Type Approval Program

A
chieving ABS Type Approval for a product confers an immediate range
of benefits on a manufacturer including reduced administration and
potentially greater market penetration. Once Type Approved, the product
can be selected by ship designers, builders and owners to be placed aboard
an ABS-classed vessel. A Type Approved Product is expedited through the Unit
Certification process. ABS Type Approval requires a contract between ABS and
the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) the person or legal entity that has
legal or patent rights to produce the material, component, product or system.

The ABS Type Approval process is practical, client oriented and flexible. It mimics
the European Unions Marine Equipment Directive (MED) to the greatest extent
possible, simplifying a manufacturers certification burden.

An ABS Product Design Assessment (PDA) is the assessment of a product for

use on a variety of ABS-classed ships following a technical evaluation. The PDA
reduces the turnaround time for approval on a specific ship. When a specific
ship is chosen, ABS technical staff verify that the product, as already assessed, is
suitable for use. This can be done with a simple review of the PDA and does not
require submittal of further documentation from the manufacturer.

The ABS Type Approval Program follows International Maritime Organization

MSC.1/Circ.1221 dated 11 December 2006, which states in part: To clarify the
purpose and procedures of the Type Approval certification scheme used by the
flag States, classification societies and other recognized bodies; the Committee
agreed that such scheme include the following steps:
1. Engineering evaluation;
2. Witnessing the manufacturing and testing processes;
3. Evaluating the manufacturing arrangements; and
4. Issuing of a Type Approval Certificate generally valid for not more than
five years which may be subject to annual inspections or verification of
the manufacturers process after all the above-mentioned procedures
have been satisfactorily completed.

The ABS Type Approval Program has formalized this process in Part One of
the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels. The ABS/MED programs
incorporate a two-step process for the issuance of relevant certificates.
1. Satisfactory evaluation of a product to ABS Rules or other approved
standards is evidenced by the issuance of a PDA certificate. The process
is similar to the Module B category of the MED.
2. Satisfactory evaluation of the manufacturing facility and processes to
confirm its ability to consistently manufacture the product in accordance
with the PDA is evidenced by the issuance of a Manufacturing Assessment
(MA) certificate. This is comparable to Modules D and E of the MED.

When a product does not require unit certification, the manufacturer may be
best served by having a PDA only.

However, if the manufacturer wants a product to be labeled Type Approved,

then a formal address of the plant where the product is manufactured
(or assembled) must be provided to ABS. Inspection of the product
during manufacture and an assessment of the manufacturing system and
manufacturing process used by the plant must be satisfactorily completed.
These assessments and inspections verify that the product can be manufactured
in accordance with the PDA.
Key Criteria for ABS Type Approval Certificates
Consequences of
Name of Certificate Criteria for Issue Terms of Validity
Non-compliance
Product Design Evaluation of the Five years, subject to Reverts to category of
Assessment (PDA): Each product to ABS Rules continued compliance PDA Limited, is not
product may be awarded and/or specified, with the Rules or other eligible for Product Type
a PDA. There is no acceptable national, standard used for Approval and is removed
limit to the number of international or client the evaluation. Any from the Type Approved
products a manufacturer standards. significant change in listing on the ABS website
can have Type Approved. the design of the after one year.
The certificate is product will require
issued by ABS after a reassessment and the
satisfactory technical issuance of a new PDA.
evaluation.

Manufacturing Valid PDA and Five years subject to The product may not be
Assessment (MA): satisfactory annual audits and the listed as Type Approved.
A separate certificate demonstration continued validity of
must be issued for each that the product the PDA.
manufacturing facility can be consistently
and for each product. manufactured
according to the PDA.
Rule-required testing
must be witnessed by
an ABS surveyor.

Confirmation of Type Product must have both Valid until the The product may not be
Approval: Only available a valid PDA and MA. expiration of the PDA listed as Type Approved.
from the Type Approval or MA (whichever
section on the ABS occurs first).
website.

Product Quality The manufacturer must Same as the associated Reverts to standard MA
Assurance (PQA): ABS have a certified quality MA and subject to semi- status, and all Rule-
may grant unsupervised system, the MA must be annual audits. required testing must
testing authority to the valid and the product be witnessed by an ABS
manufacturer in special must require unit surveyor.
circumstances. certification.

MED Module B: May Must have valid PDA. Same as associated Same as PDA.
only be issued by the ABS with PDA.
office in London.

