ABS forms China division

ABS forms China division    Classification society American Bureau of Shipping said it has created a separate operating division responsible for its activities in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
   The new division will be located in Shanghai where ABS already maintains a large engineering, survey and administrative office. Adam Moilanen has been appointed president of the new division. The existing China, Hong Kong and Taiwan senior management teams remain in place and will form the nucleus of the new divisional executive team.
   'The importance of China to our current and future activities cannot be overemphasized,' said Robert D. Somerville, ABS chairman and chief executive officer. “ABS is now active in approximately 140 shipyards in China with an order book approaching 900 vessels aggregating almost 20 million gross tons. ABS also has very longstanding and strong ties with the Hong Kong and Taiwanese owners as well as Taiwan shipbuilding.
   'In addition, the growing importance of China, itself as a ship owning center, as a leader in ship repair as well as a prominent manufacturer of marine machinery and equipment has increased the level of ABS classification, certification, engineering and type approval activities in the country to a level which demands a more focused and active management team,' he added.
   Hiving off the company’s China activity into a separate division will also “allow us to better service our clients in Korea, Japan, Singapore, India, the Philippines, Indonesia and elsewhere across Asia and Australasia,” he said.
   ABS said the decision was spurred by the rapid diversification of China into the gas and offshore sectors, two areas of traditional strength for ABS.