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ABS and Seatrium Advancing Digital Technologies for Shipyards

ABS and Seatrium are working together to advance smart digital technologies for shipyards, with a focus on boosting safety, productivity and efficiency.At Singapore Maritime Week, ABS launched detailed requirements to guide the industry in the application of smart technologies at shipyards and recognize Seatrium as the first shipyard group to deploy smart technologies in its operations, in line with…
OSV to be Converted for Human Space Flight Launches

Space tourism company Space Perspective is converting an offshore support vessel (OSV) to function as the world’s first "marine spaceport". The Florida-based company in November 2022 announced it had acquired the 292-foot-long vessel from Edison Chouest Offshore as the first in its planned global fleet of converted spaceport vessels to support the mobile launch of its balloon-driven passenger spacecraft.The…
World’s First Methanol-Fueled Containership Launched

The world’s first methanol-fueled containership has been launched for A.P. Moller - Maersk as the Danish shipping giant makes headway toward its goal to decarbonize its operations.“The launching was successfully completed on April 4 at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, and the construction is continuing with delivery in the summer,” said Henrik Ekmann, Head of Newbuilding & Retrofit at Maersk.The 2,100 TEU, ABS…
Ammonia Bunkering Study Kicks Off in Savannah

An international group of maritime industry partners are conducting a feasibility study with the aim to establish a commercially viable green ammonia ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering network on the U.S. East Coast.The study, to be carried out at the Port of Savannah in Georgia, will cover the entire end-to-end supply chain of ammonia bunkering, which includes the development of a cost-effective green ammonia supply chain…
Bleutec's 'Binary Marine Installation Solution' Earns AIP from ABS

Houston-based Bleutec Industries announced it has received approval in principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the designs of its Jones Act compliant offshore wind farm construction solution.Envisioned as an alternative to wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV), Bleutec's "binary marine installation solution" (BMIS) is a spread of DP2 vessels designed in partnership with Ohio-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm NETSCo, each engineered to be built at U.S.
ABS AIP for Value Maritime’s Carbon Capture System

ABS granted approval in principle (AIP) to Value Maritime (VM) for its Carbon Capture System onboard seagoing vessels. The Filtree System - a prefabricated gas cleaning system that filters sulfur and 99% of particulate matter - includes a Carbon Capture Module that captures the CO2 onboard in a battery container.Value Maritime’s CCS technology is designedd too allow vessels to capture up to 40% of CO2 emissions…
ABS Issues CyberSafety Certification for Nabtesco Engine Control System

After prototype testing in January 2023, classification society ABS has issued the world's first ABS CyberSafety Product Design Assessment (PDA) certification for the main engine and main propulsion remote control systems (M-800 series) from Nabtesco Corporation.“In vessel operations today, more and more components are connected and reliant on digitally enabled systems that introduce new risks and vulnerabilities into the maritime supply chain.
ABS Verifies Non-flammable Blue G Battery System Design

Classification society ABS announced it has issued New Technology Qualification (NTQ) for non-flammable battery technology for use at sea.Called Blue G, the vanadium redox flow battery system from Gennal Engineering PTE LTD is now planned to move into prototype testing later this year.The Blue G battery is comprised of a water-based electrolyte solution, storage tank, stack cell and regulating pump.
ABS Taps Koutsourakis to Head Its Sustainability Team

ABS has appointed Panos Koutsourakis to head its global sustainability team. Koutsourakis is an 18-year industry veteran who has key industry experience with shipping companies, classification, operations, design and new construction, decarbonization technologies and strategic planning.As Vice President, Global Sustainability, Koutsourakis heads-up a global network of sustainability centers in key maritime locations, including Singapore, Athens, Houston, Copenhagen and Shanghai.
OOCL Welcomes its First 24,188 TEU Containership