MED Module D, E, F or G: Must have valid MA. Same as associated Same as associated with
May only be issued by with MA. MA and manufacturer
the ABS office in London. may not use the MED
wheelmark .
Certification Levels and Limitations
Level of Certification
Manufacturers Guarantee
Product Design Assessment (PDA)
(This is a voluntary category.)
Approved Product: Required by ABS Rules
and typically documented in a Design
Review Letter (DRL).
Type Approved Product, Product Quality
Assurance (PQA): May be applied only to
mass-produced products that require unit
certification. (This is a voluntary category.)
Unit Certified Product: Also known as
Conformity Assessment and Factory
Acceptance Testing.
Normal Certificates Issued by All Class Societies
Type of Supplier
System supplier
Product supplier
Component supplier
Material supplier
Certificates Issued by EU and ABS
Process
Evaluation of a design to determine
conformance with specifications.
Evaluation of the manufacturing
process to confirm the product
can be consistently produced in
accordance with the specification.
Mark of Conformity
Certification
Limitations
There is no ABS certificate.
(Tier 1)
Limited to a specific set of Rules and standards. May also
require unit certification.
(Tier 2)
It is specific for installation in an identified vessel, MODU
or facility to be classed. If Unit Certification is required,
it will be delineated.
(Tier 3)
Manufacturer witnesses tests normally witnessed by an
ABS surveyor and issues a Declaration of Conformity to
the surveyor. The surveyor then issues the unit certification
after the product has been shipped. It is the least intrusive
process. Manufacturer is subject to semi-annual audits and
(Tier 4) must keep PDA up to date.
The product is subject to installation and trials in the
intended application. Unit certification is required by
ABS Rules. Testing is normally done at the plant of
manufacture and is witnessed by an ABS surveyor
(Tier 5) or an authorized manufacturer.
Example of Certified Items
Emergency generator (engine and generator)
Diesel engine for the emergency generator
Crankshaft for the diesel engine
Steel billet for the crankshaft
Most Common MED ABS Document
Document
EC type-examination certificate Product Design Assessment
(Module B) certificate (PDA)
Module D or E certificate Manufacturing Assessment
certificate (MA)
Declaration of Conformity is Confirmation of Product Type
a descriptive document that Approval from the Type Approval
the manufacturer issues. There section on the ABS website. In
is no standard format, and order to be issued, it is required
manufacturers are at liberty to that both the PDA and the MA
customize their Declarations. are valid.
Decision Process for ABS Certification
Situation Procedure Result Limitation Voluntary Option
The product Necessary details ABS engineer issues The approval is Consider a Product
requires a design are submitted to an a Design Review normally for a Design Assessment
review. ABS technical office Letter (DRL). specific vessel, (PDA).
for review. MODU or facility.

The designer or Necessary details ABS engineer The PDA remains The PDA can be
manufacturer are submitted to an issues a PDA. valid as long as the limited to vessel
wants a generic ABS technical office Rules or standards contracted on or
approval of a for review. used in the before the effective
product. evaluation remain date of the Rules or
unchanged. standards used in
the evaluation.

The product has a ABS surveyor is ABS surveyor issues The material Consider being in
DRL or a PDA and called in to witness a material testing testing report the Product Quality
requires material the material tests. certificate. remains valid as Assurance (PQA)
certification. long as the material category of ABS
remains workable Type Approval
in service. and be allowed
to self witness the
material testing.

The product has a ABS surveyor is ABS surveyor will ABS surveyor Consider being in
DRL or a PDA and called in to witness issue a report on will witness the the Type Approved
requires witness the manufacturing the witnessing of manufacturing Product category
of steps in the process. the manufacturing process. of the ABS Type
manufacturing process. Approval Program
process. and then Rule-
required surveys
and tests may be
conducted without
an ABS surveyor
in attendance.

Manufacturer Must have a PDA ABS surveyor issues PDA must remain Consider being in
requests to be in and complete a a Manufacturing valid and annual the PQA category
the Type Approved manufacturing Assessment (MA) audits are of ABS Type
Product category of assessment. certificate. conducted. ABS Approval.
ABS Type Approval. surveyor must
witness selected
testing.

Manufacturer Must have a ABS surveyor PDA must remain None; this is the
requests to be in PDA, ISO 9001 issues an MA valid and semi- most amenable
the PQA category certification certificate and annual audits means of satisfying
of ABS Type and complete a a PQA certificate. are conducted. ABS Rules.
Approval. manufacturing Manufacturer must
assessment. witness required
testing.

The ABS Type Approval Program is not a substitute for the

independent judgment of professional designers, naval architects,
marine engineers, owners, operators, Masters and crew, nor as
a substitute for the quality control procedures of shipbuilders,
engine builders, steel makers, suppliers, manufacturers and
sellers of marine vessels, materials, machinery or equipment.
Email: ABSTA-Programs@eagle.org
TX 11/14 500 13429 www.eagle.org