Tag: ABS

Strengthening ABS presence in Southeast Asias emerging deepwater hub ABS, the leading provider of classification services to the global offshore industry, announces the expansion of its presence in Singapore. Recognizing the growing role Singapore is playing as a global offshore energy center, ABS is moving key offshore leadership positions from Houston to Singapore and is strengthening its research and development (R&D) capabilities at the ABS Singapore Offshore Technology Center (SOTC).Growth in the deepwater sector will continue to be driven by advances in technology, and Singapore will be at the center of these advancements in the Asia-Pacific region as the country positions itself as a regional deepwater hub. The level of investment expected in the Asia-Pacific region (US $225 billion in capex through 2015*) will bring rapid growth in the deepwater arena that will require mature technical competence."ABS has had a strong presence in Singapore for decades," says ABS President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. "Our expanded offerings in Singapore reflect the country's growing role as a center for deepwater research." ABS is undertaking a three-pronged approach to expansion, relocating key offshore leadership positions, including its Chief Engineer for Offshore to the Singapore office, adding a Virtual Model Basin to its ...

Events were held in Qatar, Greece and Cyprus ABS, the leading provider of classification services to the global offshore industry, has delivered a seminar series addressing developments in the construction and design of liquefied gas carriers. Events were held in Doha, Qatar; Athens, Greece; and Limassol, Cyprus."As liquefied natural gas (LNG) becomes a more attractive fuel for power generation, increased demand for LNG will require the construction of more liquefied gas carriers to support both LNG and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)," says Vassilios Kroustallis ABS Regional Vice President, Eastern Europe. "The ABS seminar series on liquefied gas carriers is our way of meeting the need for information and guidance in the industry."More than 85 members of the shipping community attended the seminar in Athens, which took place on 21 March 2012. Participants included vessel owners, investors, and representatives from a number of Korean shipyards, including Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI)."This event was the first to bring together the builders from the Korean yards with the Greek shipping community," says ABS Vice President for Engineering, Europe Division Dimitrios Kostaras. He stresses the significance of establishing a synergy link among designers, shipyards, ...

Complexity in Determination of EEDI Dr John Kokarakis, VP of Technology and Business Development, ABS Europe, is giving a presentation regarding Complexity in Determination of EEDIThe Safety4Sea Energy Efficiency Forum, a PRO BONO event, successfully completed on 8th of March 2012 in Athens, covering a wide range of Technical, Operational and Market Based Issues regarding Energy Efficiency in Shipping.The event has been well attended by over 250 delegates at the venue representing more than 140 companies. The event organized by IBS Marine Consulting Group and sponsored by MARORKA, Dorian Hellas and Transmar Shipping.For more information about the Forum visithttp://www.safety4sea.com/forum/3For more information about Safety4Sea visit the official site http://www.safety4sea.com

The acquisition of Safetec will broaden the range of solutions and services ABS Group of Companies, Inc. concluded its acquisition of Safetec Nordic AS, with a signing ceremony attended by senior ABS, ABS Group and Safetec management in Trondheim, Norway, on January 5, 2012.ABS and ABS Group Chairman, Robert D. Somerville, ABS Vice President David Weinstein, ABS Group CEO and President Tony Nassif and ABS Consulting President David Walker joined Safetec CEO Jan Morten Ertsaas, Safetec Board Chairman Jon Daniel Nesje and Professor Jan Erik Vinnem to sign the agreement bringing Safetec into the ABS Consulting organization.The acquisition of Safetec will broaden the range of solutions and services provided to ABS Consulting's offshore customers as well as strengthen its presence along the Norwegian Continental Shelf, the North Sea, wider European markets and with Norwegian clients operating in the oil and gas industry around the world.ABS Chairman Robert D. Somerville said the acquisition represented an important step in equipping ABS Consulting to meet the increasingly complex challenges in the offshore sectors. "We are pleased to be closing the Safetec acquisition. This is an agreement which will enable ABS Consulting to enhance the delivery of services and programs that meet our client's ...

LNG-powered OSV will introduce an innovative environmental solution to the US Gulf of Mexico Harvey Gulf International Marine has selected ABS as the class society for its two new dual fueled LNG-powered offshore supply vessels (OSVs) being constructed at Trinity Offshore LLC. The vessels will be among the first to be classed under the ABS Guide for Propulsion and Auxiliary Systems for Gas Fueled Ships released in May of 2011.Shane Guidry, Harvey Gulf International Marine Chairman and CEO comments on the strong relationship between Harvey Gulf and ABS, "We have been working with ABS for a long time; our people know their surveyors and engineers, and in turn ABS is familiar with us and our vessels. Since these will be the first dual fueled LNG-powered vessels under the US flag, the strong relationship ABS has with the US Coast Guard, as well as ABS' experience with dual fuel propulsion are also of great value to us."The LNG-powered OSV will introduce an innovative environmental solution to the US Gulf of Mexico. "This is likely to be the beginning of a trend for OSVs in the region. The availability of LNG and the implementation of the US Emission Control Area (ECA) starting ...

