Rules for Building and Classing

Steel Barges

Notices and General Information

July 2025
RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING

STEEL BARGES
JULY 2025

NOTICES AND
GENERAL INFORMATION

American Bureau of Shipping

Incorporated by Act of Legislature of
the State of New York 1862

 2025 American Bureau of Shipping. All rights reserved.

ABS Plaza
1701 City Plaza Drive
Spring, TX 77389 USA
Notices and General Information

CONTENTS
Introduction........................................................................................................................ 1
TABLE 1 Applicable Editions of Parts Comprising July 2025 Barge
Rules ......................................................................................... 2
TABLE 2 Division and Numbering of Rules ............................................. 2
Rule Change Notice (1 July 2025) ................................................................................... 3
TABLE 3 Summary of Changes from the January 2025 Rules ............... 3

ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING STEEL BARGES . 2025 iii
Notices and General Information

Introduction
1. The 2025 edition of the Rules for Building and Classing Steel Barges has undergone a major
update to improve the clarity and ease of use of the Rules:
a) A goal-based standards approach has been introduced as an alternative path to compliance
appropriate for novel concepts, new technologies, and alternative arrangements.
b) Non-mandatory guidance has been added as Commentaries within the text of the Rules.
c) Notations have been clearly indicated as mandatory or optional.
2. The 2025 edition of the Rules for Building and Classing Steel Barges consists of the Parts as
shown in Table 1. Reference is made in these Rules to the following generic Rules:
a) Rules for Conditions of Classification (Part 1A) includes consolidated requirements for
“Classification” applicable to all types of and sizes of vessels, barges and specific
shipboard arrangements/systems, etc., except for those in offshore service, as specified in
the Foreword to Part 1A. Additional specific requirements are contained in Chapter 5 of
Part 1A.
b) Rules for Alternative Arrangements, Novel Concepts and New Technologies (Part 1D)
introduces a procedure for acceptance of alternative arrangements, novel concepts, and
new technologies based on Goals and Functional Requirements, including a consolidated
list of Tier 1 Goals.
c) Rules for Materials and Welding (Part 2) contains materials requirements common to
ABS-classed vessels, other marine structures and their associated machinery, including
steel, aluminum, and FRP materials.
d) Rules for Survey After Construction (Part 7) contains consolidated requirements for
“Surveys After Construction” applicable to all types and sizes of vessels, barges and
specific shipboard arrangements/systems, etc., as specified in Part 7, Chapter 1, Section 1.
3. The numbering system applied in the Rules is shown in Table 2.
4. The primary changes from the January 2025 Rules are identified and listed in Table 3. The
effective date of the indicated Rule Changes is 1 July 2025, unless specifically indicated otherwise.
5. The effective date of each technical change since 1993 is shown in parenthesis at the end of the
subsection/paragraph titles within the text of each Part. Unless a particular date and month are
shown, the years in parentheses refer to the following effective dates:

(2000) and after 1 January 2000 (and subsequent years) (1996) 9 May 1996
(1999) 12 May 1999 (1995) 15 May 1995
(1998) 13 May 1998 (1994) 9 May 1994
(1997) 19 May 1997 (1993) 11 May 1993

For certain changes that have a major impact on shipyards, designers and vendors, ABS has
instituted a two-year Rule cycle to give the industry more time to prepare for these changes. The
text of these changes will appear in a box along with the effective date just under the existing Rule
requirement.

ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING STEEL BARGES . 2025 1

Notices and General Information

TABLE 1
Applicable Editions of Parts Comprising July 2025 Barge Rules
Rules for Building and Classing Steel Barges
Notices and General Information July 2025
Part 3: Hull Construction and Equipment July 2025
Part 4: Barge Systems and Machinery January 2025
Part 5: Specific Barge Types July 2025
Rules for Conditions of Classification – not included
Part 1A: Rules for Conditions of Classification July 2025*
Rules for Alternative Arrangements, Novel Concepts and New Technologies – not included
Part 1D: Rules for Alternative Arrangements, Novel Concepts January 2024*
and New Technologies
Rules for Materials and Welding – not included
Part 2: Rules for Materials and Welding July 2025*
Rules for Survey After Construction – not included
Part 7: Rules for Survey After Construction July 2025*
* Note: The latest edition of these Rules is to be referred to. These Rules may be accessed in Rule Manager.

TABLE 2
Division and Numbering of Rules
Division Number
Part Part 1
Chapter Part 1, Chapter 1
Section Section 1-1-1
Subsection (see Note 1) 1-1-1/1
Paragraph (see Note 1) 1-1-1/1.1
Subparagraph 1-1-1/1.1.1
Item 1-1-1/1.1.1(a)
Subitem 1-1-1/1.1.1(a)i)
Appendix Appendix 1-1-A1 or Appendix 1-A1-1
Note:
1 An odd number (1, 3, 5, etc.) numbering system is used for the Rules. The purpose is to permit future insertions of
even-numbered paragraphs (2, 4, 6, etc.) of text and to avoid the necessity of having to renumber the existing text and
associated cross-references, as applicable, within the Rules and associated process instructions, check sheets, etc.

ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING STEEL BARGES . 2025 2

Notices and General Information

Rule Change Notice (1 July 2025)

TABLE 3
Summary of Changes from the January 2025 Rules
EFFECTIVE DATE 1 July 2025 – shown as (1 July 2025)
(based on the contract date for new construction between builder and Owner)
Part/Para. No. Title/Subject Status/Remarks
PART 3 Hull Construction and Equipment
3-2-1/15 Longitudinal Strength To provide clarity on the transverse strength analysis related
requirements and guidance on the simplified analysis procedure.
3-2-8/3.9, 3.11 Superstructures and Deckhouses To improve consistency in the design and review of weathertight
doors, especially in the application of minimum thickness
requirements.
PART 5 Specific Barge Types
5-2-4/1.2 Chemical Tank Barges To add Barge Type I, Type II, and Type III next to the “Chemical
Tank Barge” notation for consistency with the Ship Type 1, Ship Type
2, and Ship Type 3 that have been added next to the “Chemical
Carrier” notation in the Marine Vessel Rules.

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