Introduction 1. The year 2016 edition of the Rules for Building and Classing Steel Barges consists of the eight (8) booklets as shown in Table 1. With regard to three booklets@ Part 1@ Part 2@ and Part 7: a) The purpose of the generic title ABS Rules for Conditions of Classification (Part 1) is to reflect the expanded contents of PART 1@ as a result of including consolidated requirements for ??Classification?? applicable to all types of and sizes of vessels@ barges and specific shipboard arrangements/systems@ etc.@ except for those in offshore service@ as specified in the Foreword to Part 1. Additional specific requirements are contained in Part 1 of these Rules for Building and Classing Steel Barges. b) The purpose of the generic title ABS Rules for Materials and Welding of PART 2 is to emphasize the common applicability of the requirements to ABS-classed vessels@ other marine structures and their associated machinery@ and thereby make PART 2 more readily a common ??PART?? of various ABS Rules and Guides@ as appropriate. c) The purpose of the generic title ABS Rules for Survey After Construction (Part 7) is to reflect the expanded contents of PART 7@ as a result of including consolidated requirements for ??Surveys After Construction?? applicable to all types and sizes of vessels@ barges and specific shipboard arrangements/systems@ etc.@ as specified in Part 7@ Chapter 1@ Section 1.