PART

5A/5B
APPENDIX

Guide for SafeShip Construction

Monitoring Program (1 April 2006)

(This Appendix applies to Part 5A and Part 5B of the Rules for Building and Classing
Steel Vessels.)

Introduction
The structural strength criteria specified in the ABS Rules are used by designers to establish
acceptable scantlings in order that a vessel constructed to such standards and properly maintained will
have adequate durability and capability to resist the failure modes of yielding, buckling and fatigue.
The application of Part 5A Common Structural Rules for Double Hull Oil Tankers, Part 5B
Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers and other review techniques to assess a design for
compliance with Rule criteria also gives the designer and ABS the ability to identify areas that are
considered critical to satisfactory in-service performance.
Knowing that the actual structural performance is also a function of construction methods and
standards, it is prudent to identify critical areas, particularly those approaching design limits, and use
appropriate specified construction quality standards and associated construction monitoring and
reporting methods to limit the risk of unsatisfactory in-service performance.
Accordingly, this Guide defines what is meant by critical areas, describes how they are to be
identified and recorded, delineates what information the shipyard is to include in the construction
monitoring plan and lays out the certification regime to be followed.

Application
Vessels designed and reviewed to Part 5A and Part 5B of the ABS Rules are to comply with the
requirements of this Guide and have the notation CSR, SafeShip-CM.

Critical Area
The term critical area, as used in this Guide, is defined as an area within the structure that may have a
higher probability of failure during the life of the vessel compared to the surrounding areas, even
though they may have been modified in the interest of reducing such probability. The higher
probability of failure can be a result of stress concentrations, high stress levels and high stress ranges
due to loading patterns, structural discontinuities or a combination of these factors.

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Part
5A/5B Specific Vessel Types
Appendix 1
Guide for SafeShip Construction Monitoring Program

5A/5B-A1

In order to provide an even greater probability of satisfactory in-service performance, the areas that
are approaching the acceptance criteria can be identified so that additional attention may be paid
during fabrication.
The objective of heightened scrutiny of building tolerance and monitoring in way of the critical areas
is to minimize the effect of stress increases incurred as a result of the construction process. Improper
alignment and fabrication tolerances may be potentially influential in creating construction-related
stress.

Determination of Critical Areas

Critical areas can be determined in a number of ways, including but not limited to:

i)

The results of engineering strength and fatigue analyses, such as specified in the ABS Rules
Section 5A-9 or Chapters 5B-7 and 5B-8, particularly for areas approaching the allowable
criteria.

ii)

The application of ABS Rules, such as 3-1-2/15.3 and Section 5A-4-3/2.

iii)

Details where fabrication is difficult, such as blind alignment, complexity of structural details
and shape, limited access, etc.

iv)

Input from owners, designers and/or shipyards based on previous in-service experience from
similar vessels, such as corrosion, wear and tear, etc.

Construction Monitoring Plan

A Construction Monitoring Plan for critical areas is to be prepared by the shipyard and submitted for
approval prior to the start of fabrication. The plan is to include:
i)

Structural drawings indicating the location of critical areas as identified by the ABS review
(see 5A/5B-A1/7).

ii)

Construction standards and control procedures to be applied.

iii)

Verification and recording procedures at each stage of construction, including any proposed
nondestructive testing.

iv)

Procedures for defect correction.

An approved copy of the Construction Monitoring plan is to be placed onboard the vessel.

11

Surveys After Construction

To monitor critical areas during service, an approved copy of the Construction Monitoring Plan
should be available for all subsequent surveys.

13

Notation
Vessels having been found in compliance with the requirements of this Guide may be distinguished in
the Record with the notation CSR, SafeShip-CM.

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ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING STEEL VESSELS . 2007