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World's First IMO Type B Very Large Ethane Carrier Launched

The world's first IMO Type B very large ethane carrier (VLEC), the Pacific Ineos Belstaff, has been launched at Jiangnan Shipyard in China.The first of an order of four of the largest VLECs ever commissioned, the ABS-Classed 99,000 cbm dual-fuel vessel is designed for long haul ethane transportation but can also handle other liquified gas cargoes such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ethylene.As a tradition, Jiangnan always gives a nickname to a newly developed ship.
Report Analyzes Decarbonization of US Inland Waterway Shipping

ABS and Vanderbilt University have published a landmark report analyzing decarbonization strategies for U.S. inland waterways.“Decarbonization of the Inland Waterway Sector in the United States” evaluates the potential for possible future propulsion technologies and alternative fuels to reduce carbon emissions. The report also demonstrates the feasibility of near-term electrification of smaller vessels…
ABS to Class Maersk's Methanol-fueled Containerships

A groundbreaking series of eight large container vessels capable of being operated on carbon-neutral methanol ordered by Maersk, along with an option for a further four vessels, are to be built to ABS Class, the classification society announced on Tuesday.Ordered in August, the vessels will be built by South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries and have a nominal capacity of approximately 16,000 containers.
ABS Platform Offers Advanced Weather Forecasting

ABS announced it is adding on-demand, high-resolution historical and forecast weather data on its ABS My Digital Fleet risk management platform together with weather service provider Meteomatics.This latest addition to the ABS My Digital Fleet Alliance Program unlocks weather data that enables actionable insights for users to help them understand and lower fuel consumption, improving bunker costs and carbon intensity levels, the classification society said.
ABS to Class FPSO Pair Being Built for Petrobras Buzios Field

The American Bureau of Shipping said Thursday that an FPSO duo being built for Brazil's Petrobras would be constructed to ABS Class.The sister FPSOs are currently named P-78 and P-79 and will be deployed at the giant Buzios pre-salt offshore oil field in Brazil's Santos Basin.ABS said that the fact the FPSO duo would be built to its Class demonstrated ABS’ continued leadership in the industry, with ABS Class accounting for 60% of all FPSOs in service.
Conrad Delivers First of Four Spud Barges for McDonough

Conrad Shipyard said it has delivered the first of four ABS-classed spud barges to McDonough Marine Service, headquartered in Metairie, La.The identical spud barges each measure 180’ by 54’ by 12.5’, have deck strength of 2,500 pounds PSF, and four spud wells. The remaining barges are on schedule for delivery in the third and fourth quarters of 2021. The barges are being constructed at Conrad’s Deepwater South facility in Amelia…
Cenertech's New FPSO to be Built to ABS Class

ABS said Wednesday that the new FPSO ordered by China National Offshore Oil Company Energy and Technology Services Company (Cenertech) to serve the Lu Feng 12-3 Oilfield would be built to ABS Class.The 100,000 DWT FPSO is the center of a development plan for the field which also comprises a new Well Head Platform (WHP) with a modular drilling rig; connected to the FPSO through a three-kilometer-long subsea cable and pipeline.
ABS Promotes Mahaffey to VP of Marketing and Comms

Classification society ABS said it has appointed Jessica Mahaffey as Vice President, Marketing and Communications.Mahaffey joined ABS in 2019 as Senior Director of Corporate Affairs. Previously she was Vice President of External Affairs at Direct Energy, where she held several marketing, communications, and regulatory senior leadership positions. She graduated from Baylor University with a degree in journalism and public relations…
ABS AIP for Deep-sea Mining Riser and Lift System

ABS awarded China Merchants Industry (CMI) Approval in Principle (AIP) for its self-developed Deep-sea Mining Riser and Lift System.The AIP follows ABS awarding AIP for CMI’s deep-sea mining system design, which was the first since ABS published the Guide for Subsea Mining, detailing class requirements for the design, construction, operation, and survey of mobile offshore mining units in 2020. This…
SBM Offshore's AI Mooring Monitoring Tool Gets ABS' Stamp of Approval

