Part
Chapter
Section
4
1
1
Vessel Systems and Machinery
General
Classification of Machinery
4-1-1
TABLE 3
Certification Details - Electrical and Control Equipment (2025)
Electrical and Control Equipment
ABS
Approval Tier
(1A-1-A4/1)
Rule Reference
1.
Generators and motors for essential services ≥ 100 kW (135 hp)
4/5
4-8-3/3 , 4-8-5/3.13.1(high
voltage)
2.
Motors ≥ 100 kW (135 hp) for liquified gas cargo or vapor
handling services.
4/5
5C-8-10/2.12 , 4-8-3/3.17
3.
(2017) Generators and motors for essential services < 100 kW
(135 hp)
1
4-8-3/3.1
4.
Motors < 100 kW (135 hp) for liquified gas cargo or vapor
handling services.
1
4-8-3/3, 5C-8-10
5.
Propulsion generators and motors ≥ 100 kW (135 hp)
5
4-8-3/3 , 4-8-5/5.17.5,
4-8-5/3.11.1 (high voltage)
6.
Switchboards (propulsion, main and emergency)
4/5
4-8-3/5.11.1 , 4-8-5/3.13.2
(high voltage)
7.
Motor controllers for essential services (See 4-8-1/7.3.3) ≥ 100
kW (135 hp) and for services indicated in 4-8-3/Table 7 ≥ 100 kW
(135 hp)
4/5
4-8-3/5.11.1
8.
Motor controllers ≥ 100 kW (135 hp) for liquified gas cargo or
vapor handling services.
4/5
5C-8-10/2.12
9.
Motor control centers including motor controller for essential
services (See 4-8-1/7.3.3) ) ≥ 100 kW (135 hp) and for services
indicated in 4-8-3/15 TABLE 7 of aggregate load ≥ 100 kW (135
hp)
5
4-8-3/5.11.1
10.
Motor controllers for steering gear
5
4-8-3/5.11.1
11.
Motor control centers ≥ 100 kW (135 hp) for liquified gas cargo
or vapor handling services.
4/5
4-8-3/5.11.1, 5C-8-10/2.12
12.
Battery charging and discharging units of 25 kW and over for
essential services (see 4-8-1/7.3.3), for services indicated in
4-8-3/5.9 or for emergency/transitional source of power.
4/5
4-8-3/5.11.1
13
Computer-based battery charging and discharging units of 25 kW
and over for essential services (see 4-8-1/7.3.3), for services
indicated in 4-8-3/5.9, or for emergency/transitional source of
power, or for services covered under optional notations, including
battery chargers under 25 kW.
4/5
4-8-3/5.11.1, 4-9-9/Table 1
14.
Uninterruptible power system (UPS) units of 50 kVA and over for
essential services (see 4-8-1/7.3.3), for services indicated in
4-8-3/15 TABLE 7, or for emergency/transitional source of power.
4/5
4-8-3/5.11.1
15
Computer-based UPS controllers of 50 kVA and over for essential
services (see 4-8-1/7.3.3), for services indicated in 4-8-3/15
TABLE 7, or for emergency/transitional source of power systems,
or for services covered under optional notations, including UPS
units under 50 kVA
4/5
4-8-3/5.11.1, 4-9-9/Table 1
ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MARINE VESSELS • 2026
18
Part
Chapter
Section
4
1
1
Vessel Systems and Machinery
General
Classification of Machinery
Electrical and Control Equipment
4-1-1
ABS
Approval Tier
(1A-1-A4/1)
Rule Reference
16.
Distribution boards associated with the charging or discharging of
the battery system of 25 kW and over for emergency source and
transitional source of power
4/5
4-8-3/5.11.1
17.
Distribution boards associated with the uninterruptible power
system (UPS) units of 50 kVA and over used for essential services
(see 4-8-1/7.3.3), for services indicated in 4-8-3/15 TABLE 7 or
for emergency/transitional source of power
4/5
4-8-3/5.11.1
18.
Power transformers for essential services and for emergency
source of power and converters of low voltage
2
4-8-3/7
19.
Semiconductor converters used to control motor drives having a
rated power of 100 kW and over intended for essential services or
for services indicated in 4-8-3/15 TABLE 7.
4/5
4-8-3/8
20.
Non-sparking fans
2
4-8-3/11, 5C-8-12/1.7,
5C-9-12/1.8, 5C-13-13/3.3
21.
Plastic Cable Tray and Protective Casing
2
4-8-4/21.9.4, 4-8-4-A1
22.
