The maritime authority of Norway, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD), has extended its authorization to class society ABS to include Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) in its scope as a Recognized Organization (RO). This entitles ABS to class Norwegian-flagged rigs without having to perform additional safety equivalencies or a GAP analysis to meet Norwegian law. The additional annex to the existing agreement between NMD and ABS was signed the week of Feb. 23 in Haugesund, Norway by ABS President and COO Christopher J.