A Introduction

10.1 One of the important distinctions between an onshore EPC project and a typical offshore construction contract is the degree to which the concept of acceptance of the work gives rise to major causes of concern. The acceptance stage of an onshore EPC project, although not always straightforward, is generally managed in a methodical and systematic way. In contrast, the acceptance stage of an offshore construction project may often be undertaken in an almost febrile state, with parties exchanging allegations of default and threatening to exercise their legal remedies.1