American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) News

ABS advances simulation of battery fires

ABS has developed advanced simulation modelling of thermal runaway in lithium-ion battery fires, in a critical step forward in tackling one of maritime’s biggest emergent safety risks. The cutting-edge model, which has now been validated with Texas A&M University research, replicates the thermal runaway profile at the battery cell level, unlocking detailed insight into the total heat released and guiding the appropriate firefighting response. It is the latest development in ABS&r...

Floating nuclear power: ABS consortium in Greece

In a step toward advancing the development of floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs), ABS, CORE POWER and Athlos Energy have formed a consortium to evaluate the potential of positioning the platforms to meet the energy demands of islands, ports and coastal communities in the Mediterranean Sea. The group will research how FNPPs can potentially unlock a range of applications, including the establishment of grid-scale electricity to remote locations, the delivery of emission-free energy to ports, a...

Cybersecurity concept for FPSOs from Hanwha Ocean gets ABS approval

A new cybersecurity solution from Hanwha Ocean to protect critical infrastructure and operations on board floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS. Hanwha Ocean, in conjunction with SIGA Data Security, developed an Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity solution that is specifically designed to protect critical OT systems from cyber threats, enhancing the overall cyber resilience on FPSO units. ABS completed design reviews based on...

ABS leads offshore CCS technology advancements

ABS published a new technical paper that provides an analysis of the offshore technologies supporting carbon capture and storage (CCS), a much-publicised approach to support heavy industry’s journey to lower carbon energy solutions. In the research, ABS dissects the shift to dedicated carbon dioxide (CO2) injection and storage facilities from existing enhanced oil recovery processes, where CO2 is injected into a reduced pressurised oil reservoir to recover residual remaining oil. Floatin...

ABS Hellenic Ship Safety Centre opens in Athens, Greece

ABS opened the doors on its latest training centre, the Hellenic Ship Safety Centre in Athens, harnessing the power of new immersive training techniques, game-based learning and virtual reality environments for the Greek shipping community. Greek shipping pioneers joined ABS executives at the opening celebration for the new facility that features computer simulation stations, collaboration areas and a training room for virtual reality and game-based scenarios and interaction. Immersive learnin...

ABS advances AI-driven insights for Greek shipowners

“Every owner’s playbook needs to keep a line of sight on three things – regulation, technology readiness timelines and boundary conditions – and must include the elements needed for a short-, mid- and long game such as energy retrofits, electrification and nuclear.” That was the message from Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman and CEO, to Greece’s foremost shipowners, ship managers, and charterers at the ABS Hellenic National Committee Meeting. New e...

AI in smart shipyards: ABS & HD Hyundai Samho collaboration

ABS and HD Hyundai Samho signed a memorandum of understanding for the technical collaboration for an artificial intelligence (AI)-based smart shipyard. The agreement establishes a cooperative framework for both organisations to leverage smart technologies, such as AI, automation and robotics to identify opportunities for process improvement at HD Hyundai Samho shipyard. ABS will utilise its established Guide for Smart Technologies for Shipyards in the review process. Transforming shipyard...

ABS backs floating nuclear power module concept

ABS issued approval in principle (AIP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for a concept of a floating small modular reactor (SMR)-powered power module. The design is intended to generate electricity offshore and near shore, supporting port facilities and onshore communities. ABS completed design reviews based on the ABS Requirements for Nuclear Power Systems for Marine and Offshore Applications. Advanced nuclear technology...

Christopher Wiernicki honoured in maritime industry

ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki was honoured by The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI), receiving the 2025 Silver Bell Award for lifelong service and outstanding leadership in the maritime industry. Lives of mariners and seafarers SCI is a nearly 200-year-old charity headquartered in New York that serves and protects the personal and professional lives of mariners and seafarers, both internationally and domestically, by partnering with the maritime industry to ensure dignity w...

ABS grants AIP to Pherousa for ammonia tech

ABS issued approval in principle (AIP) to Pherousa Shipping for its ammonia cracking technology onboard ships, featuring proton exchange membrane fuel cells and fuel gas supply system (FGSS) for fully electric propulsion. The emissions-free propulsion system is targeted for application on Pherousa’s Ultramax 64,000 dwt bulk carrier to transport copper, a key material in solar panels and electric cars, in fully emissions-free vessels. Rapid innovation and new developments “We are s...

Survitec wins €22.7M LNG contract with maritime protection

Inert Gas specialists Maritime Protection, a brand of global Survival Technology solutions provider Survitec, has been awarded a contract valued at €22.7 million to supply dry inert gas systems for 24 LNG carriers being constructed at a major shipyard in China as part of Qatar’s second LNG fleet expansion program. The contract represents the most significant single order in Maritime Protection’s history and includes the delivery of high-capacity dry inert gas generators, each r...

ABS issues approval in principle (AIP) for Hi-ecoGAS and Hi-neoGAS systems

ABS issued approval in principle (AIP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for an innovative new design of a cargo handling system and fuel gas supply system. Hi-ecoGAS and Hi-neoGAS systems Named Hi-ecoGAS and Hi-neoGAS, the systems are designed to handle boil-off gas in dual-fuel engines on gas carriers. The innovative approach has an optimised fuel gas supply system for feeding the fuel gas to the dual-fuel engine, or an LNG...

ABS approves KNCC's novel LCO2 carrier design

At the 60th anniversary of the Nor-Shipping maritime trade fair, ABS issued approval in principle (AIP) to Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers (KNCC) for its novel design for a 40,000 cbm liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier. A first in the industry, the LCO2-EP carrier concept from KNCC aims to transport and store LCO2 at near ambient temperatures and under elevated pressure using a modular approach, allowing less cooling and potentially larger carriers for transport. ABS completed design reviews b...

New Propeller Club branch connects global maritime

The International Propeller Club is proud to announce the official launch of its Norwegian branch. By uniting professionals from shipping, ports, energy, law, finance, technology, and beyond, the International Propeller Club of Norway is set to foster meaningful connections and amplify Norway’s influence within the global maritime community — locally anchored, globally connected. With regional committees across Norway, the Club aims to create a hub for the maritime industry, connec...

ABS & Norwegian shipowners: Maritime safety

ABS continued its long-standing support for the AMVER Awards by sponsoring a ceremony recognising the contribution of Norwegian owners to the unique AMVER reporting system that supports search and rescue efforts for distress calls at sea. The event honoured 259 vessels from 24 Norwegian shipowners and operators, who were awarded diplomas for their role in maintaining maritime safety and in recognition of the owners’ commitment to assisting in search and rescue activities anywhere in the w...

AI demand and new nuclear technologies by ABS

How can the global energy grid keep pace with fast-growing demand from new data centres supporting artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing? Nuclear energy and coastal waters offer a potential answer. The potential for floating nuclear-powered data centres is explored in depth in the latest industry-pioneering research from ABS and Herbert Engineering. Intersection of new nuclear technologies Pathways to a Low-Carbon Future Floating Nuclear Power Data Centre details design considerati...

How can the maritime industry increase collaboration, and what are the benefits?

Given the diverse stakeholders in the maritime industry, it is understandable that collaboration is a challenge. However, the interconnected ecosystem of maritime makes collaboration essential. From ship owners and operators to port authorities, from shippers to shipbuilders, from classification societies to marine service providers and others, there are vast opportunities to work together and cooperate. To gain insight, we asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: How can the maritime industry increas...

ABS approves ARGUS-VM hull monitoring concept

ABS has issued an approval in principle (AIP) to Light Structures for its new hull monitoring concept, ARGUS-VM. The ARGUS-VM concept received a SMART (SHM) Tier 1 AIP from ABS, which provides industry recognition that the product complies with the functional and system requirements listed in the ABS Guide for Smart Functions for Marine Vessels and Offshore Units. Range of shipowners ARGUS-VM provides virtual sizes of hull responses using vessel data from existing onboard systems Unlike trad...

ABS leads in mass liquid hydrogen transport technology

ABS and the Hydrogen Ship Technology Centre at Pusan National University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint research and technology development of liquid hydrogen carriers and cryogenic engineering. The agreement establishes a cooperative framework for both organisations to share resources and expertise to help develop a liquid hydrogen carrier and hydrogen propulsion systems. Application of hydrogen technology “ABS and Pusan National University's Hydrogen Ship Tec...

Offshore Support Vessels 2025 at Rixos Marina

The regional offshore industry is gearing up for one of its most anticipated events of the year: the 3rd Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) Conference, taking place on 20–21 May 2025 at the iconic Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi. The event will serve as a crucial platform for strategic dialogue, commercial engagement, and technological exchange across the offshore marine logistics and energy sectors. Organised under the theme “Charting New Frontiers in Offshore Innovation and Excellence,”...

