABS requirements have been met. Lists of requirements for
submittals are found in the first section of each set of Rules
or Guides.
3. Survey during construction. Approved
design drawings are sent to ABS surveyors at vendor shops and
fabrication yards. There the surveyors confirm that the equipment
as built conforms to ABS requirements and the approved drawings.
4. Surveys after construction. Once
commissioned, periodic surveys as well as damage and repair
surveys, are performed throughout the life of the unit to ensure
the unit remains in compliance with the ABS rules, thereby enhancing
the safety of the unit and the protection of the environment.
ABS Surveyors visit each vessel at least every 15 months over
a five-year cycle. An "Intermediate"
survey is conducted after two and a half years. Once each five years
a comprehensive survey is performed, a "Special" survey, including drydocking.
Examples of Floating Units which require
Classification
Jackups, Semisubmersibles, Drillships and
Floating Production Systems (FPS), which are often converted
semis or tankers.
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2. What needs to be classed on an offshore production
facility?
ABS requirements for classing floating offshore
production facilities are found in the "ABS Guide for Building and
Classing Floating Production Installations", June 2000. ABS offers
several class notations with differing requirements:
+A1 Floating Production, Storage and Offloading
System (FPSO)
+A1 Floating Production (and Offloading)
System (FPS)
+A1 Floating Storage and Offloading System
(FSO)
+A1 Floating Offshore Installation (FOI)
Also, ABS has "Rules for Building and Classing
Offshore Installations" which pertains to fixed platforms primarily
and contains requirements to obtain class as:
+A1 Fixed Platform
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3. What are the costs related to what ABS
does? How am I charged for your services?
The standard contract for ABS services is the
"Request for Class" form. Under this contract, ABS will charge hourly
for its services according to standard rates. Rates are fixed at
each location for either engineering or survey personnel. Most floating
offshore installations are very complex, and are best handled by
the time and materials approach to avoid multiple change orders.
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4. What is the process for getting ABS class
on my offshore structure? How long will it take?
ABS offers services to assist in obtaining class
and regulatory approval if started as early in the project as possible
(at Front End Engineering Design). Offshore facilities need to complete
the requirements for class prior to starting operations. For oil
production facilities, this is after completion of installation
and commissioning but before first oil. In the Gulf of Mexico, a
Certificate of Inspection is needed from the U. S. Coast Guard before
startup.
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5. Should I pay directly for design reviews
and surveys of equipment I am required to include in classification?
Vendors frequently want to mark up their ABS costs.
ABS is willing to operate billing the shipyard,
owner, or vendor for vendor equipment. However; ABS has found that
vendors are more anxious to complete their requirements when they
have a financial responsibility for doing so and are paid only after
completing requirements. Design packages are more likely to contain
all information needed for class approval when the vendor is paying
for ABS services.
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6. Which is better, having the owner pay
ABS costs or the shipyard?
ABS is willing to operate either way. Most major
offshore projects are contracted directly by the ultimate operator.
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7. What is the difference in the types of
classification available? Why should I pick one over others?
The function of the facility and the statutory
regime may dictate a single available class designation. However,
in the U. S. Gulf of Mexico, Semi-submersible, TLP and Spar facilities
have two class options: FPS or FOI.
The FOI option is the least stringent class
available, and only includes class of the structure, marine and
utility systems. It is available in the U. S. Gulf of Mexico because
the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has its own requirements for
the oil production equipment. Therefore ABS offers the FOI class
excluding the MMS-verified equipment. Many owners have picked this
option, since it minimizes the cost of ABS services. However, some
have requested the full FPS class to ensure that an extra set of
qualified reviewers have verified the safety of all equipment onboard.
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8. What extra requirements (beyond statutory)
will I have to meet to obtain classification?
ABS requirements closely follow the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements, and these may be more
stringent than the local statutory requirements. In the U. S. Gulf
of Mexico, both the MMS and USCG have regulations. In some cases,
ABS has more stringent requirements based on either IMO requirements
or the collective experience of the Rule writers. For example, at
present the USCG requires building bulkheads within 100 feet of
the process facilities or drill floor to meet a fire rating of A
60, or 60 minutes for a solid material (class A) fire or smoke to
penetrate. ABS, however, in the 2000 Facilities Guide, requires
an H 60 rating, based on a hydrocarbon (class H) fire.
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