Tag: ABS

Energy efficiency at the forefront of the environmental agenda With energy efficiency at the forefront of today's environmental agenda, Maran Tankers Management Inc. (MTM), the largest tanker operator in Greece, has collaborated with class society ABS in the development, review and revision of their Company and Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (CEEMP/SEEMP).The plan provides a mechanism for identifying measures aimed at maximizing operational efficiency throughout MTM's fleet and establishes a management tool for the Company and their fleet of vessels.The goal is to continually improve the energy efficiency of all sea born operations. The Plan is linked to MTM Energy Efficiency Management Policy and to the relevant Environmental Program on Energy Efficiency which has been established, maintained and implemented in accordance with the ISO 14001 procedures.It is expected that the Plan, which complies with current International Maritime Organization's (IMO) SEEMP Guidelines and also takes into account INTERTANKO's Guide for Tanker Energy Efficiency Management Plan and OCIMF's Guide for Energy Efficiency and Fuel Management, could serve as an industry model for environmental performance management.While there are a variety of environmental issues and regulations up for discussion, energy efficiency is particularly interesting because it is about CO2 emissions and it also has ...

LNG is considered a promising alternative fuel for all type of ships With rising fuel costs and today's global interest on emission reduction, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is considered a promising alternative fuel for all type of ships.In response to industry's need for technical guidance for new construction and existing vessel conversion, leading class society ABS announced today the release of its Guide for Propulsion and Auxiliary Systems for Gas Fuelled Ships.The new ABS Guide, considered to be the most comprehensive available to the industry, provides criteria for the arrangements, construction, installation and operation of machinery components and systems for vessels fueled by natural gas. The objective of the guidance is to minimize operating risks and promote the protection of the vessel, its crew and the environment.Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS CEO and President says that the shipping industry needs to examine the issues surrounding the transition from traditional fuels to LNG, to verify that solutions provide an equivalent level of safety and reliability to those established for LNG storage and transportation. "With ship operators facing economic pressures from fuel costs combined with impending regulations aimed at reducing exhaust gas emissions, particularly for sulfur oxide (SOx), LNG fueled propulsion systems could ...

New Standards for Workboat Living Arrangements The ABS Guide for Crew Habitability on Workboats will soon re-define the standard for habitability on offshore support and supply vessels.Re-engineered in partnership with prominent service vessel operators and construction yards, the Guide sets criteria for the design of vessels that offer improved working and living conditions for the crew.By applying the habitability criteria in the Guide, operators have the means to help reduce crew fatigue, improve task performance, increase personnel and vessel safety, and assist with the ever increasing challenges of crew recruiting and retention.Meeting the criteria of this Guide fulfills the accommodations arrangement requirements of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions 92 and 133 and helps demonstrate compliance with the proposed ILO Maritime Labor Convention (MLC), Title 3 Requirements. In addition though, the ABS guidance goes beyond the requirements of ILO MLC by covering not only manned crew spaces but also other key spaces onboard such as the wheelhouse, engine rooms and service spaces."ABS has been at the forefront of acknowledging the importance of 'the human element' in safety and performance," says ABS CEO and President Christopher J. Wiernicki. "We have one of the most innovative Safety & Human Factors Groups whose ...

Alerts crew for potential ice impacts Normal 0 false false false EL X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Class society ABS announces the release of a new Guide that assists ship operators in selecting, installing and using systems that monitor local icebelt stresses and alerts crew as to the severity of potential ice impacts.Monitoring systems are becoming a valuable tool for officers navigating vessels in Arctic waters. The sophisticated programs provide the crew near real-time data of local stresses, often visually displaying hull and structural loads as a percentage of permissible levels.These monitoring systems have been used in research applications for quite some time and have matured in recent years, says Roger Basu, Director, ABS Shared Technology. They are now proving themselves as a valuable asset for the crew in real-world applications and are becoming more widely available in the marketplace.While these systems are not expected to be a replacement for experience and sound judgment, they are seen as an aid for navigators in their routing planning. As more operators elect to have these tools on board it is important that they are properly installed and monitored. This Guide will provide them with a solid foundation for establishing their implementation plan says Basu.The ...

56 page Advisory for understanding and addressing the BWT Normal 0 false false false EL X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 ABS announces the release of its updated BallastWater Treatment Advisory to assist industry in understanding and addressing the evolving regulatory regime of ballast water treatment (BWT). This latest publication in ABS Advisory series provides practical guidance to shipowners, operators and builders as they make important investment decisions concerning the best-suited technology to use in their operations.The industry is in a wait and see mode when it comes to ballast water management, explains Kirsi Tikka, Vice President of Global Technology and Business Development. Until the proposed international, regional and local regulations are ratified and/or finalized, there is a great deal of uncertainty among ship operators as to how they should proceed with their system selections. The initial Advisory published last year was so well received by the industry we felt it was time for an update to reflect the current state of regulations and available systems.The advisory summarizes the practical realities of shipboard BWT systems to assist operators in their evaluation of treatment technology options. Included are discussions of the key features of ships ballast water handling systems and treatment technologies that may ...

Further extend its global reach Classification society ABS announces the opening of an office in Stavanger, Norway to further extend its global reach and provide dedicated support to its growing Norwegian client base.Known for its leadership in offshore classification and technology, the societys Stavanger office will be staffed with a professional team of offshore engineers and surveyors focused on delivering premium class service to the region.The opening of this office is part of ABS ongoing commitment to deliver uncompromising service to our clients, says Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chief Executive Officer and President. Given the dynamic operating environment, our clients want us more integrated into their operational and safety program and to do that effectively, we need this local presence.For ABS it is an opportunity to better serve the industry and build upon our strong ties with the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD).In 2009, the NMD extended its authorization to ABS to include mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) in its scope as a Recognized Organization (RO).Country Manager for Norway Egil Legland says he and his team look forward to building and expanding the relationships ABS has in Norway. Its not just the office ABS just released several new services and programs ...

ABS releases new suite of MODU notations The increased technical sophistication of drill ships and other mobile drilling units, coupled with the greater regulatory oversight of offshore drilling, has spurred ABS to develop a new suite of classification standards and notations intended to provide MODU operators with increased confidence that their operations are being conducted to the highest demonstrable standards.ABS is the leading provider of classification services to the offshore sector, said ABS President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. We have been talking with the industry, regulators and others with related interests. This has helped us to clearly define existing standards that can be improved, and to also identify those new areas that would benefit from having an independent, third party set of standards that properly address the new technologies that are being incorporated into the latest designs of drillships, semis and jackups.That research has indicated a broad range of both design and operational aspects that warrant additional guidance, according to Ken Richardson, ABS Vice President, Energy Development. Obviously enhanced standards for the classification of drilling systems are key components, he noted, but operators are also looking for a more holistic approach to the maintenance of their assets and we ...