ABS Safety Standards
The American Bureau of Shipping is the preeminent classification society for
civil submarines and submersibles. ABS classed submersibles have a perfect
safety record and there has never been a serious injury or fatality to any passenger
aboard an ABS classed sub making ABS-classed civil submarines and submersibles
the safest form of transportation in the world today. Period.
Other classification societies of other countries also class submersibles but none
have the rigorous requirements of ABS and some are simply chosen for their regulatory
loopholes. For instance, ABS would never award class to a submersible where opening
the hatch in the water would sink the vehicle. In most countries, including the United States,
it is illegal to commercially operate a sub not built to classification standards and operated
without a valid class certificate. In the U.S. it is at the discretion of the U.S. Coast Guard
Captain of the Port as to whether to allow private home-built or non-classed subs to
operate without paying passengers in U.S. waters.
Submersibles that are not classed by any classification society cannot be insured
and they cannot legally carry passengers for hire.
| Yacht-based Operations Competitive Superiority Support Vessel |
Triton Pricing Pilot Simulator ABS Safety Standard |
Optional Equipment Spare Parts Dive Locations |
Experience Press Facilities |
