Material manufacturers supply a broad range of materials essential to offshore and marine applications. ABS approval may be granted for both ABS-grade and non‑ABS grade materials, including those produced to EN, ASTM, proprietary specifications, or other recognized industry standards for use in structures, machinery and other equipment governed by ABS classification requirements.
The ABS Material Manufacturer Approval process involves engineering review of the manufacturing process, evaluation of material test reports and an on-site plant audit conducted by an ABS surveyor. Manufacturers pursuing approval are expected to maintain ISO or equivalent certification.
Approval Process
ABS Material Manufacturer Approval follows three primary steps:
1. Submission of manufacturing process and production details, for technical review, including a qualification test plan when required.
2. Plant audit and witness qualification testing, by ABS surveyor.
3. ABS engineering technical review of the qualification test results (when applicable) to issue an approval certificate.
Products Certified by ABS
- Slabs
- Ingots
- Plates
- Sections
- Structural pipes (hollow tubulars)
- Castings, forgings (for hull structure and machinery applications)
- Welding consumables
- Rolled bars for machinery applications.
- Ship anchor and offshore mooring chain
- Accessory manufacturers along with the bar manufacturers, casting and forging semi-product suppliers
ABS Grades for Steels
Both ABS and non-ABS grade products may be included in an approval certificate when produced to suitable standards or specifications.
Certification of Products
When a manufacturer receives an order for certification by ABS, they must submit a request to their local ABS survey office. An ABS surveyor will witness key stages of manufacturing, testing and inspection to certify the product.
Extensions and Renewals
Manufacturers may request extensions to add additional materials to their approved listings. All approvals are valid for up to five years (with annual endorsement, when applicable) and require a satisfactory engineering review and plant survey for renewal of the certificate.
Types of Manufacturer Approvals
Manufacturers are approved when required by the applicable ABS Rules, in accordance with one of the following category:
- Steel, aluminum and structural pipe mills
- Forge facility
- Foundry
- Tailshaft repair and cladding facility
- Ship anchor chain or accessory manufacturer
- Offshore mooring chain or accessory manufacturer
- Heat treatment facility
- Rolled bar facility approval (intended for machinery application)
- Welding consumable manufacturer
- Additive manufacturing facility
Quality Assurance (QA) Program
- ABS-approved product manufacturers may enroll in the ABS Quality Assurance Program. Mills under the QA program can receive product certification without requiring an ABS surveyor at every manufacturing stage, supported by periodic confirmatory quality audits.
Benefits of ABS Material Manufacturer Approval
- Demonstrated quality and reliability to your customers.
- Verified compliance with international standards and ABS Rules.
- Flexible approval pathways to align with business objectives.
- Approval validity of five years.
- Visibility through the ABS Materials Database, connecting your organization to global maritime and offshore markets.
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