Appointment of CEO

President and Chief Operating Officer Christopher J. Wiernicki of Houston based ABS will assume the duties of Chief Executive Officer of ABS following the classification society’s annual meeting in April 2011. Robert D. Somerville, currently Chairman and CEO of ABS, will relinquish the CEO responsibilities while remaining Chairman of both ABS and the ABS Group of Companies. Christopher J. Wiernicki, a member of the Board of Directors of ABS, has been working closely with Robert D. Somerville for the last four years in his position as President and COO. The role of CEO will be in addition to Wiernicki’s existing responsibilities.

The new management structure mirrors that of the ABS Group of Companies, a leader in the provision of independent risk management services to energy, government, insurance and industrial sectors. Tony Nassif serves as CEO and President of the ABS Group of Companies.