SBM Offshore, a Dutch company best known for its FPSO leasing business, has developed an artificial intelligence-powered mooring lines monitoring solution which has now received new technology qualification from classification society ABS.The company said that the NTQ by ABS allows its AI-powered Intelligent Agent Mooring Line Integrity Tool to be integrated into offshore systems for the first time.According to SBM Offshore…
Barge Modified Using ABS' 3D Model-based Class Process

A barge modification project by Stillwater Marine Services for Brice Marine has been delivered using the ABS 3D Model-based Class Process.The barge has undergone a bulwark modification on its aft deck section. Stillwater Marine submitted the modification design to ABS’ New Orleans Engineering office in 3D model format. Once completed the modified barge was surveyed by ABS’ Seattle Office.“This was a powerful demonstration of the ABS 3D-Model-based class process in action.
McDonald Named ABS Chief Operating Officer

John McDonald will become ABS Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer as Tony Nassif has announced his plans to retire on December 31, 2021.As part of the company’s succession planning process, McDonald will assume the head operations role on July 26, 2021. Celebrating 25 years of service with ABS this year, McDonald joined ABS in 1996 as a surveyor and served in various frontline operational roles in Korea…
New Workboat to Serve Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty

A new utility/passenger vessel has been delivered and will soon go to work for the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) to serve Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.The all-steel newbuild, designed by New Orleans-based TAI Engineers, LLC, has been named Annie Moore after the first immigrant, a 15-year-old Irish girl, who signed the Ellis Island register."TAI has designed and built many boats and ships, but this project is particularly special to me," said Anil Raj, President of TAI.
Ship Design: Pure 3D Process Deployed for US-built Advanced Rotortug

The evolution of commercial ship design and construction now includes a first in the U.S.: the first commercial U.S. vessel designed, built and verified using an end-to-end 3D design process, a project coordinated through ABS, Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL), Signet Maritime Corporation (Signet) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).Designed by RAL, the Advanced Rotortug (ART), which is designed to escort vessels and offshore assets at the Port of Corpus Christi…
Partners Set Out to Develop CO2 Carrier Designs

A team of maritime industry partners has set out to develop new liquefied CO2 carrier designs as carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects advance globally in support of net negative ambitions.“CCS has the potential to make a significant contribution to global emissions reduction strategies and safe and efficient transport of liquefied carbon is going to be key to realizing these goals," said Patrick Janssens…
ABS Completes Decarbonization and Digitalization JDP with HHI and HGS

Classification society ABS said it has completed a joint development project (JDP) with shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and marine services firm Hyundai Global Service (HGS) exploring decarbonization and digitalization in the marine and offshore industries. The project covered simulation and modeling of carbon footprints of a vessel incorporating energy efficiency technologies, liquefied…
Foss to Operate Autonomous Harbor Tug

Foss Maritime’s newest vessel will be the first U.S.-flag harbor tug to integrate autonomous systems in real-world commercial operations.Launched on April 29 and scheduled for delivery in May 2021, the newly built 90-ton bollard pull Rachael Allen—the fourth in a series of ASD-90 Z-drive tractor tugs being built at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, in Freeland, Wash.—will feature Sea Machines Robotics’ SM300 autonomous-command and -control system.
ABS Publishes Guide on 3D Printing

Classification society ABS has published guidance on the application of additive manufacturing (AM) in the marine and offshore industries.The ABS Guide for Additive Manufacturing focuses on two main categories of metal AM processes: Powder Bed Fusion and Directed Energy Deposition. The Guide defines the ABS approval and certification process for AM facilities and AM parts by providing standards for AM design, feedstock material, building processes, inspection and testing.
ABS, Rainmaking Support Singapore’s Decarbonization Entrepreneurs

ABS and Rainmaking are teaming up to support entrepreneurs with maritime decarbonization technologies in the world's top shipping hub.ABS’ marine and offshore industry experience combined with Rainmaking’s register of decarbonization focused startups will help Singapore's entrepreneurs accelerate testing and development of transformational technologies with the potential to reduce CO2 emissions, the…
ABS Signs on Maritime Fuel Cell Development Project

ABS has joined an industry-leading joint development project (JDP) to accelerate development of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology with Alfa Laval, DTU Energy, Haldor Topsoe, Svitzer and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.Funded by a grant from Danish EUDP (Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program), the partners will pursue a high-efficiency solution with the scalability to support marine industry decarbonization.ABS…