[A174]
American Bureau of Shipping
A technical society, sponsored by ship owners, which sets minimum standards for ship design, materials and construction. Provides periodic surveys of ships and machinery to maintain adequate standards, and publishes American Bureau of Record listing vessels "classed." This record provides detailed information, such as type, size, construction material, machinery, fuel used, and date and type of last survey. Headquarters are in New York, but the bureau has correspondents in principal seaports.