Herbert-ABS

What Herbert-ABS does

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions LLC is a joint venture between the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Herbert Engineering Corp., founded in 2011 and headquartered in Alameda, California. The company develops specialized marine engineering software for ship stability analysis, load management, and casualty/emergency response, serving naval architects, shipbuilders, shipowners, classification societies, offshore operators, and military maritime organizations worldwide. Its core product suite comprises HECSALV (salvage and emergency response software in continuous development since 1990), HECSTAB (design and regulatory stability assessment for ships and offshore assets, with offshore and ship-specific variants), CargoMax (shipboard load management software with specialized variants for tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, LNG carriers, livestock carriers, naval combatants, and offshore vessels), LMP (Load Management Program for semi-submersibles, TLPs, SPARs, and FPSOs), CruiseMax (cruise ships and superyachts), and Herbert-ABS Wind (regulatory wind and overturning moment calculation, launched April 2023).

Name

Herbert-ABS

Legal name

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions LLC

Website

https://herbert-abs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions LLC is a joint venture between ABS and Herbert Engineering Corp. that develops marine stability, load management, and emergency response software for shipbuilders, shipowners, classification societies, offshore operators, and naval and military organizations worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Alameda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing: Annual maintenance and support plan included with new purchases. Users who are members of annual maintenance and support plan may download latest software and data files. Suggests recurring revenue model from maintenance contracts.
2. Custom Software Development: Each software package is custom developed by trained naval architects using shipyard drawings and technical data specific to each vessel/application.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Herbert-ABS develops and licenses a suite of marine software for ship stability analysis, onboard load management, and salvage/emergency response, including HECSALV (salvage and casualty response), HECSTAB (design-phase stability assessment with Python scripting and Rhino 3D integration), CargoMax (shipboard load management for tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, LNG carriers, and other vessel types), LMP (offshore stability and weight monitoring for semi-subs, TLPs, SPARs, and FPSOs), CruiseMax (cruise ship and superyacht load management), and Herbert-ABS Wind (regulatory wind overturning moment calculation). Each package is custom developed by trained naval architects using shipyard drawings and technical data for the specific vessel, with annual maintenance and support plans covering software updates and data files.

Product overview

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions provides a portfolio of marine software products for ship stability, load management, and emergency response. The core product families include HECSALV (salvage and emergency response software for damaged vessels), HECSTAB (design and regulatory stability assessment for ships and offshore structures), and CargoMax (shipboard load management software). HECSTAB serves as the design-phase analysis platform, available in ship-specific and offshore variants, while CargoMax provides onboard operational software for various vessel types including tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, LNG carriers, and offshore vessels. LMP handles offshore-specific stability and weight management, and CruiseMax addresses cruise ship requirements. Key modules include Direct Damage Stability (DMS) for regulatory compliance verification, Trim Optimization for fuel efficiency, and Herbert-ABS Wind for wind overturning analysis. These products share the Herbert Engineering Corporation salvage engine and are designed to be fully compatible, allowing data exchange between onboard operational software (CargoMax, LMP, CruiseMax) and design/salvage software (HECSTAB, HECSALV).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CargoMax: Market leading ship stability and load management software for tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, LNG carriers, livestock carriers, offshore vessels, and naval combatants
• LMP
• HECSALV
• HECSTAB
• CruiseMax
• Herbert-ABS Wind

