The maritime industry is under the gun, facing a tidal wave of regulatory and societal pressure to slash CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions over the next three decades. The transition to low- and zero-carbon fuels and novel technologies is a monumental task, one that no single stakeholder can tackle alone. Collaboration, knowledge sharing, and pooling resources are the lifeblood of this journey. ABS, a leading classification society, is stepping up to the plate, establishing a global technology centre network to extend its support to a wide range of maritime stakeholders.
In the Asia Pacific, ABS has set up shop with four technology centres, strategically placed in South Korea, China, and Singapore. Each centre is tailored to the region’s strengths and priorities. In South Korea, where smart technologies are booming, ABS has an intelligence technology centre. China, the world’s shipbuilding powerhouse, hosts a ship design innovation centre. Singapore, the maritime hub pushing hard on electrification, is home to both an electrification centre and an innovation research centre. These centres cover a broad spectrum of technologies, from vessel electrification and carbon capture to clean hydrogen, digitalisation, and more.
Dr. Gu Hai, a key figure at ABS, highlights the significance of these centres. “Singapore covers everything,” he says, underscoring the hub’s comprehensive approach. ABS isn’t just setting up shop; it’s diving deep into the nitty-gritty of decarbonisation. The class society has conducted a baseline study for a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor between Singapore and the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. This study isn’t just about analysing maritime trade flows; it’s about providing a roadmap for energy demand requirements for ships operating on the corridor through to 2050.
Safety is at the heart of ABS’s mission, and the class society is leveraging cutting-edge technology to ensure it. Simulation and metaverse technology are being used to create walkthrough environments, allowing for the study of various scenarios involving alternative fuels like ammonia and hydrogen. These tools can also model and evaluate novel technologies, such as onboard carbon capture systems under different operating conditions. “Basically, you can convert your concept into a simulation model and then run it in the virtual world and see how the system works,” Dr. Gu Hai explains.
Powerful modelling tools can simulate options for increasing energy efficiency, reducing fuel consumption, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This helps shipowners shape their decarbonisation strategies. “We can create a complex model of the entire ship,” Dr. Gu Hai says. “For example, we can check how much fuel could be saved using air lubrication or optimise an onboard carbon capture system.” These tools can also mitigate the risk to the crew of an ammonia release and improve emergency-response procedures. “We can create a very systematic and intuitive quantitative risk assessment. Based on this quantitative risk assessment, we can increase safety,” Dr. Gu Hai says.
This news is a game-changer for the maritime industry. It signals a shift towards a more collaborative, tech-driven approach to decarbonisation. The establishment of these technology centres and the use of advanced simulation tools could accelerate the development and adoption of low- and zero-carbon technologies. It could also foster a more integrated approach to maritime decarbonisation, with stakeholders working together to share knowledge, resources, and best practices. The future of maritime shipping is being shaped right now, and it’s looking greener and more collaborative than ever before.
