REGULATORY UPDATEMeeting New Heated Cargo Vessel Regs; ABS Hull Requirements Implemented BY FRITZ WALDORFith the publication of the 2015 Rules for Building Wand Classing Steel Barges, ABS has amended the rules to require the submittal of a steady state tempera-ture distribution for Oil Tank Barges that carry heated cargos at temperatures greater than 50°C (122°F) and a struc-tural assessment to determine the re-sulting thermal stresses in barges where the steel temperature is expected to ex-ceeds 50°C (122°F). While similar re-quirements have been in place for sev-20 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • AUGUST 2015MR #8 (18-25).indd 20 MR #8 (18-25).indd 20 8/4/2015 9:33:59 AM8/4/2015 9:33:59 AM