In an industry first, ABS has published guidance to enable internal examination of tanks beyond the typical five-year requirements to once every 10 years with options to have additional expanded survey intervals.

The new guidance has the potential to maximize operational uptime for site-dependent assets such as floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), floating production and storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs), floating storage and offloading vessels (FSOs) and floating offshore liquefied gas terminals (FLGTs).

Such units are often engaged in long-term employment on a single site and face challenges in maintaining the tank examination schedule during the traditional five-year period. Tank inspections are also potentially hazardous, so reducing the inspection frequency without compromising the structural integrity of the asset can advance safety performance.

Announced at the 2025 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), the ABS Guide for Modified Tank Entry Programprovides a program for qualifying site-specific assets that allows for extending tank entry.

“Maximizing operational efficiency and uptime without compromising safety is crucial in the dynamic offshore production sector, especially as long-term contracts for FPSOs and FSRUs become increasingly common,” said Miguel Hernandez, ABS Senior Vice President of Global Offshore. “The modified tank entry program (MTEP) represents a pivotal change for qualified assets, minimizing operational downtime while ensuring safety standards are maintained.”

The MTEP is to include the structural and cargo containment aspects of the tank along with all electrical, mechanical piping, valves, and machinery and components inside the tank normally subject to close-up surveys. Assets with integral equipment in the cargo tanks are to be enrolled in an approved preventative maintenance program (PMP) that allows for alternative means to credit surveys to qualify for the MTEP.

For more than 70 years, ABS has been at the forefront of advancing safety and innovation for the offshore industry. As a trusted global leader in verification, certification and classification services, ABS continues to play a critical role in supporting innovation and efficient operations for offshore production units.