scope:

This Guide is applicable to all marine vessels and offshore units, herein referred to as vessels.

This Guide is intended for use by marine vessel and offshore unit owners, operators, designers, shipyards, equipment and system manufacturers, integrators and regulators.

The autonomous functions covered in this Guide focus on the functional capabilities which enable the operations of marine vessels and offshore units and do not imply unmanned operations. Besides the autonomous functions, unmanned operations consider other activities and factors, such as system maintenance, incidence handling and manning requirements, which are out of this Guide's scope. Fully autonomous and unmanned marine vessels and offshore units will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact ABS for further information.

To keep this Guide concise, references in this Guide are made to requirements in the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Marine Vessels and ABS Rules for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Units. Where the requirements are not stated for other vessel types, similar requirements will be applied. Contact ABS for clarification on applying these requirements to vessels not covered by the above-mentioned Rules.

This Guide is not applicable for underwater vehicle systems and hyperbaric facilities.