Hong Kong-headquartered shipping company Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. (OOCL) welcomed to its fleet its first 24,188 TEU mega vessel, OOCL Spain, officially named at a ceremony held Thursday at Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. (NACKS) in Nantong, China.The ultra-large containership is the lead vessel in a series of six OOCL ordered from NACKS in 2020.The first of OOCL’s vessels to exceed the 24…
2023 Shipbuilding Report: US Passenger Vessels

With travel and tourism nearing pre-2020 levels, and transit systems benefiting from a return to work, passenger vessels have seen renewed activity. In its year-end review, John Groundwater, Executive Director of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA), which advocates for the sector in Washington, D.C. wrote: “As we are nearing the end of the calendar year, we are delighted to report that our industry…
ABS to Class Scripps' New Research Vessel

A hydrogen-fueled research vessel commissioned by the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography will be built to ABS Class.Designed by Glosten, the vessel will feature a new hydrogen-hybrid propulsion system that integrates hydrogen fuel cells alongside a conventional diesel-electric power plant, enabling zero-emission operations. The design is scaled so the ship will be able to operate 75% of its missions entirely using hydrogen.
ABS to Help CARB Implement Harbor Craft Emissions Rules

Classification society ABS announced it has signed on to support the California Air Resources Board (CARB) with the implementation of new requirements to reduce harbor craft emissions.The newly amended State of California Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation requires most harbor craft vessels to meet performance standards equivalent to a lower emission Tier 4 engine and diesel particulate filter, and some vessel categories to upgrade to zero-emission or advanced technology.
VIDEO: Patrick Ryan Named CTO at ABS

As Patrick Ryan assumes the top tech exec spot at ABS, Maritime Reporter TV interviewed him on the eve of the announcement. While shipowners face multiple technology challenges ahead, Ryan said a top priority is the bridging of technology from the fundamental phase into operational solutions. ABS appointed Patrick Ryan as Chief Technology Officer to support continued development of ABS as a maritime technology leader.Having served as Senior Vice President…
Vessel Conversions Gaining Favor in US Offshore Wind

With the creation of a full-fledged U.S. offshore wind industry undoubtedly comes many opportunities for those that own, operate, build and service relevant vessels as developers work toward the nation’s goal of 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030.But for every opportunity there are at least a handful of challenges, many of which have recently been amplified by supply chain volatility, inflation…
LNG to Play a Leading Role in the Energy Transition, ABS Head Tells USCG Leaders

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) will play a leading role in meeting shipping’s decarbonization goals, Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO, said in a keynote speech delivered to U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) leaders at the Liquefied Gas and Alternative Fuels Senior Executive Forum.“We are going to have to begin to balance what we're facing today, which is, essentially, how do we handle energy…
US Offshore Wind: Our Interconnected Future

It will take a team effort that spans sectors and even industries to meet the United States’ goal of 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030, writes Greg Lennon, ABS Vice President, Global Offshore Wind.As the United States offshore wind (OSW) industry considers the Biden-Harris Administration’s 30 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 goal, it’s easy to be struck by the monumental scope of the task ahead. From constructing…
ABS Signs On Suez Canal's Green Program

ABS and the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a long-term sustainability roadmap and decarbonization strategy for the canal, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.The MoU will see ABS and SCA work together on issues related to sustainability and the green environment as a part of the SCA’s business plan to transition to a green canal by 2030. Over the year-long agreement…
ABS and HD Hyundai to Continue Work on Autonomous Projects

ABS and HD Hyundai signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to continue working together on marine autonomy projects. Building on shared efforts to expand the development of autonomous navigation technology into critical vessel machinery and safety systems, the organizations met again at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to finalize the agreement covering four areas:Artificial Intelligence…
ABS Launches Requirements for Onboard Carbon Capture

Classification society ABS, working with shipyards, ship owners and operators, has developed a set of requirements to guide the maritime industry in the application of carbon capture technology at sea.“Carbon capture could be a key transformational technology for shipping to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Georgios Plevrakis, ABS Vice President, Global Sustainability. “ABS is working with leading organizations to support safe development of the technology…