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Independent Laboratory Testing and Inspection
Independent Laboratories conduct initial (approval) and follow-up (production) testing of equipment and materials that require United States Coast Guard (USCG) Approval. This includes testing of lifesaving appliances and fire protection equipment and materials.
ABS has been accepted by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) as an independent laboratory to witness production tests and inspections, and supervise prototype construction, where appropriate.
For an ABS surveyor to witness a prototype test or production test, please submit a request via the form link.
Pre-Approval Plan Review Process
ABS Houston is authorized to perform the pre-approval plan review for non-novel lifesaving launching appliances, under approval series 160.115, 160.132, 160.133, 160.135, 160.156 for non-novel designs constructed by established manufacturers. A laboratory does not issue the approval; this is completed by the CG-ENG-4 office.
For an ABS engineering evaluation, please submit a request via the form link.
Additional Resources
Online Form: Type Approval (PDA)
Online Form: Independent Laboratory for U.S. Coast Guard (Survey)
Type Approval at ABS
Type Approval Webinar
Cutsheet: Type Approval
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations e(CFR)
Cutsheet: USCG Independent Lab
USCG Accepted Laboratory
Our status as an accepted independent laboratory is publicly available at http://cgmix.uscg.mil.
USCG Service Types by ABS
- 160.010 Buoyant Apparatus
- 160.017 Chain Ladders
- 160.027 Life Floats for Merchant Vessels
- 160.051 Inflatable Liferafts for Domestic Service
- 160.062 Hydraulic and Manual Releases for Lifesaving Equipment
- 160.115 Launching Appliances-Winches
- 160.117 Embarkation Ladder (SOLAS)
- 160.118 Rigid Liferafts
- 160.132 Launching Appliances-Davits
- 160.133 Release Mechanisms tor Lifeboats and Rescue Boats (SOLAS)
- 160.135 Lifeboats (SOLAS)
- 160.151 Inflatable Liferafts (SOLAS)
- 160.156 Rescue Boats and Fast Rescue Boats (SOLAS)
- 160.162 Hydrostatic Release Units (SOLAS)
- 160.170 Liferaft Automatic Release Hooks (SOLAS)
- 160.170 Davit-Launched Liferaft Automatic Release Hooks (SOLAS)
- 163.002 Pilot Hoists
- 163.003 Pilot Ladders