ABS Guide for Building and Classing Floating Offshore Liquefied Gas Terminals ABS Academy recently presented a five-day client training course on Floating LNG - Structural Assessment to Indonesian classification society Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (BKI). The course was presented at BKI's office in Jakarta, Indonesia.ABS Staff Consultant Ping Liao, who conducted the training, comments that "the course's aim was to have students understand the structural analysis methodology for floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals." The training highlighted the revised ABS Guide for Building and Classing Floating Offshore Liquefied Gas Terminals and the accompanying ABS Eagle FLGT software. The overview included how to use the software in line with the criteria specified in the Guide.The proprietary software evaluates structures considering buckling, yielding, ultimate strength and fatigue strength. The attendees were particularly interested in learning how to perform plan approval and drawing review for floating LNG facilities based on ABS criteria and software.The software training included three major aspects: Sea Environment Assessment System (SEAS); Initial Scantling Evaluation (ISE); and Total Strength Assessment (TSA). Liao explains each:"SEAS is a software tool to help engineers and clients understand the complicated metocean conditions and the impact to the design. It is used for the design and ...

Recognizing effectiveness of SEEMP in reducing vessel CO2 emissions Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) announced that the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP*1), MOL already has in place was certified with Statement of Compliance by the international classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Effective December 5, the certification verifies the plan including its application for calculating Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI*2) in accordance with SEEMP guidance and EEOI guideline from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).MOL led the world in formulating SEEMP ahead of the IMO's adoption of requirements that SEEMP should be provided on board from January 2013. The company has maintained operation schedules while ensuring safe operation based on that, and continually pursuing and implementing comprehensive Eco Sailing, a key element of its midterm management plan GEAR UP! MOL, while undertaking continual improvement through an ongoing PDCA(*3) cycle.The MOL-formulated SEEMP is an effective way of identifying problems and confirming the effectiveness of improvements by introducing its unique EEOI calculation method in addition to the one guided by the IMO. It also features comprehensive and organic linkage of application of innovative technologies such as the optimum trim(*4) backed by onboard and onshore demonstration tests, selection of ...

Development of in-house green ship designs by class societies risks creating conflict of interest ABS President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher J. Wiernicki has warned that a move into ship design by some class societies creates a fundamental conflict of interest with their role as independent providers of safety approval and certification.Wiernicki used his keynote address at the Houston Mare Forum USA conference to question the rationale of some class societies in promoting energy-optimized designs created in-house, a development he described as 'deeply troubling'.Wiernicki said the issue went to the heart of the underlying principle for classification, yet he was surprised to have heard no other voices questioning the growing intrusion of class into an area of ethical quicksand."The bottom line is that, since the objectives of the designer and the class society are so fundamentally different, having class societies promote themselves as designers is dangerous," said Wiernicki. "It undermines the basic fabric of the industry, it destroys the credibility of class as an independent third party, it has the potential to lead to poor designs that could impact the credibility of the whole industry and it upsets the essential checks and balances between commercial pressures and effective safety and ...

ABS Guide for Ballast Water Treatment ABS announces the release of a new Guide for Ballast Water Treatment which will aid vessel owners and operators in preparing for compliance with the IMO's International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004.The Convention is designed to provide a unified instrument to prevent, minimize and ultimately eliminate the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms via ships' ballast water and sediments. As of 1 November 2011, 30 member States representing 26.44 percent of world merchant shipping tonnage had ratified the Convention against a required 30 States representing 35 percent of the world gross tonnage.Owners mindful that the Convention may enter into force during the first half of 2013 are examining options for newbuilds and retrofits that will give them flexibility in terms of costs and operation, says Kirsi Tikka, ABS Chief Engineer and head of the society's environmental solutions efforts."The ballast water management regulations can be confusing for shipowners because they contain many unresolved and complex issues," Tikka adds. "As a result, some owners with newbuilds have elected to incorporate the installation of a ballast water treatment system, while others have chosen to have their vessel outfitted with the ...

Class Society Expands R&D Initiatives with New Energy Technology Center in Korea Leading classification society ABS is further strengthening its ties to the Korean maritime industry by establishing the ABS Korea Energy Technology Center (KETC) in Busan in early 2012. This is ABS' first energy center and will focus on applied research to a broad range of current and future technology challenges. In a related move, the society is creating the role of Vice President of Global Korean Technology Development.Dr. Hoseong Lee, a veteran of ABS and respected professional in the Korean maritime industry is being appointed to this new position. As part of his new responsibilities, Dr. Lee will provide guidance and oversight for the KETC. In combination, these strategic developments will better leverage the technology resources of ABS in servicing the Korean market and its clients across the globe.Under Dr. Lee's stewardship, the KETC will work in partnership with local universities, shipyards and other organizations to undertake research activities drawing upon the knowledge and experience of ABS engineering and survey staff worldwide. Priority areas for the center include offshore exploration and production technology, subsea applications, LNG technology, ship energy efficiency and renewable energy.Dr. Lee will also act as ...