ABS, HHI Group Partner Up on Digitalization and Decarbonization to Advance Ship Designs

ABS, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Hyundai Global Service (HGS) have agreed on a framework for the exchange of digitalization and decarbonization (D&D) concepts to apply to present and future ship designs.

As explained, this new framework will be an industry first D&D ecosystem between class, shipyard and ship service company.

Launched at a ceremony during Gastech 2019 in Texas, the new framework enables HHI, HGS and ABS to support alternative means of compliance with new remote survey capabilities using the newly commissioned ABS Remote Decision Support Center, supported by HHI and HGS’ technology and services. It also enables identification of new technologies, designs, fuels, and simulation techniques for mutual clients.

According to ABS, the ultimate goal is to establish a lifecycle partnership from the design of the vessel to the steel cutting and to post-delivery of assets.

“We will examine the myriad of possible technologies to be able to bring forward the most technically mature, economically viable, and compliant concepts to ship owners,” Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO, commented.

As part of the framework, the three companies outline the need for the development of new cyber security standards. Communications companies which specialize in data transmission, which include HGS’s satellite connections, will pursue a proprietary data infrastructure standard aligned to support data exchange, integration, and analysis for classification and non-class purposes.

Specifically, the new framework will be applied to ABS classed vessels being designed and constructed by HHI and sold with HGS lifecycle services.

Based on these new D&D concepts, HHI, HGS and ABS will work together to advance the state of vessel design, with possibilities ranging from alternative fuels to options for all-electric vessels.