Certified to the
Highest Marine Standards

Lloyds, ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) & USCG certification means a fabrication facility's welding procedures, welder qualifications, and quality management system have been audited and approved by independent classification societies and regulatory bodies. For vessel owners, this means DolFab can stamp work with ABS marks and meet Lloyds and USCG standards — required for classification-society inspected vessels, commercial ships, and many superyacht programs where the surveyor needs to verify structural metalwork meets recognized standards.

ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) standards are voluntary in most jurisdictions, but they matter enormously in practice. Marine surveyors use ABYC standards as the benchmark for inspecting boats. Insurance underwriters expect ABYC-compliant work. A boat with non-compliant fuel tanks, exhaust systems, or electrical work can fail survey, be uninsured, or be worth less at resale. DolFab's work is built to ABYC standards — H-24 for fuel systems, H-32 for ventilation, E-11 for electrical — as a baseline on every project.

DolFab welders hold qualifications under ASME Section IX for pressure vessel and pipe welding, plus AWS D1.1 (structural steel) and D1.2 (structural aluminum) qualifications. We maintain weld procedure specifications (WPS), procedure qualification records (PQR), and welder performance qualifications (WPQ) for all processes. If your surveyor or classification society needs documentation, we have it — and we can produce it in the format required.

If your project is for a commercial vessel, charter boat, or superyacht under class, the answer is usually yes — the classification society (ABS, Lloyd's, etc.) will require work to be performed at an approved facility or by approved welders. For private recreational boats, certification isn't legally required, but your marine surveyor will expect ABYC-compliant work, and ABYC compliance provides real protection for you as the owner. Call us at 954-941-5093 to discuss whether your project needs a certified shop.

For Lloyds, ABS & USCG certification, you can verify ABS credentials directly through the ABS website (eagle.org) by searching the facility name. Ask the shop for their current Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) records and Weld Procedure Specifications (WPS). Legitimate certified shops have these documents ready to share — if a shop hesitates, that's a red flag. DolFab's credentials are documented and available on request.

ABS is a classification society that certifies vessels and facilities. ABYC is a standards organization that publishes best-practice guidelines for boat design and construction. Think of ABS as a regulator (certification is required for class) and ABYC as a professional body (compliance is the professional standard). Many vessels need both — Lloyds, ABS & USCG certification for classification work and ABYC compliance for survey and insurance.