American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Products and Services Offshore Equipment & Systems Unit Certification Procedure

Unit Certification Procedure

Procedure for Unit Certification

STEP 1: IDENTIFICATION

Once a manufacturer identifies the need for equipment approval by ABS, the process is executed using the following steps:

Identify vessel where the equipment will be applied
Typical identifiers: ABS class number, IMO number, vessel name, owner’s name, shipyard’s hull number
- Identify equipment application or system or subsystem where the equipment will be applied – this helps determine the appropriate requirements
Contact your local ABS office with the information above for instructions and to determine the required level of design review and survey. The local office will contact the ABS office that will carry out the design review

Contact your local ABS office

Step 2: Design Review

Contact ABS Design Review office for submission requirements. A typical submittal package includes:

An electronic copy of applicable drawings, datasheets, calculations, etc., as required by the Rules
Sufficient data to verify compliance with applicable Rules, regulations and standards

Upon completion of design review and resolution of any outstanding items, ABS issues a Design Review Letter (DRL). This serves as evidence the equipment design is approved for a specific application.

Step 3: Manufacturing Survey

ABS surveyors verify compliance with items required by the Rules at the manufacturing or fabrication facility. Verification typically includes:

Review of materials for compliance with drawings/specifications and their traceability records
Review of welding procedures and welder’s qualification records
Review of manufacturing procedures
Review of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) specifications, procedures and personnel qualification records
Witness critical manufacturing or fabrication phases such as fit-up, alignment, non-destructive testing (NDT) examination, etc.
Witness pressure testing
Witness operational tests to verify proper functioning of equipment

These activities are identified by the ABS surveyor upon review of the inspection and testing plan.

Step 4: Final Certification

Upon completion of survey activities and with the DRL in hand, the ABS surveyor issues a survey report attesting that the equipment meets the requirements and is accepted for use on the specific ABS vessel.

Recognized Specialists

Access the database of external specialists recognized by ABS to conduct reviews of specified equipment and machinery.

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Type Approval Database

Search for products and equipment that have been certified under the ABS Type Approval program and are eligible for use on ABS-classed vessels.

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