2006:

• ABS implements electronically prepared, vessel type-specific, dynamic checklists for surveys of ABS-classed vessels, enhancing the survey services provided to clients.
• ABS is the first society to offer online search capability of the ABS Rules and IMO Convention requirements applicable to a particular ship or component.
• ABS issues its first full class approval for a compressed natural gas (CNG) carrier.
• ABS releases the first comprehensive set of guidelines for controlling harmonics from a class society with its Guidance Notes on Control of Harmonics in Electrical Power Systems.
• ABS achieves fleet record for the third consecutive record year, with a classed fleet of 126.5m gt.

2005:

• ABS is the first classification society to provide comprehensive criteria for alternative propulsion systems to the traditional gas fired steam plant with its release of the ABS Guide for Propulsion Systems for LNG Carriers.
• ABS and the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping sign new bilateral agreement, extending a long-standing agreement of cooperation between the two societies.
• ABS fleet grows by almost 300 vessels to just over nine and a half thousand, a record 121 million gross tons and an increase of 6.5m gt over 2004.
• ABS releases its Guide for Certification of FRP Hydrocarbon Production Piping Systems, the first publication of its kind from a classification society.
• ABS issues its comprehensive Guidance Notes on Ice Class, building on its pioneering ice class research on nonlinear finite element analysis of side structures subject to ice loads.

2004:

• ABS is selected to class the industry’s first offshore LNG Deepwater Port offloading buoy.
• ABS implements its proprietary electronic engineering management tool providing real-time electronic review of the customer’s drawings and improved project control.
• ABS releases its Guidance Notes for Building and Classing Ships Carrying Compressed Natural Gas, assisting industry designers and operators on practical applications of novel concepts in CNG technology.
• ABS is the first classification society to set standards and offer a notation for complying with design criteria and procedures for inerting ballast tanks on double hull tankers with the release of the ABS Guide For Inert Gas System For Ballast Tanks.
• ABS releases its Guide for the Assessment of Parametric Roll Resonance in the Design of Container Carriers, providing the first class criteria addressing parametric roll based firmly on ship motion analysis supported by extensive simulations.
• ABS continued its trend of uninterrupted fleet growth marking a record fleet of 114.4m gross tons.

2003:

• ABS ceases printed publication of the ABS Record after 136 years. All vessel information moved to an electronic database accessible on the worldwide web.
• ABS signs a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the US Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) establishing a formal framework for scientific and technical collaboration between the two organizations with respect to offshore oil and gas operations.
• ABS enhances the development and implementation of its classification rules through the adoption of risk-based methodologies in the new Guides: Risk Evaluations for the Classification of Marine-Related Facilities, Guidance Notes for Novel Concepts and Guide for Surveys Using Risk-Based Inspection Techniques.
• ABS Signs Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Oil and Gas Safety Agency Gosgortechnadzor of the Azerbaijan Republic establishing a formal framework for technical collaboration between the two organizations with respect to offshore oil and gas operations.
• ABS signs a formal Cooperative Agreement with the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) further strengthening its longstanding relationship with the US Navy. The agreement calls for joint development of ABS Naval Vessel Rules (NVR) to support the design and acquisition of Naval Combatant Ships and Craft.

2002:

• ABS is the first non-European classification society to be recognized by the German ship safety authority See-Berufsgenossenschaft.
• ABS readies for anticipated LNG growth with industry first Guide for Building and Classing Offshore LNG Terminals.
• ABS becomes a founding member of the Naval Ship Classification Association or NSCA.
• ABS is selected to review a breakthrough compressed natural gas (CNG) carrier design concept to ABS classification requirements.
• ABS is selected to class the world’s first liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) FPSO slated for operation offshore Angola.
• ABS is the first classification society to make available a comprehensive Guide for Ship Security to assist shipowners in meeting the new IMO security standards set forth in the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS).
• ABS fleet grew for the 10th straight year, reaching a new record of 110.1m gross tons.

2001:

• ABS, Det Norske Veritas and Lloyd’s Register announce a series of initiatives to further improve the safety of international shipping.
• ABS reorganizes its Pacific Division with an expanded presence in Hong Kong and the relocation of its principal office for China to Shanghai. The change was made to allow for a significant expansion of ABS services within the Asian arena.
• ABS launches a comprehensive Guide for Crew Habitability on Offshore Facilities.
• ABS launches an electronic-based container information system (E-CIS) for tank owners worldwide, providing quick access to inspection reports.
• New survey requirements were adopted that extend and reinforce the Enhanced Survey Program (ESP) for bulk carriers and tankers.
• ABS provides classification services for the first truss spar unit operating in the Gulf of Mexico.
• ABS-classed fleet reached 109.8m gross tons, breaking the previous record of 109.4m gt established in 1981.
• ABS creates new management districts for West Africa, the Black Sea and the Caspian regions to better serve a growing number of clients in each area. A new office was also opened in Angola.
• ABS expands its offshore services with a new Offshore Vendor Coordination Program providing a single point of contact for vendors and clients involved in a newbuilding or major upgrade project.
• ABS SHAFT, a computer-based program that can be used to analyze shaft alignment and evaluate tail shaft bearing condition using deflection data derived from the finite element modeling of the hull structure, is made available to shipyards and designers.
• ABS SafeHull program expands to the evaluation of membrane LNG carriers.

2000:

• ABS is the first international classification society to implement an approved ISO 14000 environmental management system.
• ABS ranked by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) as the best major classification society for port state control performance for the second consecutive year.
• ABS SafeShip, an integrated through-life vessel integrity management program, was released to industry.
• ABS sets standards for passenger and crew comfort with the development of comprehensive criteria for the accommodations and ambient environment of ship spaces.

1999:

• ABS unveils new Safety, Quality and Environment (SQE) Certification notations that demonstrate adherence to the highest operational standards.
• ABS ranked by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) as the best major classification society for port state control performance.

1998:

• ABS issues the first guidelines addressing the human element with the Guidance Notes on the Application of Ergonomics to Marine Systems.

1996:

• ABS SafeNet was released to provide electronic access to survey status information.
• ABS was the first classification society to offer a linked ISM/ISO 9000 certification program.

1993:

• ABS SafeHull, a dynamic-based ship design evaluation system founded on engineering first principles, was released.

1991:

• ABS offered a Dynamic Loading Approach (DLA) notation indicating more accurate modeling of expected ship loads and dynamic stresses than past traditional methods.

1988:

• ABS experience with designs for air-cushion vehicles, water-planing surface-effect ships and unique hull types was incorporated in the Rules for Building and Classing High Speed Craft.
• ABS supplied engineering support services to the Naval Sea Systems Command for the design of its new SWATH-type research vessel.

1981:

• ABS signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US Coast Guard to eliminate duplication of plan review and inspection by both parties.

1975:

• ABS publishes Rules for Building and Classing Underwater Systems and Vehicles.

1968:

• ABS issued the first Rules for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs).

1961:

• ABS expands its Rules with the Guide for the Classification of Nuclear Ships. The first nuclear powered commercial vessel, the N.S. Savannah, was built to ABS class.

1953:

• ABS forms technical committees to address the specific requirements of various countries to create a dialogue with industry worldwide to develop Rules.

1945:

• Through 1945 5,171 vessels of all types were constructed to ABS class during the Maritime Commission wartime shipbuilding program. Following World War II's end, ABS rapidly expanded its international network of offices and survey stations.

1937:

• First Automatic Welding Process approved.

1920:

• ABS was officially recognized by the United States Government in the Merchant Marine Act of 1920.

1898:

• The American Shipmasters' Association name was changed to the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to more accurately reflect the organization's activities.

1892:

• First Technical Advisory Committee established.

1891:

• Rules for Steam Vessels published.

1880:

• ABS publishes its Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels.

1877:

• Rules for Iron Vessels published.

1870:

• Rules for Wooden Vessels first published.

1869:

• ABS adopts a system for surveying, rating and registering vessels by publishing the information in the Record of American and Foreign Shipping.

1862:

• The American Shipmasters' Association was formed by John Divine Jones during the clipper ship era. The purpose of the organization, which consisted of marine underwriters, shipmasters and shipbuilders, was to promote a high degree of efficiency and character among the masters and officers of maritime vessels. The Association was incorporated by an act of the Legislature of the State of New York.