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ABS
16855 Northchase Drive
Houston, TX 77060

tel: (281) 877-5800
fax: (281) 877-5803

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ABS
American Bureau of Shipping
Setting Standards of Excellence in Marine and Offshore Classification


Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2012, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has evolved as the marine and offshore industries have evolved, taking on responsibilities within the modern shipping and offshore industries.

One of the core commitments at ABS continues to be to its role of setting safety standards for the marine industry—establishing and applying technical standards known as Rules for the design, construction and operational maintenance of ships and other marine structures.

Setting Standards of Excellence
The responsibility of a classification society is to verify that merchant ships and offshore structures comply with the Rules the society has established for design, construction and periodic survey. The ultimate goal
of classification is to promote the safety of the passengers, crew, cargo, vessel and environment in which it operates.

ABS prides itself on setting standards of excellence in providing classification services to the shipbuilding and ship-owning community. ABS differentiates itself from other classification societies through a strong commitment to technical leadership and responsive service.

ABS Staff
Headquartered in Houston, ABS and its affiliated companies provide services to clients worldwide through a network of offices in 70 countries. It is ABS’ goal to provide the most responsive service to its clients, regardless of location.

The global network of ABS survey offices is placed strategically in major ship-owning and shipbuilding centers. Engineers and surveyors are located close to client operations around the world to support the ABS-classed fleet. ABS also maintains engineering offices in Busan, Genoa, Gdynia, Hamburg, Houston, Istanbul, London, New Orleans, Piraeus, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Veracruz, Washington, DC, and Yokohama to facilitate design review.

Research and Development
ABS is leading new technology development that aims to improve safety standards in the marine and offshore industries. As an organization dedicated to developing standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities, ABS is involved in joint industry projects, including researching innovations in ship design that can assist operators in obtaining environmental compliance while promoting safety and commercial efficiency.

Organization and Management
ABS, a not-for-profit organization, has no capital stock and pays no dividends. All funds generated from fees for classification services are used solely for the performance of such services, including research and development.

ABS serves the marine, offshore and related industries as a self-regulatory organization for promoting the safety of life and property and protecting the environment at sea. While ABS has built and maintained a strong sense of tradition, it also has demonstrated an ability to plan for the future and to implement those plans with the enterprising spirit necessary for continued success.


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