Power transformers ≥ 100 kVA and converters for high voltage
systems exceeding 1 kV, for essential or emergency source of
power
4/5
4-8-5/3.7.5(e) , 4-8-3/8
23.
Cables
2
4-8-5/3.13.3 (high voltage),
4-8-3/9.17, 4-8-3/9.5
24.
Propulsion cables
4/5
4-8-5/5.17.11
25.
Circuit breakers & fuses
1
4-8-3/5.3.3, 4-8-3/5.3.4
26.
Circuit breakers with computer-based tripping units
3
4-8-3/5.3.3, 4-8-3/5.3.4,
4-9-9/Table 1
27.
Certified safe equipment
2
4-8-3/13.1, 4-8-4/27.13
28.
Electronic Governors/ Governors
2
4-2-1/7.3.3.iii
29.
Cable penetration devices
2
4-8-1/5.3.1
30.
Semiconductor converters for propulsion
4/5
4-8-5/5.17.8
31.
Generator prime mover remote control system
4/5
4-9-9/1, 4-9-3/8, 4-9-9/13 for
additional ACC, ACCU and
ABCU requirements ,
4-9-13, 4-9-14 (as
applicable)
32.
Remote auxiliary machinery control system
4/5
4-9-9/1,4-9-3/8, 4-9-9/13 for
additional ACC, ACCU and
ABCU requirements, 4-9-13,
4-9-14 (as applicable)
33.
Centralized control and monitoring console for ACC, ACCU and
ABCU notations
2
4-9-1/7.5, 4-1-1/1.9.1,
4-9-3/8, 4-9-9/1, 4-9-13,
4-9-14 (as applicable)
ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MARINE VESSELS • 2026
19
Part
Chapter
Section
4
1
1
Vessel Systems and Machinery
General
Classification of Machinery
Electrical and Control Equipment
4-1-1
ABS
Approval Tier
(1A-1-A4/1)
Rule Reference
34.
Control, monitoring and safety system devices, including
computers, programmable logic controllers, instrumentation (e.g.,
electrical/ electronic sensors, transmitters, actuators), etc., for
DPS, ACC and ACCU notations and other computer-based
systems of Categories II and III. (1)
4/5
4-9-3/8, 4-9-9/13.1,
4-6-2/9.11 (for
instrumentation), 4-9-13,
4-9-14 (as applicable)
35.
Complete assembly or subassembly units
4/5
4-9-3/8, 4-9-9/13.1,
4-6-2/9.11 (for
instrumentation), 4-9-13,
4-9-14 (as applicable)
36.
Steering control system and computer-based steering system
5
4-3-4/13.9, 4-9-3/8.3.7,
4-9-13, 4-9-14 (as
applicable)
37.
Boiler control system (4-9-1/7.3)
5
4-4-1/11.5, 4-9-3/8, 4-9-13,
4-9-14 (as applicable)
38.
CPP control system
5
4-9-3/8 , 4-9-13, 4-9-14 (as
applicable)
39.
Control, Safety and Automatic shutdown Systems for generators
driven by Gas turbines using gas as fuel
4/5
5C-8-A8/15.1, 5C-13-10/
A1-15.1
40.
Control, Safety and Automatic shutdown Systems for generators
driven by Engines using gas as fuel
4/5
4-2-1/13.7.4, 4-9-9,
5C-8-16/7.3, 5C-8-A7/5,
5C-8-A7/7.3.2, 5C-8-A7/3.7,
5C-13-15/7, 5C-13-15/11.5
41.
Cable Management System
4
6-4-3/13
Note:
1
Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) computer-based system devices such as PLC's, I/O devices, transmitters,
transducers, electrical/electronic sensors, etc., can be assigned Tier 2 or Tier 3 as applicable.
TABLE 4
Certification Details - Fire Safety Equipment (2025)
Fire Safety Equipment
ABS
Approval Tier
(1A-1-A4/1)
Rule Reference
Section 1: Fire Detection and Alarm System Components
1.
Fire detection and alarm system components
2
4-7-3/11
2.
Computer-based fire detection and alarm panel
4/5
4-7-3/11, 4-9-3, 4-9-13,
4-9-14 (as applicable)
Section 2: Gas Detection and Alarm system Components
2.
Fixed Hydrocarbon Gas Detection System
2
5C-2-3/20
3.
Liquefied Gas Cargo Gas Detection
2
5C-8-13/6
4.
Gas or Low Flashpoint Fuel Gas Detection
2
5C-13-15
5.
Chemical Cargo Gas Detection
2
5C-9-13/2
ABS RULES FOR BUILDING AND CLASSING MARINE VESSELS • 2026
20