General This Guide describes a slamming strength assessment procedure for vessels. Typically@ there are three types of slamming loads on commercial vessels: bottom slamming@ bowflare slamming@ and stern slamming depending upon the hull geometry at the bow and stern. Upon verifying compliance with the requirements in this Guide@ optional notations may be assigned to a vessel. A fundamental requirement of this Guide is that the scantlings of the hull structure are to be in accordance with the criteria as specified in the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels (Steel Vessel Rules). The results of this Guide are not to be used to reduce the basic scantlings obtained from the application of the Steel Vessel Rules. That is@ if the results from this Guide indicate the need to increase any basic scantlings@ the increased scantlings are to be implemented above the rule requirements. If software other than that provided by ABS is used@ the analysis results for a benchmark case specified by ABS are to be submitted to demonstrate that the software is compatible with the procedure described in this Guide.