Abs News

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI) have signed an agreement that establishes a framework for strengthening technology research and development in the shipbuilding and marine industries.The two organizations will cooperate in the use of research facilities and equipment, as well as testing and certification. Further, they plan to provide mutual information exchanges and professional education through seminars, workshops and other network building events.“Maritime and offshore technologies are evolving rapidly.

Anyone who knows Aaron Smith, president and CEO of OMSA, knows that he is passionately focused on the U.S. maritime industry and staunchly defending the U.S. Jones Act fleet and mariners. We caught with Smith on the sidelines of the Workboat Show in New Orleans last week. Highlights of the conversation are below – including an update on the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act – the full interview can be seen on Maritime Reporter TV.Let’s talk a bit about the offshore energy industry today.

"Safety is more than just compliance. It is now synonymous with security, reliability, collective relationships and people. Safety is also becoming systems based rather than rooted in prescriptive rules or specific component procedures. Only by embracing a proactive, systems-oriented approach to safety, can the maritime industry navigate the path to a decarbonized future while ensuring the well-being of its seafarers and the protection of the marine environment.” That was the message from Christopher J.

There’s plenty to go around for everyone, no matter it comes from.I will admit that attending the 2024 Workboat Show in the Big Easy just ten days after settling into the MarineNews Editor’s chair (for this, the second time around) had my full attention. The event typically evokes the specter of drinking from the proverbial fire hose in routine times, but attending and digesting all it has to offer, right out of the gate, makes the task just little bit edgier. Ultimately, last week’s trade show exuded terrific energy, from exhibitors to attendees alike.

Offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation has selected ABS Wavesight’s eLogs electronic logbooks for digital recordkeeping across its entire fleet of offshore assets.ABS Wavesight eLogs offers a comprehensive and streamlined approach to recordkeeping for both the maritime and offshore industry.The secure digital platform replaces traditional paper logbooks, delivering a more efficient, reliable, and user-friendly solution for record management.By leveraging advanced technologies such as cloud computing…

[ to deep, dark & confined spaces ]DLS Marine received approval from ABS for remote inspection, and it is leveraging advanced drone + software tech to make the process of tank inspection more efficient and less dangerous.DLS Marine is a long-tenured name in the U.S. maritime survey market, founded by Bob Stickney as Stickney Marine Surveying in New Orleans in 1968, with a pivotal moment coming in 1977 when Stickney hired Norman Dufour, future DLS Marine Partner, as an apprentice marine surveyor.

McDermott's heavy-lift and rigid pipelay vessel, the Derrick Lay Vessel 2000 (DLV2000), has been awarded the SUSTAIN-1 classification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).This marks the first time a marine construction vessel in its class has achieved this sustainability certification.The SUSTAIN-1 classification recognizes the DLV2000 for its environmental performance, including energy efficiency, waste management, emissions reduction, and coastal ecosystem preservation."This…

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has released its latest report into the potential of advanced nuclear technology for maritime applications, concluding the technology installed on LNG carrier would enable faster transit speeds with zero-emission operations.ABS conducted a study of a small modular reactor on a standard liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.The transformational impact of a high-temperature, gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) on the design, operation and emissions of a 145…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize shipping by enhancing safety and efficiency, Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman and CEO, said, while also noting the growing importance of the human touch in this high-tech era.“Maritime 5.0 will be defined by the ever-expanding capabilities of artificial intelligence, driving our complex industry to be safer, more efficient and more optimized, while emphasizing the increasing importance of the humans in the loop,” Wiernicki said…

During the first half of the year, Marlink’s Security Operations Center actively monitored more than 1800 vessels across the maritime industry, including cargo ships, cruise liners, research vessels, superyachts, tankers, and offshore support vessels.The monitoring process involved continuous surveillance and analysis of various cyber activities across these assets to ensure the security and integrity of critical maritime operations.In its latest "SOC Report", Marlink reports that e-mail remains a primary vector for cyber attacks, particularly through phishing and malware distribution.

ABS has completed a safety evaluation of ammonia dispersion on board an ammonia-fueled gas turbine LNG carrier design from Hanwha Ocean.ABS, in collaboration with Hanwha Ocean, conducted computational fluid dynamics simulations that modeled different ammonia release scenarios due to accidental leakages from the engine room, the pipeline and the bunkering stations on deck.The analysis confirmed that the system complied with applicable ABS Rules regarding the toxicity and risks of accumulated ammonia gas.

