ABS: Rules for Classification of Light and High-Speed Craft

The American Bureau of Shipping has published the Rules for Conditions of Classification - Light and HighSpeed Craft (Part 1 - LHSC).

This document was published on 1 July 2023 and entered into force on the same date.

In the July 2023 edition, parts "✠ AMS and ● AMS Notations", and "Asbestos Free Declaration" were added.

Foreword

Part 1, "Conditions of Classification," has been consolidated into a generic booklet entitled "Rules for Conditions of Classification - Light and High-Speed Craft (Part 1)" for all commercial high-speed craft and light warships, patrol, and high-speed naval vessels.

The consolidation aims to highlight the common applicability of the classification requirements in "Part 1" to ABS-classed light and high-speed craft, making it readily a common "Part" of the various ABS Rules and Guides, as appropriate.

Therefore, the booklet titled "Rules for Conditions of Classification - Light and High-Speed Craft (Part 1)" is considered applicable to and constitutes a "Part" of the following ABS Rules and Guides:

Rules for Building and Classing High-Speed Craft (HSC Rules)
Rules for Building and Classing Light Warships, Patrol and High-Speed Naval Vessels (LHSNV Rules)

Any unique "Conditions of Classification" requirements for a specific type of high-speed craft are specified in Chapters 2 and 3 of this Part 1.

The generic requirements in Chapter 1 should be used in conjunction with the relevant supplemental requirements for the specific type of high-speed craft.

Application

The application of the Rules and Guides is, in general, based on the contract date for construction between the shipbuilder and the prospective Owner. (e.g., Rules which became effective on 1 July 2011 are not applicable to a craft for which the contract for construction was signed on 30 June 2011.) See also 1-1-4/3.

Special consideration may be given to the application of the Rules and to the implementation of Rule changes to military vessels or craft owned by Governments for non-commercial purposes.

The requirements in these Rules are the common requirements for conditions of classification of craft.

Any unique requirements for a specific type of craft are specified in the supplement to these Rules in each of the Rules and Guides as listed in 1-1-4/1.1.

These Rules are to be used together with the applicable supplemental Rules for the specific type of unit or structure.

The HSC Rules are applicable to high-speed craft constructed of steel, aluminum, or FRP and having V/L not less than 2.36 (1.30) where L is as defined in 3-1-1/3 and V is as defined in 3-2-2/1.1.3.

The LHSNV Rules are applicable to naval, coast guard, and government vessels typically operating in the riverine, coastal, or littoral environments.

Examples of these types of vessel would be corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, high-speed patrol vessels, etc.

Larger naval vessels operating in unrestricted ocean service like frigates, destroyers, aircraft carriers, and amphibious support ships are intended to be classed in accordance with the ABS Guide for Building and Classing International Naval Ships.

This includes:

High-speed naval vessels constructed of steel, aluminum, or FRP and having V/L not less than 2.36 (1.30) where L is as defined in 3-1-1/3 and V is as defined in 3-2-2/1.3.1(c)
Non-high-speed monohull naval vessels constructed of steel, and having V/L less than 2.36 (1.30) where L is as defined in 3-1-1/3. Multi-hull vessels or vessels constructed of aluminum, or FRP will be specially considered

Applicable craft type and length are as follows: