American Bureau of Shipping
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is a leading global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries. Established in 1862, it is one of the oldest classification societies in the world. ABS is headquartered in Houston, Texas, USA.
Primary Functions and Services
Classification
ABS classifies ships and offshore structures, ensuring they comply with specific standards related to design, construction, and operational maintenance. Classification is the cornerstone of ABSâs activities. The process includes:
- Review and approval of design plans
- Surveys during and after construction to confirm adherence to standards
- Periodic inspections throughout the lifecycle of the asset
Certification
ABS provides certification services for various regulations and standards, ensuring that marine assets meet international and national safety requirements. This includes:
- Safety Management Systems (SMS) under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code
- International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code
- Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) compliance
Technical Advisory and Consultancy
ABS offers advisory services to help clients enhance the performance and operational efficiency of their assets. This includes:
- Risk assessment and management
- Environmental compliance
- Energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives
- Data-driven decision-making using digital technologies and analytics
Research and Development
ABS invests significantly in research and development to stay at the forefront of industry trends and technological advancements. This helps them to offer forward-thinking solutions for emerging challenges in the marine and offshore sectors.
Industry Focus
ABS serves a wide range of sectors including:
- Commercial shipping (tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, etc.)
- Offshore energy (oil and gas platforms, wind farms, etc.)
- Government and military vessels
- Yachts and leisure craft
Digital Solutions
In recent years, ABS has incorporated digital technologies to provide smart solutions for asset management. This includes:
- Remote survey and inspection capabilities
- Condition-based monitoring and maintenance
- Integration of Internet of Things (IoT) for real-time data collection and analytics
Global Presence
ABS operates globally, with a network of offices and surveyors in major port cities around the world. This allows them to provide timely and localized services to their clients.
Commitment to Safety and Environmental Stewardship
A core part of ABSâs mission is to promote safety at sea and the environmental sustainability of marine and offshore operations. They collaborate with industry stakeholders to develop and refine standards that protect human life, property, and the environment.
Affiliations and Subsidiaries
ABS is part of the ABS Group of Companies, which provides risk management and technical services to a wide range of sectors beyond marine and offshore, including power and energy, manufacturing, and government services.
Leadership and Reputation
With a history of over 160 years, ABS has a well-established reputation for quality, reliability, and continuous improvement. Its leadership in the field is backed by its rigorous approach to technical standards and its proactive stance on innovation and sustainability.
For more information, you can visit their official website at www.eagle.org.
Ships and so on
- Phone: Li
- Web: www.eagle.com
- Fax: 281-877-6795
Locations
American Bureau Of Shipping News
Future Fuels: Momentum Builds for Ammonia
Strong demand is driving development but emissions issues remain, writes René Sejer Laursen, ABS Director â Fuels & Technology, Global SustainabilityThe interest in ammonia stems both from its zero emissions when used as fuel and because its production isnât dependent on biogenic carbon sources.To realize large-scale production of green ammonia to serve new markets, its production capacity, along with that of renewable electricity and green hydrogenâŚ
Classification and Building the New Fuels Pathway
Long-term initiatives led by classification societies are building the foundation for future fuels uptake.About this time last year, ABS CEO Chris Wiernicki said: âWhen you look at where we are and the steepness of the curve ahead, the biggest risk is the unintended safety consequences of change.â Class, he says, is built for the intersection between technology, safety and regulations and must be prepared.Work is underway.
Simulators Track our Changing Relationship with Technology
Simulation-based training has its whole-of-ship/whole-of-team scenarios, but zooming in, the industry is now working on more specific targets.We have a close relationship with technology, evidenced by, for example, the phones we are estimated to unlock around 50-80 times a day. It has changed us. Half the people surveyed in a 2022 Kingâs College London study said that they feel like their attention span is shorter than it used to be.
One-on-One: Rob Langford, VP, Global Offshore Wind, ABS
As the U.S. offshore wind industry endures a predictable number of stops and starts during its adolescence, common mantras are âlearn from the established European modelâ and âembrace technology transfer from the offshore oil and gas sector.â In Robert Langford, the American Bureau of Shipping has all of that and more bundled in one neat package.Rob Langford has worked in the offshore industry for more than three decadesâŚ
Simulators Track our Changing Relationship with Technology
Simulation-based training has its whole-of-ship/whole-of-team scenarios, but zooming in, the industry is now working on more specific targets.We have a close relationship with technology, evidenced by, for example, the phones we are estimated to unlock around 50-80 times a day. It has changed us. Half the people surveyed in a 2022 Kingâs College London study said that they feel like their attention span is shorter than it used to be.
ABS Embarks Project to Advance Offshore Electrical Power Bunkering
American Bureau Of Shipping (ABS) has joined the BlueBARGE project, a program funded by the Horizon Europe program and involving 14 partners from 10 European countries to develop a comprehensive solution for offshore electrical power bunkering.ABS is leading the 36-month, $11.9 million (âŹ11 million) project and will support the consortium in safety, classification and regulatory compliance.To limit local pollution and greenhouse gas emissionsâŚ
Preparing for Change, ABS Enhances the Marine Vessels Rules Book
As maritime faces transcendent changes in regards to decarbonization, digitalization and automation, innovators from inside and outside of the industry will be challenged to deliver new applications and technologies with increased speed and frequency. Sitting at the center of the innovation storm are classification societies, and earlier this year the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) became the first classification society to incorporate goal-based standards throughout major rule setsâŚ
Three Questions: Matt Tremblay, VP, Global Offshore Markets, ABS
The American Bureau of Shipping dominates the global market in the classification of Floating Production. Offshore Engineer recently sat with Matt Tremblay, ABSâ Vice President of Global Offshore Markets, at American Bureau of Shipping HQ in Houston for his insights on market drivers and technical trends in this dynamic market.Matt, big picture, how do you see the Floating Production market developing in the coming years?At a macro levelâŚ
ABS' Wiernicki Tells COP28: Safety is a Catalyst for Decarbonization Innovation
âSafety is not merely a box to check but a dynamic force shaping the trajectory of our industry. It acts as both a boundary condition, defining the limits within which we operate, and a catalyst for change, propelling us toward innovative solutions and practices that align with our commitment to a greener future.âThat was the message to shipping industry leaders at COP28 from ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J.
Wabtec, Marinsa Win 20-Engine Deal for New Panama Canal Tugboats
Wabtec Corporation and Latin American Channel Partner, Marinsa International, signed a contract to supply the primary power for 10 new hybrid tractor tugboats for the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Wabtec will deliver two 8L250MDA marine engines for each tugboat.âWabtec is delighted to power the new hybrid Panama Canal tugs with the 8L250MDA marine engines,â said Tammy Gromacki, Wabtecâs Vice President of Marine, Stationary and Drill.
ABS Grants Approval for Bumi Armada FLNG Design
The American Bureau of Shipping has awarded an approval in principle (AIP) to Malaysian floating production firm Bumi Armada for a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) infrastructure design. The new concept incorporates a barge-based liquefaction unit and utilizes existing LNG carriers for storage. ABS completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements."We are pleased to support Bumi Armada in their ongoing efforts to offer safe and reliable LNG storage solutions.
ABS and Sea Forrest Collaborate on Maritime Electrification Tech
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Sea Forrest Power Solutions (Sea Forrest), a subsidiary of BH Global, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to drive advancements in cutting-edge maritime electrification technologies.Supported by the new ABS Electrification Center in Singapore, the agreement will cover projects for electric vessels, shore charging infrastructure, along with related industry standards and marine classification requirementsâŚ
ABS AIP for Floating Offshore Nuclear Power Barge
A design for a floating offshore nuclear power barge from HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and KEPCO Engineering and Construction Company, Inc. (KEPCO E&C) received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS.Project collaborators include ABS, HD KSOE, KEPCO E&C and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR).The floating small modular reactor (SMR) barge is intended to serve as offshore power generation for remote communities and island electrification.
ABS AIP for an Offshore Hydrogen/Ammonia Production Platform
An offshore hydrogen and ammonia production platform design from the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) has received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS.Developed by KRISO, the unit is designed to produce green hydrogen using electricity generated by a wind farm. Among the features, the design consists of a desalination system that desalinates seawater and turns it into clean waterâŚ
Remote Survey is the New End-Game
More than remote witnessing, more than remote data analysis, remote survey techniques are now going to aid the shift to full vessel autonomy.The technology that enables a robot to safely navigate an environment it has no prior knowledge of is called Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). âIt is the key to autonomy for any aspiring can-do inspection robot.â Thatâs according to ScoutDI, a participantâŚ
Berge Bulk, ABS Examine Methanol Refit for Bulk Carrier
A Joint Development Project (JDP) to evaluate the feasibility of converting a bulk vessel to methanol fuel propulsion was signed by Berge Bulk CEO James Marshall and ABS Vice President of Global Sustainability Panos Koutsourakis.Per the agreement, the team will examine the possibility of retrofitting the 300-m, 210,000-dwt heavy fuel oil propelled bulk carrier Berge Mauna Kea to operate on methanol fuel.
Marlink, ABS Wavesight Partner to Fast Track Digital Transformation
Marlink and ABS Wavesight signed an agreement to collaborate on using optimized connectivity to support efficient delivery of sustainability services and data to clientsâ vessels. The agreement connects Marlinkâs blended network with the voyage optimization and vessel management services provided by ABS Wavesight.
ABS AIP for Value Maritimeâs Carbon Capture System
ABS granted approval in principle (AIP) to Value Maritime (VM) for its Carbon Capture System onboard seagoing vessels. The Filtree System - a prefabricated gas cleaning system that filters sulfur and 99% of particulate matter - includes a Carbon Capture Module that captures the CO2 onboard in a battery container.Value Maritimeâs CCS technology is designedd too allow vessels to capture up to 40% of CO2 emissionsâŚ
Delta-shaped Foundation for Giant Floating Wind Turbines Gets ABS Approval
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has approved in principle the Bassoe D-Floater, a floating offshore wind turbine foundation.It is said that the Bassoe D-Floater foundations will be able to handle 15 megawatt offshore turbines, which will be among the world's largest. Apart from prototypes being tested onshore, there are no 15 MW turbines installed offshore as of yet. They can be as tall as the Eiffel Tower and can weigh upwards of 2âŚ
Samsung Heavy Delivers LNG Pair for MISC
Seri Damai, Seri Daya join MISC LNG Carrier FleetMISC welcomed two of its latest new generation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers, Seri Damai and Seri Daya to its fleet of LNG carriers. These 174,000 CBM LNG carriers were built for MISC by Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (SHI), and upon their delivery, the new LNG carriers will be on long-term charters to ExxonMobilâs wholly-owned subsidiaryâŚ