With clean energy projects maturing in U.S. waters, the nation’s offshore wind industry is poised to grow substantially, requiring a robust industrial base. A feedering model using domestic tugs and barges to transport turbines to offshore wind sites, is positioned at the heart of this emerging growth.Currently, the entire global fleet of wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV)—except for Dominion Energy’s Charybdis currently under construction at the Seatrium AmFELS yard in Brownsville, Texas—is flagged, owned and operated outside of the U.S.

Houston-based offshore engineering firm Friede & Goldman (F&G) announced it has completed model testing for its BargeRack offshore wind feeder solution at the MARIN maritime research institute in the Netherlands, bringing F&G closer to commercializing the technology.The BargeRack, a modular solution that enables wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV) to lift feeder barges for lifting offshore wind compoenents in compliance with the U.S. Jones Act, underwent rigorous testing in wave heights up to 2.5 meters.

Marlink acquired 100% of Port-IT, a leader in cyber security solutions tailored for the maritime industry.Port-IT brings the combination of a state-of-the-art cyber security solutions portfolio together with a long-standing experience in the maritime industry. The acquisition follows and complements the cyber security professional and managed services capabilities of Diverto, which also recently joined the Marlink Group.Rhoon, the Netherlands-based Port-IT enjoys easy access to the major ports of Amsterdam…

The industry’s first comprehensive rules for floating nuclear power plants have been unveiled by American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) at a forum for nuclear industry leaders held jointly with Idaho National Laboratory (INL).Held at ABS’ world headquarters in Texas, the event saw presentations on the latest reactor technologies from leading companies and publication of a detailed study from ABS and Herbert Engineering modeling the design, operation and emissions of a floating nuclear…

A project assessing the technical feasibility of onboard carbon capture and storage (CCS) has concluded that the technology has the potential to reduce a tanker’s CO2 emissions by as much as 20% per year, with a fuel consumption penalty of just under 10%.The project, Realising Maritime Carbon Capture to Demonstrate the Ability to Lower Emissions (REMARCCABLE), was carried out by the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and Stena Bulk together with ABS…

The United States Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Office of Environment and Innovation has selected American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to establish and maintain the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation under a five-year cooperative agreement.Authorized by the U.S. Congress, the center is intended to support the adoption of clean energy on U.S. vessels through a wide-ranging program of research and development and training support.The center will work to facilitate development of infrastructure to support the deployment of clean energy…

With new rules on Cyber Security coming down from the U.S. Coast Guard, Angeliki Zisimatou, Director Cybersecurity, ABS, is uniquely positioned to discuss maritime cyber security in the round, with insights on what she’s seen and heard from the draft rules, with advise on what it could mean for vessel owners.Cyber security and all that it entails is quickly climbing the priority ladder in maritime, as increasing dependance on connectivity is a double edge sword of promise and peril.While the level of cyber security preparedness varies widely across all industries…

The Clean Energy Marine Hubs (CEM Hubs) project has welcomed the government of Greece, a nation that represents 20% of global shipping.The initiative aims to accelerate and de-risk the production, transport and use of low-carbon fuels that will be transported by shipping for the world.Greece joins the governments of Brazil, UAE, Canada, Norway, Uruguay and Panama, as supporters of this first of its kind cross sectoral public-private platform.Other new partners include ABS, Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub…

ABS issued an approval in principle (AIP) to leading Japanese companies at Gastech 2024 for two liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier designs with Type-C cargo tanks that do not require performing post-weld-heat-treatment based on the demonstration of an engineering critical assessment.ABS reviewed the drawings based on class and statutory requirements for the two designs, a 50K cubic meter carrier and a 23K cubic meter carrier, featuring Type-C cylindrical tanks made of carbon…

An ammonia fuel supply system that can be retrofitted to existing vessels or installed on newbuilds has earned approval in principle (AIP) from ABS.The ammonia fuel supply system from Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases features high efficiency pumps and an integrated fuel management system.Konstantinos Fakiolas, Director of Marine, Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases, said: “Nikkiso’s FSS for ammonia is designed under the principles of redundancy, enhanced reliability…

ABS issued general design approval (GDA) to Samsung Heavy Industries Co., LTD. (SHI) for its detailed design of a liquefied hydrogen carrier, a 20,000 cbm vessel with Type C tanks.“Hydrogen is a key enabler of the clean energy economy. In decarbonizing different industry sectors, hydrogen plays critical roles as a fuel, feedstock, energy storage and load balancing. As the demand for hydrogen grows, vessels like the design from SHI will be critical for its transportation and development of the hydrogen value chain…

ABS has awarded approval in principle for two new autonomous technologies from HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).The Unmanned Ammonia Engine Room technology allows for a remote propulsion control station with gas safety technology on the navigation bridge of an ammonia-fueled vessel with the capability to monitor the machinery space. The centralized control station can be periodically unattended and can take automated…