scope:

Foreword

The 2010 edition of the Rules for Building and Classing Underwater Vehicles, Systems and Hyperbaric Facilities incorporates all Rule Changes and Corrigenda items since 2002 and has been reorganized to separate the general requirements of the Underwater Rules from the specific requirements that are applicable to a particular category of underwater vehicles, systems and hyperbaric facilities.

• Sections 1 through 10 provide the general requirements that are applicable to all categories of underwater vehicles, systems and hyperbaric facilities.

• Section 11 provides the specific requirements that are applicable to manned submersibles.

• Section 12 provides the specific requirements that are applicable to diving systems.

Several changes were made to provide consistency with ASME PVHO-1-2007. Also, some requirements have been revised for clarity and others to more accurately reflect actual practice. References to other ABS Rules have been updated in line with the current numbering system.

The effective date of each technical change is shown in parentheses at the end of the subsection/paragraph titles within the text of each Section. Unless a particular date and month are shown, the effective date is 1 January of the year shown.