Requirements identified by an “s ” are safety management requirements. These requirements are based mainly upon the requirements of the ISM Code but also include additional prescriptive requirements that ABS considers will enhance the goals and objectives to be achieved within this area. Safety management requirements provide the baseline requirements of this Guide and contain a number of requirements also applicable to quality, environmental, occupational health & safety, energy management. These “s” requirements are the baseline and must be implemented regardless of the notations(s) requested by the client.

Requirements identified by a “q” are quality management requirements that shall be implemented together with the “s” requirements in order to properly manage both safety and quality management concerns. Quality management requirements in combination with a number of the safety requirements have been included that ABS consider can enhance the goals and objectives to be achieved within the combined ares of safety and quality management.

Requirements indentified by an “e” are environmental management requirements that shall be implemented in addition to the “s” requirements in order to properly manage   both safety and environmental management concerns. Enviromental management requirements in combination with a number of the safety management requirements address issues of concern embodied by ISO 14001: 2015. Additionally, prescriptive requirements have be included that ABS considers can enhance the goals and objectives to be achieved within the areas of safety and environment of the management system and environmental performance.

The American Waterways Operators is the national advocate for the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry, which serves the nation as the safest, most environmentally friendly, and most economical mode of freight transportation. AWO members operate on the rivers, coasts, Great Lakes, and harbors of the United States, moving vital commodities safely, reducing air emissions, water pollution, and highway congestion, protecting homeland security, and providing family-wage jobs for tens of thousands of Americans. AWO promotes the long-term economic soundness of the industry and works to enhance its ability to provide safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible transportation.

Requirements identified by a “q ” are quality management requirements that shall be implemented together with the “s” requirements in order to properly manage both safety and quality management concerns. Quality management requirements in combination with a number of the safety requirements address issues of concern embodied by ISO 9001:2015. Additionally, prescriptive requirements have been included that ABS considers can enhance the goals and objectives to be achieved within the combined areas of safety and quality management.

Requirements identified by an “e” are environmental management requirements that shall be implemented in addition to the “s” requirements in to order to properly manage both safety and environmental management concerns. Environmental management requirements in combination with a number of the safety management requirements address issues of concern embodied by ISO 14001: 2015. Additionally, prescriptive requirements have been included that ABS considers can enhance the goals and objectives to be achieved within the areas of safety and environmental management. These requirements address environmental concerns from the perspectives of both regulatory compliance and proactive continual improvement of the managemnent system and environmental performance.