ABS Fleet Breaks 170m GT Mark

The ABS-classed fleet has broken through the 170m gross tons threshold. The latest statistics show the fleet as standing at 11,055 vessels aggregating 170.29m gt representing an increase of more than 9m gt to date in 2010.

The ABS fleet has sustained consistent year-on-year growth for the last sixteen years and firmly positions the society as the third largest class society in terms of aggregate gross tonnage. The society believes it continues to be the largest society in terms of the number of vessels and offshore units in its class.

ABS’ current orderbook is comprised of 2,384 vessels aggregating 50.95m gt. “The continued strength of the newbuilding market, given the current global economic uncertainty, is surprising,” said ABS Chairman and CEO Robert D. Somerville. “New orders to ABS class continue to offset the uncommonly high level of deliveries providing a consistently high demand for our engineering and survey services and giving us the youngest fleet profile in our history.” More than 67 percent of the in-service ABS-classed fleet is now ten years of age or less.