Christopher J. Wiernicki
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
ABS

Christopher J. Wiernicki is Chairman and CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Chairman of ABS’ Affiliated Companies. Mr. Wiernicki has over 35 years of extensive commercial, government and international experience in marine and offshore design, operations, infrastructure and safety management, ports and bunkering, digitalization, cybersecurity, and clean energy transition.
He is a serving member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC), which advises the White House on how to reduce risks and improve the resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure sectors. He is also a member of the International Maritime Hall of Fame, was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, and was selected as a member of the Marine Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. He also serves on Singapore’s Maritime International Advisory Panel (IAP), which was established by the Singapore Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to seek global perspectives on key trends that will shape the maritime industry.
In April 2023, he was awarded the GREEN4SEA Leadership Award, recognizing his industry leadership and contribution to a more sustainable industry. In October 2023, Wiernicki was selected to receive the first Seatrium Visiting Professorship at the National University of Singapore College of Design and Engineering to attract top talent from the energy transition and sustainability sectors to promote knowledge transfer, capability building and support development of innovative maritime technology. In December 2024, Wiernicki was featured at number 68 in the 2024 Lloyds List Top 100 People in Shipping ranking of the leading individuals of influence in shipping, previously having been recognized at number 82 in 2015.
Mr. Wiernicki holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Vanderbilt, a master’s degree in structural engineering from George Washington University, a master’s degree in ocean engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and completed Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program. Wiernicki also received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Maine Maritime Academy, Webb Institute and SUNY Maritime College, and an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology.