ABS’ Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) Phase 3 Compliance Debrief for Large Bulk Carriers and Tankers has been published, providing insight into current EEDI regulations, the compliance landscape, technical measures for large ships to achieve compliance, and energy efficiency technologies. The IMO’s EEDI is a key component to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and...
ABS and MARIN have launched a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to investigate transparent and validated methods to assess performance of wind-assisted shipping propulsion technologies. The JIP covers the majority of all marketed wind-assisted ship propulsors and aims to overcome barriers to the uptake of these technologies by: Improving methods for transparent performance prediction Using the...
ABS has been selected to class two Offshore Supply Vessels (OSV) being retrofitted with a battery/converter system by Harvey Gulf International Marine that is expected to achieve 10 to 20 per cent fuel savings. The Harvey Energy will become the first ABS-classed dual fuel and battery vessel and the first US flagged OSV equipped with...
ABS has published its 2019 Ballast Water Management Advisory providing critical advice to owners in advance of the five-year window beginning September 2019, requiring retrofits of ballast water management systems (BWMS) on existing ships. “We anticipate roughly 6,000 vessels per year over the next five years will need to be retrofitted with BWMS to meet...
A pilot project applying artificial intelligence (AI) models to detect levels of corrosion and coating breakdown on ships and offshore structures has been successfully demonstrated by ABS, Google Cloud and SoftServe. The project proved high accuracy of AI in detecting and assessing structural anomalies commonly found during visual inspection. AI techniques could be further used...
At Nor-Shipping, classification organisation ABS will focus on its efforts towards meeting the challenges of 2030 and 2050, together with shipping industry partners. Earlier this year ABS opened its Global Sustainability Centre in Singapore to bring together multiple projects around the decarbonisation of shipping. These include studying the viability of alternative fuels and new energy...
ABS has launched the ABS Global Sustainability Centre in Singapore with a mission to help maritime decarbonise and transition to a sustainable, lower emissions industry. The Centre brings together industry leading ABS sustainability projects with a focus on: – Studying the viability of alternative fuels and new energy sources in different shipping sectors – Analysing...
A new series of free industry seminars that is touring the world promoting the use of methanol as a marine fuel has highlighted the growing interest in the fuel. Over 225 participants joined the seminar held in India and organised by Sea Commerce Consulting and Institute of Marine Engineers of India (IMEI) with support from...
ABS has published guidance notes on the Use of Remote Inspection Technologies, detailing best practices for the use of drones on class surveys and non-class inspections. The guidance notes cover pilot-operated Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles and Robotic Crawlers, collectively known as Remote Inspection Technologies (RITs). The guidance notes were developed following extensive marine...
ABS has announced it is now offering remote surveying with 24-hour worldwide coverage to enable certain surveys to be performed without the surveyor being physically present on-board. The following survey types are presently suitable for ABS Remote Survey, with more to be added in the near future. Continuous Machinery Survey Tail Shaft or Tube Shaft...
ABS has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to two liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered designs from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Group (DSIC), China. The DSIC designs include a 208,000 DWT bulk carrier and a concept 260,000 DWT very large ore carrier (VLOC). Both designs incorporate a Type C LNG fuel tank in the open area of...
ABS has granted Approval in Principal (AIP) to Neptun Ship Design for its energy efficient Wind Turbine Transport Vessel design. The Blue Azurit design is the first to support transporting parts for turbines greater than 9 Mega Watts (MW). The 178m long design allows wind turbine manufacturers to produce full length welded towers ready for...