46 CFR § 177.300 - Structural design.
Except as otherwise allowed by this subpart, a vessel must comply with the structural design requirements of one of the standards listed below for the hull material of the vessel.
(a) Wooden hull vessels: Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600);
(b) Steel hull vessels:
(1) Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft; or
(2) ABS Steel Vessel Rules (<61 Meters)(incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600);
(c) Fiber reinforced plastic vessels:
(1) Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft;
(2) ABS Plastic Vessel Rules (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600); or
(3) ABS High Speed Craft (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600);
(d) Aluminum hull vessels:
(1) Lloyd's Yachts and Small Craft; or
(i) For a vessel of more than 30.5 meters (100 feet) in length: ABS Aluminum Vessel Rules (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600); or
(ii) For a vessel of not more than 30.5 meters (100 feet) in length: ABS Steel Vessel Rules (<61 Meters), with the appropriate conversions from the ABS Aluminum Vessel Rules; or
(2) ABS High Speed Craft;
(e) Steel hull vessels operating in protected waters: ABS Steel Vessel Rules (Rivers/Intracoastal) (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 175.600).