The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is an American maritime classification society established in 1862. Its stated mission to promote the security of life, property, and the natural environment, primarily through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine and offshore assets.
ABS's core business is providing global classification services to the marine, offshore, and gas industries. As of 2020, ABS was the second largest class society with a classed fleet of over 12,000 commercial vessels and offshore facilities. ABS develops its standards and technical specifications, known collectively as the ABS Rules & Guides. These Rules form the basis for assessing the design and construction of new vessels and the integrity of existing vessels and marine structures.
History
ABS was first chartered in the state of New York in 1862 as the American Shipmasters’ Association (ASA) to certify qualified ship captains, or shipmasters, for safe ship operations during the Civil War. While ASA's certificates were not an official requirement for shipmasters, the certificate served as a recommendation for shipowners. Vessels that sailed with a certified ASA shipmaster were more likely to find favorable insurance coverage.
The ASA published its first technical standards, Rules for Survey and Classing Wooden Vessels, in 1870. In the late 19th century, wooden ships became obsolete and gave way to iron as a shipbuilding material. In response, ASA published its first Rules for Survey and Classing of Iron Vessels in 1877. Similarly, when iron gave way to steel, ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels were established and published in 1890. These Steel Vessel Rules continue to be revised and published annually.
The ASA continued its program of certifying shipmasters until May 1900. By this time, federal law required that the United States government license most sea officers. As its business shifted from the certification of shipmasters to the classification of ships, the American Shipmasters’ Association renamed itself the American Bureau of Shipping in 1898. ABS would achieve modest growth over the next few years, classing 21% of all US-flag fleet by 1916. During World War I, the US-flag fleet swelled with newly acquired ships as well as newly constructed or refurbished vessels. ABS received a large amount of this class work, and the total tonnage classed by ABS increased from approximately 230,000 tons in 1916 to 3,301,000 tons in 1919. A similar effect occurred during the Second World War as ABS tonnage in the class jumped from 1.53 million gross tons in 1940 to 5.49 million gross tons in 1941.
As postwar recovery led to industrialization around the world, ABS entered a period of global expansion and soon opened offices in Western Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. By 1962, ABS class tonnage has increased to 46,533,852 tons worldwide. ABS’ aggregate tonnage hit a record of 193.5 million gross tons in 2012. ABS also strengthened its ties with the U.S. government by providing services to numerous government organizations such as the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, the U.S. Maritime Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Organization and management
ABS has been organized as a not-for-profit since its founding in 1862. ABS has been commissioned by the U.S. government and the US Coast Guard to act in many maritime matters and has hired several former officers from the Coast Guard. ABS is required under US law to maintain its status as a not-for-profit organization to maintain its role as the agent of the US government on matters of government vessel classification.
Since 2011, Christopher J. Wiernicki has served as ABS's president and Chief Executive Officer. Wiernicki became the Chairman of ABS in 2012. The ABS world headquarters is located in Spring, Texas, USA. ABS is currently organized by market sector: Global Marine, Global Offshore and Government Services. There are over 5,500 employees worldwide, with offices in Spring, London, Singapore, and Shanghai. ABS surveyors and engineers work at major ports worldwide including Houston, Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Shanghai, Busan, Yokohama, Genoa, Gdańsk, Hamburg and other cities. Surveyors are employed in ports and shipyards worldwide to verify that marine asset are in suitable condition, meet class requirements and built according to drawings.