To:EngineManufacturersandFuelOilFilterManufacturers Subject:DieselEngineFuelOilFiltersFittedWithAluminumComponents SubsequenttoABSletterdated22October2010onfueloilfiltersfittedwithplasticbowls,ABS isintheprocessofissuingapolicyletteronthesubjectforallABSclassedvessels,MODUs,and facilities.WewouldliketosharethetechnicalbackgroundandproposedABSpolicyand provideyoutheopportunitytoprovideABSwithfeedbackbythe15thofDecember2010,at whichtimewewilldecideontheimplementationdateforreplacementorsubmissiondateof evidencetocomplywithprovisions7a7eforexistingaluminumfueloilfilters. Theuseofaluminummaterialinflammable/combustibleinliquidpipingsystemsmaynolonger beincompliancewithapplicablefiretestrequirementsestablishedbyIMOResolutionA.753 (18)andtheInternationalAssociationofClassificationSocietiesrequirements.Basedonour investigation,wehaveconcludedthatdata/testresultssubmittedforfueloilfiltersof aluminummaterialdonotsupporttheircompliancewithIMORes.A753(18)orISO 19921/19922.

. Wenotethespecificrequirementsfortheuseofaluminummaterialinflammable/combustible liquidpipingsystemareasfollows: 1.463/Table1ofSteelVesselRules(sameasotherABSClassedFacilityRules),IMO ResolutionA.753(18)&IACSURP4:Tobeofmetallicmaterialhavingameltingpointgreater than925oC(1700oF)forflammableliquids(flashpoint>60oC/140oF)whereinstalledin MachinerySpaces. 2.Reg.II2/4.2.2.5.1,II2/4.2.3&II2/4.2.4ofSOLASasAmended:Oilfuelpipesandtheir valvesandfittingsshallbeofsteelorotherapprovedmaterial. 3.USCG46CFR56.6020(a):Thelowmeltingpointsofmanynonferrousmaterialsand alloys,suchasaluminumandaluminumalloys,mustberecognized.Thesetypesofheat sensitivematerialsmustnotbeusedtoconductflammable,combustible,or dangerousfluid,orforvitalsystemsunlessapprovedbytheMarineSafetyCenter. 4.USCGMarineSafetyCenterTechnicalNoteMTN0210publishedApril19,2010:Prohibits theuseofheatsensitivemetallicpipingmaterialsinsystemsthatareflammableanduse combustiblefluidsforavitalsystem.However,aluminumfuelpipinghavingathicknessnot lessthanSchedule80ispermittedforvitalsystemsofaluminumhulledvesselsforsmall passengervessels>150personsand<100GT(vesselsunderSubchapterK). 5.IACSUIDraft(PM5907)whichhasnotbeenissuedyet:Formachineryorengineattached

