Type Approval Program

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

Name of Certificate

Criteria for Issue

Terms of Validity

Consequences of
Non-compliance

Product Design
Assessment (PDA): Each
product may be awarded
a PDA. There is no
limit to the number of
products a manufacturer
can have Type Approved.
The certificate is
issued by ABS after a
satisfactory technical
evaluation.

Evaluation of the
product to ABS Rules
and/or specified,
acceptable national,
international or client
standards.

Five years, subject to

continued compliance
with the Rules or other
standard used for
the evaluation. Any
significant change in
the design of the
product will require
reassessment and the
issuance of a new PDA.

Reverts to category of
PDA Limited, is not
eligible for Product Type
Approval and is removed
from the Type Approved
listing on the ABS website
after one year.

Manufacturing
Assessment (MA):
A separate certificate
must be issued for each
manufacturing facility
and for each product.

Valid PDA and

satisfactory
demonstration
that the product
can be consistently
manufactured
according to the PDA.
Rule-required testing
must be witnessed by
an ABS surveyor.

Five years subject to

annual audits and the
continued validity of
the PDA.

The product may not be

listed as Type Approved.

Confirmation of Type
Approval: Only available
from the Type Approval
section on the ABS
website.

Product must have both Valid until the

a valid PDA and MA.
expiration of the PDA
or MA (whichever
occurs first).

The product may not be

listed as Type Approved.

Product Quality
Assurance (PQA): ABS
may grant unsupervised
testing authority to the
manufacturer in special
circumstances.

The manufacturer must Same as the associated

have a certified quality MA and subject to semisystem, the MA must be annual audits.
valid and the product
must require unit
certification.

Reverts to standard MA
status, and all Rulerequired testing must
be witnessed by an ABS
surveyor.

MED Module B: May

Must have valid PDA.
only be issued by the ABS
office in London.

Same as associated
with PDA.

Same as PDA.

MED Module D, E, F or G: Must have valid MA.

May only be issued by
the ABS office in London.

Same as associated
with MA.

Same as associated with

MA and manufacturer
may not use the MED
wheelmark
.

Certification Levels and Limitations

Level of Certification

Limitations

Manufacturers Guarantee

There is no ABS certificate.

(Tier 1)

Product Design Assessment (PDA)

(This is a voluntary category.)

Limited to a specific set of Rules and standards. May also

require unit certification.
(Tier 2)

Approved Product: Required by ABS Rules

and typically documented in a Design
Review Letter (DRL).

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)

Type Approved Product, Product Quality

Assurance (PQA): May be applied only to
mass-produced products that require unit
certification. (This is a voluntary category.)
(Tier 4)

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
must keep PDA up to date.

(Tier 5)

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
or an authorized manufacturer.

Unit Certified Product: Also known as

Conformity Assessment and Factory
Acceptance Testing.

Normal Certificates Issued by All Class Societies

Type of Supplier

Example of Certified Items

System supplier

Emergency generator (engine and generator)

Product supplier

Diesel engine for the emergency generator

Component supplier

Crankshaft for the diesel engine

Material supplier

Steel billet for the crankshaft

Certificates Issued by EU and ABS

Process

Most Common MED

Document

ABS Document

Evaluation of a design to determine

conformance with specifications.

EC type-examination certificate Product Design Assessment

(Module B)
certificate (PDA)

Evaluation of the manufacturing

process to confirm the product
can be consistently produced in
accordance with the specification.

Module D or E certificate

Manufacturing Assessment
certificate (MA)

Declaration of Conformity is
a descriptive document that
the manufacturer issues. There
is no standard format, and
manufacturers are at liberty to
customize their Declarations.

Confirmation of Product Type

Approval from the Type Approval
section on the ABS website. In
order to be issued, it is required
that both the PDA and the MA
are valid.

Mark of Conformity

Certification

Decision Process for ABS Certification

Situation

Procedure

Result

Limitation

Voluntary Option

The product
requires a design
review.

Necessary details
ABS engineer issues
are submitted to an a Design Review
ABS technical office Letter (DRL).
for review.

The approval is
normally for a
specific vessel,
MODU or facility.

Consider a Product
Design Assessment
(PDA).

The designer or
manufacturer
wants a generic
approval of a
product.

Necessary details
ABS engineer
are submitted to an issues a PDA.
ABS technical office
for review.

The PDA remains

valid as long as the
Rules or standards
used in the
evaluation remain
unchanged.

The PDA can be

limited to vessel
contracted on or
before the effective
date of the Rules or
standards used in
the evaluation.

The product has a

DRL or a PDA and
requires material
certification.

ABS surveyor is
called in to witness
the material tests.

ABS surveyor issues

a material testing
certificate.

The material
testing report
remains valid as
long as the material
remains workable
in service.

Consider being in
the Product Quality
Assurance (PQA)
category of ABS
Type Approval
and be allowed
to self witness the
material testing.

The product has a

DRL or a PDA and
requires witness
of steps in the
manufacturing
process.

ABS surveyor is
called in to witness
the manufacturing
process.

ABS surveyor will

issue a report on
the witnessing of
the manufacturing
process.

ABS surveyor
will witness the
manufacturing
process.

Consider being in
the Type Approved
Product category
of the ABS Type
Approval Program
and then Rulerequired surveys
and tests may be
conducted without
an ABS surveyor
in attendance.

Manufacturer
requests to be in
the Type Approved
Product category of
ABS Type Approval.

Must have a PDA

and complete a
manufacturing
assessment.

ABS surveyor issues

a Manufacturing
Assessment (MA)
certificate.

PDA must remain

valid and annual
audits are
conducted. ABS
surveyor must
witness selected
testing.

Consider being in
the PQA category
of ABS Type
Approval.

Manufacturer
requests to be in
the PQA category
of ABS Type
Approval.

Must have a
PDA, ISO 9001
certification
and complete a
manufacturing
assessment.

ABS surveyor
issues an MA
certificate and
a PQA certificate.

PDA must remain

valid and semiannual audits
are conducted.
Manufacturer must
witness required
testing.

None; this is the

most amenable
means of satisfying
ABS Rules.

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.
TX 11/14 500 13429

Email: ABSTA-Programs@eagle.org
www.eagle.org