American Bureau of Shipping

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.[6] While ASA's certificates were not an official requirement for shipmasters, the certificate served as a recommendation for shipowners.[7] Vessels that sailed with a certified ASA shipmaster were more likely to find favorable insurance coverage.[8]

The ASA published its first technical standards, Rules for Survey and Classing Wooden Vessels, in 1870.[9] In the late 19th century, wooden ships became obsolete and gave way to iron as a shipbuilding material.[10] In response, ASA published its first Rules for Survey and Classing of Iron Vessels in 1877.[11] Similarly, when iron gave way to steel, ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels were established and published in 1890.[12] These Steel Vessel Rules continue to be revised and published annually.[13]

The ASA continued its program of certifying shipmasters until May 1900.[14] By this time, federal law required that most sea officers be licensed by the United States government.[15] 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.[16] ABS would achieve modest growth over the next few years, classing 21% of all US-flag fleet by 1916.[17] During World War I, the US-flag fleet swelled with newly acquired ships as well as newly constructed or refurbished vessels.[18] 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.[19] A similar effect took place during the Second World War as ABS tonnage in class jumped from 1.53 million gross tons in 1940 to 5.49 million gross tons in 1941.[20]

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.[21] By 1962, ABS class tonnage has increased to 46,533,852 tons worldwide.[22] ABS’ aggregate tonnage hit a record of 193.5 million gross tons in 2012.[23] 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.[24]

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.[25] ABS is required under US law to maintain its status as a not-for-profit organization in order 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 president and Chief Executive Officer of ABS. Wiernicki became the Chairman for ABS in 2012.[26] The ABS world headquarters is located in Spring, Texas, USA.[27] 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.[28] ABS surveyors and engineers work at major ports worldwide including Houston, Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Shanghai, Busan, Yokohama, Genoa, Gdańsk, Hamburg and other cities.[29] Surveyors are employed in ports and shipyards worldwide to verify that marine assets are in suitable condition, meet class requirements and built according to drawings.[30]

The Prestige was an oil tanker whose sinking in 2002 off the Galician coast caused the Prestige oil spill. The large oil spill was described as, “one of the worst environmental disasters in Europe” and caused great damage to the local wildlife and fishing industry.[36]

In May 2003, the Kingdom of Spain brought civil suit in the Southern District of New York against the American Bureau of Shipping asserting that ABS was “reckless” in certifying the ship seaworthy and capable of carrying fuel cargo and sought over $1 billion in compensatory damages.[37]

The Reino de Espana v. American Bureau of Shipping, Inc. court case was dismissed after the presiding judge ruled that ABS is a "person" as defined by the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC) and, as such, is exempt from direct liability for pollution damage. Furthermore, the judge ruled that, since the United States is not a signatory to the International CLC, the U.S. Courts lacked the necessary jurisdiction to adjudicate the case.[38]

Spain appealed the ruling, and in 2012, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of ABS again.[39] In its opinion, the Court of Appeals determined there was a lack of proof that ABS and its subsidiaries, “recklessly breached any duty of care that may have been owed to Spain through any inaction or action taken in the U.S."[40]

ABS Academy, a specialized division of ABS, provides courses and seminars on marine and offshore operations, management systems, risk assessment and management, qualification and certification, and environmental awareness to shipowners and shipbuilders.[41] The academy conducts web-based training in addition to having academy locations in Greece, Singapore, the United States, China and South Korea.[42]

Established in 1971, ABS Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ABS.[43] ABS Group provides technical advisory services and risk management solutions to a broad range of industries including industrial manufacturing, oil and gas, chemical, alternative energy, offshore and the public sector.[44]

• Classification Society
• International Association of Classification Societies
• Prestige oil spill
• Safehull
• Type Approval

• American Bureau of Shipping - ABS corporate Classification website
• ABS Academy - Maritime & Offshore Training
• ABS Nautical Systems - Fleet management software
• ABS Group of Companies - ABS non-Classification services
• ABS Consulting - Risk and marine consulting
• IACS - International Association of Classification Societies