These are interesting, challenging times for the shipping industry.
Our view is that safety of life and protection of the environment remain the priority for the industry.
Whether in operations, maintenance, crew training and of course, in sustainable operations, owners and operators should look to classification as partners in their journey. We have the experience across all shipping disciplines to support and advise our clients with the information and technical knowledge they need.
The path ahead promises new frontiers for shipping; new fuels, new technologies, even new operating models; those owners are able to successfully navigate this course will need to rely on class for continuous guidance.
Acting on decarbonization
Decarbonization is probably the biggest challenge our industry has ever faced. How to replace a well-known and well-understood means of propulsion with multiple solutions across energy efficiency and sustainable fuels – and to do so safely – is a huge requirement.
Our role at ABS is to provide the industry with the best possible information we can; we cannot make choices for our clients, we can only advise them of the options available to them and how these align with their fleets, trading patterns and long term plans. Part of this process involves a program of joint work with the industry to recognize novel and innovative technologies and to assess new flexible-fuel vessel designs for Approvals in Principle. Our work has encompassed all the major options for lower car- bon shipping and extends to concepts such as shipping of liquid hydrogen and the use of carbon capture and storage onboard ship.
Leveraging digital technology
As computational power and vessel connectivity increase, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will play expanding roles in how marine vessels and offshore assets are managed, repaired and operated.
ML has the potential to serve as the backbone of AI implementation in the marine and offshore industries. Powered by ML systems, natural language processing and machinery monitoring and analysis can perform essential functions on connected vessels and offshore assets.
Machinery analysis and monitoring — which combines ML with modelling and simulation on cloud and edge computing systems — can be used to analyze data from mechanical systems in real- time to help predict maintenance and repair needs and produce diagnostic analysis to identify root issues.
Sustainability solutions
Recent research projects indicate that onboard carbon capture and storage (CCS) might contribute positively to the decarbonization efforts of the shipping industry. So
far, regulators have focused on improving vessel efficiencies and the use of alternative fuels; however, carbon reduction may require onboard CCS as one of several tools to decarbonize shipping.
While onboard CCS may not yet be mandated by national or international policy, shipowners and charterers may see market or regulatory forces drive the adoption of onboard carbon capture solutions and the development of mechanisms to facilitate the trade of captured carbon. CCS may require significant additional capital and operating expenditure, especially where regulations and technologies are still developing, and the economic feasibility is still not fully understood.
Training and education
Amid the excitement about the new technologies associated with decarbonization and digitalization, we must not lose sight of the people we expect to deliver it. Just as we are now seeing digital technologies begin to showcase their true potential for shipping, we are only just beginning to understand the ramifications of these technologies for the brave men and women who crew the ships.
What is clear already is that maritime skillsets will need to rapidly adapt to survive in the new digital normal, and shipowners, classification societies and seafarers are all going to have to embrace a new attitude and approach to learning.
Training for the skills we will need to adapt and thrive in the decade of change ahead, will require us to adopt new learning techniques for the benefit of our employees and our clients. The pace of change in our industry means that our people must absorb and embed new knowledge every day. The question for leadership organizations is not sim- ply how we help them achieve this but, critically, how do we develop them for the skills we expect them to need in the future.
* Business Development Manager, Cyprus, ABS