ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. First Audit Service Provider to Earn Provisional Accreditation Status from the Center for Offshore Safety

(Houston) ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. (ABS QE) became the first audit service provider to obtain Provisional Accreditation status from the Center for Offshore Safety (COS) on April 25, 2013.

As a provisional accreditor, ABS QE offers safety and environmental management system audits to evaluate the implementation and maintenance of COS member companies' safety and environmental management systems throughout their offshore operations. The Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) program was developed to be implemented by operators, suppliers and contractors by November 15, 2013 in support of the COS's mission to promote and protect the environment, focusing exclusively on offshore safety in deep water (water depths > 1,000 ft).

"While serving on the COS's audit development committee, we played an active role in the development of audit guidelines used for SEMS audits and are dedicated to promoting safe environmental and operational practices used by the oil and gas industry while operating in the Gulf of Mexico," said Dominic Townsend, Vice President of Americas for ABS QE.

Gulf of Mexico SEMS compliance must be verified by a third-party audit service provider, such as ABS QE, which will demonstrate the oil and gas industry's commitment of enhancing and continuously improving safety and environmental performance.

Learn more about ABS QE's Management Systems Certification services.

About ABS Quality Evaluations

ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. (ABS QE) is a subsidiary of ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (www.abs-group.com). As a world-leading certification body, ABS QE works with companies to improve the performance of their business, systems, people and supply chains through management systems certification, verification, training and assessments, including supply chain and cybersecurity. ABS QE’s global network of auditors plays a crucial role in helping organizations achieve business excellence and obtain the necessary certifications to get products and services to market.

About ABS Group

ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (ABS Group) and its operating subsidiaries provide risk management solutions and certification services worldwide that help clients address the safety, integrity, quality and environmental efficiency of critical assets and operations. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1200 professionals across the globe, serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government, power and energy and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS (www.eagle.org), a leading marine and offshore classification society.