American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)

ABS completed a four-year effort to develop a training module to enhance safety training for commercial fishermen. The project delivered a web-based training platform with materials focused on six major categories of safety risks related to fishing vessel dynamic stability. Computational fluid dynamics and modern rendering techniques were adopted to make the simulations as realistic as possible. Awareness of safety risks “This work shows the unwavering efforts of ABS to promote the security of life at sea. In some environmental conditions, commercial fishing can become an occupation with many risks." "With modern simulation technologies, ABS is able to advance training for better situational awareness of safety risks to support those working in the fishing industry,” said Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Long-term course offerings The project was financially sponsored by the Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research program of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The training platform has been incorporated into the long-term course offerings of Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA). The project team consisted of ABS, AMSEA, George Mason University, and the Northeast Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (NEC), with support from Hockema Group, Inc. Technical advisory services “We are excited to see this stability training tool come on-line! The interactive features permit the user to experiment with multiple stability-oriented scenarios; and in doing so, permit knowledge-based decision making on probable outcomes, which may enhance valuable stability decisions while at sea,” said Joseph D. Myers, U.S. Coast Guard Fishing Vessel Safety Program Manager. ABS is a pioneering global provider of classification and technical advisory services for the marine and offshore industries.

ABS Chairman and Chief Executive, Christopher J. Wiernicki was named International Personality of the Year at the Lloyds List Greek Shipping Awards, the second time he has received the honour. The accolade followed ABS being named Number One Classification Society by Gross Tonnage in the annual Lloyds List ranking of the Top 10 Class Organisations. ABS’ flagship global locations Wiernicki, who this week was also placed 72 in the Lloyds List ranking of the Top 100 People in Shipping, said: “Over the years, I have felt a profound bond with Greece and its maritime community. I believed in its potential and invested significant resources to establish the Greek office as one of ABS’ flagship global locations. That decision was one of the most rewarding of my career.” Wiernicki highlighted the industry’s challenges and outlined a formula for success in shipping through combining technology, innovation, change and people divided by risk. Realistic and achievable technology Wiernicki said: “Looking ahead, we need to ensure that safety remains the mantra of this industry and that future regulations should be aligned with commercial gravity. Governments and industry need to find a new balance that results in realistic and achievable technology readiness timelines." "The biggest challenge facing the industry will be workforce development, not technology readiness or digitalisation and not decarbonisation. AI should be viewed not just as a way to reduce costs but instead as an enabler to empower our people.” Wiernicki retires from ABS on December 31 as the longest serving pioneer with a 15-year tenure but will remain active in the shipping industry.

ABS has granted approval in principle (AIP) to Seagate Space for their unmanned semi-submersible launch platform – the first offshore asset to receive AIP under the newly published ABS Requirements for Offshore Spaceports. “Safety and precision are critical to the success of offshore space launch operations. This AIP reflects both ABS’ and Seagate Space’s commitment to advancing innovative technologies that enable reliable and efficient launch operations in a fast-evolving sector. ABS is proud to continue shaping the offshore infrastructure critical to supporting space launches across the globe,” said Miguel Hernandez, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Offshore. Offshore spaceport infrastructure The platform, designed specifically for remote offshore launch operations and referred to as the Gateway-S, introduces a new category of modular offshore spaceport infrastructure. Gateway-S can be configured for both launch and recovery as well as disassembled into container-sized modules for transportation by sea, truck or rail, allowing for multi-site deployments.  Other key features of the design include its semi-submersible hull form, which reduces wave-induced motion, and deck arrangement, which can facilitate various mission-specific equipment.  Offshore recovery missions “Our customers in the space industry are truly transforming humanity’s future, and we are proud to be at the forefront of supporting their unique maritime needs. Gateway-S is the first of a series of configurations that achieve greater capability at a more efficient cost point,” said Sean Fortener, Co-Founder and COO/President of Seagate Space. Offshore recovery missions have skyrocketed over the past decade, soaring from just two in 2015 to over a hundred in 2024. Specialised barges and offshore support vessels enable this rapid growth, serving as a key theatre for an array of offshore operations in support of the expanding commercial space industry. Feasibility of novel concepts Offshore spaceports enable more convenient and efficient launch operations by moving operations to sea, reducing public impact while relieving pressure on shore-based spaceport infrastructure.  The platform was approved in principle with applicable standards in ABS Requirements for Offshore Spaceports and ABS Rules for Building and Classing Offshore Units (Offshore Rules). An intermediate approval step, AIPs assist in demonstrating project feasibility of novel concepts to project partners and regulatory bodies. Unique challenges of offshore spaceports ABS has taken a pioneering role in the development of industry requirements for offshore space infrastructure. It published the world’s first requirements addressing the unique challenges of offshore spaceports in 2023 as well as a joint development project reviewing remotely controlled dynamic positioning functions of autonomous rocket recovery droneships with SpaceX.