ABS approves Samsung LNG floating facility design

ABS issued an approval in principle (AIP) to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for its design of a multi-purpose liquefied natural gas (LNG) floating facility for deep water (MLF-O). Called MLF-O, the next-generation design from SHI optimises the production facility for deepwater areas with a wave height of nine metres. According to SHI, the design has the advantage of providing faster delivery and cost-effective efficiency compared to onshore plants. ABS completed design reviews based on class an...

Ammonia dispersion in marine fuel: ABS insights

How does ammonia behave when it leaks in an engine room? How does a cloud of escaped ammonia disperse during bunkering operations? These and many other critical safety questions that must be understood if ammonia is to become widely adopted as a marine fuel are addressed in the latest industry-leading ABS research. Risks associated with ammonia dispersion Safety Insights for Ammonia as a Marine Fuel brings together the findings of advanced ABS research into the performance of ammonia on...

ABS certifies HD KSOE's VLEC handling system

ABS awarded approval in principle (AIP) to HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for its design of an advanced cargo handling system for very large ethane carriers (VLECs). The design consists of a refrigerant-based reliquefication system and an ethane fuel supply system installed on the ship. ABS completed design reviews HD KSOE says the design, once developed, will help customers reduce operating costs HD KSOE says the design, once developed, will help customers reduce o...

ABS & HHI: Naval ship design collaboration

ABS and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) signed a memorandum of understanding that opens the door for joint development projects to develop international naval ships. Types of naval ship designs With the goal of achieving approval in principle, ABS will apply its rigorous goal-based and prescriptive requirements to three different types of naval ship designs from HHI: HDA-24000: Auxiliary Logistic Support Ship HDF-3200: Frigate HDP-2200: Offshore Patrol Vessel International naval vess...

Advancing shipbuilding: ABS insights from MIT Symposium

ABS Chairman and Chief Executive Christopher J. Wiernicki spoke about the application of advanced strategies to improve shipbuilding competitiveness at the Manufacturing at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Symposium. Speaking on the Strengthening Supply Chains and the Industrial Base panel, he outlined an equation for manufacturing success that includes a combination of five key elements working together that will drive the pace of successful and sustainable manufacturing:...

ABS tank guidance extends inspection to 10 years

In an industry first, ABS has published guidance to enable internal examination of tanks beyond the typical five-year requirements to once every 10 years, with options to have additional expanded survey intervals. The new guidance has the potential to maximise operational uptime for site-dependent assets such as floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), floating production and storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs), floating storage and offloading vessels (FSOs) and floating offshore l...

ABS & HMD: Smart Automation in Shipyards

ABS and HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD) have signed a joint development project (JDP) for digital manufacturing-based automation equipment for shipyards. The JDP establishes a collaborative framework focused on leveraging smart technology within HD Hyundai Mipo’s shipyard operations that include artificial intelligence, communication technologies, automation and robotics. ABS will utilise its Guide for Smart Technologies for Shipyards to help HMD identify opportunities for process improvement, foc...

NearZero FPSO gets ABS approval: Low carbon design

ABS issued an approval in principle to SBM Offshore for its concept of a near-zero floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit. The NearZero FPSO design incorporates low-carbon technologies that collectively create a 'Near Zero' Scope 3 carbon emissions profile, achieving up to 80 percent reduction in GHG emissions. Low carbon technologies The introduction of the NearZero FPSO is an important step in SBM’s strategic path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. ABS completed de...

ABS approves Seatrium's floating wind design

ABS awarded approval in principle to Seatrium Marine & Deepwater Technology for its new design of a floating wind semi-submersible (FWSS) floating column foundation for 15MW wind turbines. Seatrium highlights that the design is optimised for efficient fabrication and cost-effectiveness while being capable of handling the harshest environments. The new design concept features pontoons on three sides and a centre column that supports the turbine. ABS completed design reviews based on class an...

How can maritime companies maximise return on investment (ROI)?

Achieving optimal return on investment (ROI) for a maritime company involves a strategic combination of operational efficiency, revenue enhancement, cost control, careful financial management, attention to sustainability and regulatory compliance, and other factors. Given all the variables in play, profitability can be elusive, but our Expert Panel Roundtable has some ideas. We asked: How can maritime companies maximise return on investment (ROI)?

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