will be assigned for a minimum design fatigue life of 20 years and published in the
Record. The fatigue life notation SFA (number of years) is assigned if the design
fatigue life is specified to be greater than 20 years. The (number of years) refers to the
design fatigue life equal to 25 years or more (in 5-year increments), as specified by the
owner or designer. When the SFA notation is requested for 25 years or more, the fatigue
analysis of 5/9.1 and 5/9.3 and Appendix A2 is also to satisfy the increased design fatigue
life of the drillship.
* Refer to the ABS Guide for the Fatigue Assessment of Offshore Structures or the ABS Guide for
Spectral-Based Fatigue Analysis for Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO)
Installations.
1.1.1(b) Dynamic Loading Approach. The application of Dynamic Loading Approach is optional
and when requested, the ABS Dynamic Loading Approach and notation DLA may be applied. The
ABS Dynamic Loading Approach and notation DLA may be applied to assess the adequacy of the
drillship structure. In such cases, the drillship will be classed and distinguished in the by the
notation DLA. The DLA notation will be placed after the appropriate hull classification notation.
The dynamic load components considered in the evaluation of the hull structure are to include the
external hydrodynamic pressure loads, internal dynamic loads (fluids stored onboard, ballast,
derrick structure, major equipment items, etc.) and inertial loads of the hull structure. The
magnitude of the load components and their combinations are to be determined from appropriate
ship motion response calculations for loading conditions that represent the envelope of maximum
dynamically-induced stresses in the drillship. The adequacy of the hull structure for all
combinations of the dynamic loadings in transit condition using the wave environment of the
North Atlantic with a 20-year service life is to be evaluated using an acceptable finite element
analysis method. In no case are the structural scantlings to be less than those obtained from other
requirements in this Guide.
1.1.1(c) Hull Construction Monitoring Program. Drillships designed and reviewed to the are to
comply with the requirements of the Offshore Hull Construction Monitoring Program in Appendix
A5 of this Guide and have the notation OHCM.
1.3
Application
1.3.1 General
This Guide contains hull structure, hull interface structure and topside structure design and
analysis requirements for the classification of new build drillships. This Guide is intended for use
in conjunction with the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Marine Vessels (Marine Vessel
Rules), ABS Rules for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Units (MOU Rules) or other
applicable ABS Rules and Guides. This Guide has many cross-references to the Marine Vessel
Rules and MOU Rules. These cross-references are presented in a simple format throughout this
Guide in order to provide quick reference to the users, (i.e., 1-2-3/4.5.6 of the Rules denotes Part
1, Chapter 2, Section 3/Subparagraph 4.5.6 of the Rules).
1.3.2 Ship Size and Proportion
The requirements contained in this Guide are applicable to drillships intended for having lengths
of 150 meters (492 feet) or more, and having parameters within the range as specified in 3-2-1/1
of the Marine Vessel Rules.
1.3.3 Direct Calculations
Direct calculations with respect to the determination of design loads and the establishment of
alternative strength criteria based on first principles, will be accepted for consideration, provided
that all the supporting data, analysis procedures and calculated results are fully documented and
submitted for review. In this regard, due consideration is to be given to the environmental
Section 1 Introduction 1
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