ABS class status lookup
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) appears in the IACS data under the code ABS. As of 30 September 2026 the IACS dataset lists 8,787 ships classed by ABS: 8,239 in class, 41 suspended and 502 withdrawn. Look up any ABS-classed ship by IMO number below, or check up to 100 at once through the API.
ABS fleet by class status
How the 8,787 ships listed under ABS break down by their latest IACS status:
| Status | Vessels | Share | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivered | 8,109 | 92.3% | In class |
| Reinstated | 130 | 1.5% | In class |
| Suspended | 41 | 0.5% | Not in class |
| Withdrawn | 502 | 5.7% | Not in class |
| No status recorded | 5 | 0.1% | Not stated |
Most common reasons for status changes
The reason recorded with each ship's latest status change, where one is given:
| Reason | Vessels |
|---|---|
| Transfer of class to another IACS member | 351 |
| Survey overdue | 149 |
| by society for other reasons | 112 |
| Casualty | 37 |
| Owner's request for other reasons | 21 |
About ABS
- Full name: American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
- Also known as: ABS, American Bureau of Shipping
- Founded: 1862
- Headquarters: Spring, Texas, USA
- IACS code:
ABS - Website: ww2.eagle.org
Check ABS class status through the API
Send IMO numbers to /vessels. Ships classed by ABS come back with "class": "ABS":
curl -X POST https://vessel-class-finder-production.up.railway.app/vessels \
-H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"imos": [9321483, 9074729]}'Filter the response on class == "ABS" to find the ABS-classed ships in a list, and on status to find any that are suspended or withdrawn.
Check a whole fleet at once
Free API key: 100 lookups a month, up to 100 IMO numbers per request. Paid plans from €49/month.
Get a free API keyFrequently asked questions
How do I check if a ship is classed by ABS?
Enter the ship's 7-digit IMO number in the lookup on this page. If ABS classes it, the result shows class society ABS, the class status and the last and next survey dates. For many ships at once, use the API with up to 100 IMO numbers per request.
What code does ABS use in IACS data?
ABS. The IACS Vessels in Class dataset and this API identify American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) as "ABS".
How many ships does ABS class?
As of 30 September 2026, the IACS dataset lists 8,787 ships under ABS, of which 8,239 are in class (Delivered, Reinstated or Reassigned), 41 suspended and 502 withdrawn. That makes it number 3 of the 12 IACS members by ships listed.
Is this official ABS data?
It is ABS's own data as published by IACS in its Vessels in Class dataset, refreshed weekly. It is not a substitute for class certificates or the society's own records, which remain authoritative.
Can I get ABS class status through an API?
Yes. POST a list of IMO numbers to /vessels with your API key and each result includes the class society code, status, survey dates and reason for the latest status change. The free tier includes 100 lookups a month.
Other IACS classification societies
Numbers come from IACS's public Vessels in Class dataset and cover only ships classed by IACS members. They are not a substitute for class certificates or the society's own records.