Abs Headquarters News

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 sets, enhancing its ability to handle the increasing flow of novel concepts and new technologies.

The IACS Quality Committee has formally presented to IACS Council its final report on the ad hoc audit of ABS survey procedures as they relate to the loss of the tanker Prestige. The audit was conducted by the IACS Quality Secretary supported, as needed, by two senior, experienced IACS auditors. At the request of ABS, IACS agreed that observers from the IMO, the European Union, the Bahamas Maritime Administration and Intertanko accompany the auditors. The audit team visited the ABS Headquarters, and the shipyards and ABS offices in Dubai and China that conducted the previous annual and special surveys respectively on the vessel. In addition to a comprehensive review of all files and documentation relating to these surveys…