Marine Advisory: 38/2025 - Recognition of Option B equivalency of the Republic of Liberia Mobile Offshore Unit Standards, Chapters I and II (RLM 293) by The United States Coast Guard (USCG)

(b) TEC-009 - RLM 293, Chapter II - Requirements for Mobile Offshore

Drilling Units (MODUs) that do not meet the 1979, 1989, or 2009 MODU Codes

Purpose

The purpose of this Advisory is to provide guidance to owners of Mobile Offshore Units covered under reference (b).

Regulatory Compliance for foreign-flagged Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) operating in the United States outer continental shelf (OCS) under Option B

A USCG Certificate of Compliance (COC) issued under the provisions of 33 CFR 143.207(b) (design & equipment) and/or 33 CFR 146.205(b) (operations), also known as Option “B”, allows for compliance with the standards of the MODU’s documenting foreign -flagged nation, if the standards provide a level of safety generally equivalent to or greater than that provided under 46 CFR Parts 108 and 109.

The Republic of Liberia MODU Requirements references (a) and (b) have been recognized by the USCG as providing a level of safety generally equivalent to that provided under CFR 46 CFR 108 and 109.

This equivalency does not extend to any non-self-propelled MODU built or contracted on or after December 31, 1981, or any self-propelled MODU regardless of the built or contracted year.

Please refer to the attached letter of equivalency for further details on supplemental requirements.

For more information, please contact the Regulations and Standards Department at regsandstandards@liscr.com or telephone +1 703 790 3434.

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