pipingandcomponents,alowmeltingpointmaterial(suchasaluminum)componentinanoil systemmaybeconsideredprovideditcomplieswitheither: a)Alowriskoffailureduetolimitedfireor, b)Thereareonlylimitedconsequencesoffailureduetofire. Notwithstandingtherequirementslistedabove,althoughthemeltingpointofaluminum material(533580oC/991oF1076oF)islowerthantherequiredfiretesttemperatureof ISO19921/19922(800oC/1472oF)orIMORes.A.753(18)[925oC/1700oF],thealuminumpipe andpipefittingsaswellasthesubjectaluminumbowlfueloilfilters(hereunderreferredtoas aluminumcomponentinthisinterpretation)maybeconsideredinthefueloiland/orother combustibleoilsystemsinamachineryspaceasexplainedinthepolicybelow. Asaresult,theexistingABSpolicyofacceptingaluminumfueloilfilters,pipe,andfittings locatedinamachineryspacebasedonarecognizedstandardisbeingrevised.UL1105and ASTMF120188arenolongerconsideredasrecognizedfiretestingstandardsforaluminumfuel oilfiltersalongwithaluminumbowlsandtheexistingABSTypeApproval/PDAwillberevised effectiveof1stofJanuary2011. Accordingly,thefollowingpolicyonaluminumfueloilfiltersistobefollowed: 1.Aluminumfueloilfiltersandaluminumbowlsarenottobeinstalledinmachineryspaces onanABSclassedvessel,MODU,orfacilityafter1January2011,unlessitcomplieswiththe provisionsof7a7e. 2.Aluminumfueloilfiltersandaluminumbowlsaretobereplacedwithsteelfiltersbythe nextAnnualMachinerySurveyscheduledafter1June2011,unlessitcomplieswiththe provisionsof7a7e. 3.Installationofnewfiltersandreviewofmanufacturersdocumentationwillbeconfirmed bytheattendingSurveyorattheAnnualMachinerySurvey. 4.Allexistingtypeapprovalsforaluminumfueloilfiltersinmachineryspaceswillnolonger bevalidafter1January2011. 5.Aluminumfueloilfiltersandaluminumbowlswillonlybeapprovedforuseinlocations otherthanmachineryspaceswhereplasticpipingispermittedbytheSteelVesselRules. 6.Onceamanufacturerhassubmittedtestresultsbyarecognizedindependenttest laboratoryorwitnessedbyanABSSurveyorsupportingthatthefiltersmeetABSRulesincluding theIMOorISOfiretest,ABSispreparedtoapprovealuminumfuelfiltersandaluminum bowlsforlocationspermittedbytheRulesandIMOrequirements. 7.Notwithstandingtheapplicabletechnicalrequirements,aluminumpipeandpipefittings aswellasthesubjectaluminumbowlfueloilfiltersmaybeconsideredinthefueloiland/or

othercombustibleoilsystemsinamachineryspaceonanABSclassedvessel,MODU, orfacilityifitcomplieswiththefollowingfiveitemsbelow: a.Componentsthatareconsideredtobe"inherentlyresistanttoalimitedfire"wouldnot requiretobe"firetested".Examplesofcomponentsthatareconsideredtobe"inherently resistanttoalimitedfire"wouldbelargecomponents,generallyinexcessof25kg(without consideringtheliquidweight)andbemachinedfromasolidcastingorforgingorofsubstantial andthickwalledconstruction(suchasavalveblock),plainpiecesofpipe(forsystemswhere thepipesareliquidfull).Allothercomponentswhicharenotconsideredtobe"inherently resistanttoalimitedfire"wouldberequiredtobe"firetested"toISO19921/19922orIMORes. A753.Analuminumoilfilterwouldberequiredtopassthefiretest.Insulationmaybe provided,suchthatthefilterwouldbeabletopassthefiretest. b.Volumeofoilthatcouldbereleasedfromthealuminumcomponentasaconsequenceto failureduetofireislimitedto20litersandthesystempressureislimitedto7bar. c.Aluminumcomponentsarelocatedin/ontheenginesormachineryintheareaprotected bythefixedlocalapplicationfireextinguishingsystemrequiredbyReg.II2/10.5.6ofSOLASas Amended.Thefixedlocalapplicationfireextinguishingsystemrequirementmaynotbeapplied tothecomponentlocatedin/onthegearboxwhichisintheseparatedlocationfromengines. d.Aluminumcomponentistobeinsulatedtomeetthefiretest,ifrequired,bynonoil absorbentmaterials.Theinsulationistobepermanentlyattachedandcannotbeeasily separatedfromthecomponent. e.Driptraywithdrainsystemisprovidedunderneaththealuminumcomponent IfthereareanyquestionsorfeedbackregardingthistopicortheapplicableIMOResolution, pleasecontacttheundersignedatpsantos@eagle.org. BestRegards, PedroN.Santos AmericanBureauofShipping PrincipalSurveyor CorporateClassification Tel:12818776423 Email:psantos@eagle.org

CC:ChiefSurveyor,ChiefEngineer,AssistantChiefSurveyors, AssistantChiefEngineers,ABSProgramsDirector,TCD