Products and services

• HECSTAB Versatile design and regulatory stability assessment software for naval architects involved in ship design and analysis. Enables analysis of trim, intact and damage stability, and longitudinal strength with integrated modeling, Python scripting, and Rhino 3D integration.
• HECSTAB Offshore Regulatory stability assessment software for non-ship-shaped offshore assets including semi-submersibles, TLPs, SPARs, and jack-ups. Features variable heeling axis (free twist) calculations and Python scripting interface.
• HECSALV Industry-leading salvage and emergency response software for analyzing damaged vessels in afloat and grounded conditions. Enables rapid collection and processing of casualty data, scenario evaluation, and salvage plan development.
• HECSALV Offshore Offshore-specific extension of HECSALV for MODU Code stability evaluation, environmental loading (wind, current, wave), lightering plans, advanced tendon/chain/riser loading, oil outflow analysis, and multiple-axis stability.
• CargoMax Market-leading shipboard stability and load management software combining rigorously tested algorithms with user-friendly interfaces for regulatory compliance and operational safety across vessel types including tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, LNG carriers, livestock carriers, naval combatants, and offshore vessels.
• LMP (Load Management Program) Customizable offshore stability, monitoring, and weight management program for semi-subs, TLPs, SPARs, and FPSOs. Combines algorithms with user-friendly interface for operational stability compliance.
• CruiseMax Load management and emergency response software for cruise ships and superyachts with load planning, intact stability, strength analysis, deflection calculation, and trim/draft optimization.
• Herbert-ABS Wind Regulatory wind and overturning moment calculation tool available as standalone application or integrated with HECSTAB. Performs calculations from 3D geometry for wind force and design/regulatory approval.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trim optimization can reduce power and fuel consumption
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHerbert-ABS is a joint venture between ABS and Herbert Engineering Corp. The partnership enables classification society integration, type approval processes, and access to ABS's global network of clients and maritime industry relationships.
• Herbert Engineering Corp.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and joint venture partner providing core technology development, engineering expertise, and product integration with Herbert-ABS software suite.
• Pihl Expert GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman agent representing Herbert-ABS products in the German market, introduced at SMM 2022.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• MOL Maritime (MOL MCS): MOL MCS provides loading computer and stability software, including its MACS3 system used onboard commercial tankers and bulk carriers. Functional overlap with CargoMax on the shipboard loading-computer segment, particularly in Asia-Pacific.

Direct peers

• NAPA: NAPA is the leading direct competitor in naval architecture software, offering ship stability, loading, and hull form design tools widely used by shipyards and shipowners. NAPA Loading Computer and NAPA Stability are the most direct functional analogs to CargoMax and HECSTAB.
• BMT Group: BMT provides maritime engineering consultancy and software including stability, safety, and design tools (BMT Designer, BMT SMARTShip). Overlaps with Herbert-ABS on stability analysis and serves similar shipbuilder, offshore, and naval customers.

Broad incumbents

• Dassault Systèmes: Dassault's CATIA/3DEXPERIENCE Marine & Offshore industry solution provides ship structural design and digital twin capabilities to major shipyards. Broader PLM platform but competes for the shipyard CAD/CAE budget where Herbert-ABS HECSTAB also sits.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Kongsberg Maritime provides integrated vessel systems, including loading computers and stability software, often bundled with automation packages. Competes for onboard software slots on commercial newbuilds where CargoMax is also specified.
• Lloyd's Register: LR is both a customer of Herbert-ABS and a competing class society offering digital tools and ShipRight procedures. As a class-approver and a software-adjacent competitor, the relationship is partially cooperative and partially competitive.
• Siemens Digital Industries Software: Siemens provides ship design and simulation tools (Simcenter, NX) used in marine structural and hydrodynamic engineering. Indirect overlap with Herbert-ABS in naval architecture workflows, particularly at larger yards.
• DNV (Maritime software): DNV operates Veracity and various class digital tools, and is both a regulator (type-approving Herbert-ABS products) and a competitor offering stability verification and digital class tools. Strategic ambivalence as both gatekeeper and adjacent software provider.
• Wärtsilä: Wärtsilä's SmartShip and fleet operations software suite overlaps with onboard stability/load management workflows. Broader marine technology incumbent with potential to expand into the stability-software niche.
• AVEVA: AVEVA Marine offers ship design, 3D hull modeling, and engineering platforms widely deployed at shipbuilders. While broader PLM-focused, AVEVA competes for the same naval-architecture software budget at shipyard customers such as Hyundai and Samsung.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HerbertABS
• Xx.com/HerbertABS

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Herbert-ABS