An increasingly complex, digitalised maritime industry is challenging designers, shipyards and vendors to deliver the kind of vessels that can safely navigate the transition to a low carbon, high efficiency operating environment.
With new technologies enabling innovative approaches to design and performance across all types of vessels, the industry wants to know that class rules are keeping pace with developments.
The emergence of a goal-based approach from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) signaled a sea-change in the way regulators could develop criteria that could be applied to any technical solution, rather than the traditional prescriptive approach.
The rate of technology development is challenging to an industry which is often incorrectly labelled as slow and resistant to change. Owners and operators are looking to move quickly to cut emissions and maintain a competitive edge. This necessitates a requirement structure that applies a risk-based approach to class rules, which helps by quickly and efficiently identifying unintended safety consequences of employing new technology onboard their vessels, thereby allowing owners and operators to make fleet-wide decisions with speed and confidence.
In response to growing demands for a framework that can enable innovation, ABS has updated the Marine Vessel Rules and introduced new Rules for Alternative Arrangements, Novel Concepts and New Technologies to provide a process for applying functional requirements, developed in accordance with the guidance in IMO Circular 1394, and risk-based methods to designs that do not have established Rules.
This approach is aligned with the IMO process for alternative arrangements. ABS has received positive feedback from flag Ad- ministrations who also face the challenge of evaluating new ideas against regulations that were often written with a specific technical solution in mind.
The new Rules and approach can address any innovative idea that does not have defined requirements. Some examples may be the incorporation of new materials for a lighter vessel, equipment to handle new fuels, or a new vessel type that operates in a manner not seen before.
The updated ABS Rules enable shipowners to integrate new technology knowing that they have been through a risk-based process as part of a comprehensive ABS Class review. At the C-suite level, the enhanced rules create an environment to explore the impact of incorporating advanced digitalization capabilities and new decarbonization technology into a fleet.
For shipyards and technical personnel, the Rules provide a series of pre-defined objectives and functional criteria. ABS working with other stakeholders can determine the acceptability of the new technology and identify risks to existing systems. With approval times reduced by as much as half for the adoption of new technology, project managers can make fleet-wide decisions with speed and confidence.
The Rule enhancements are a result of a multi-year collaboration with industry, shipyards, shipowners, equipment manufacturers, designers and regulators. Over 600 ABS clients took time to provide feedback through ABS Technical Committees, questionnaires, and other avenues.
In addition to the request for a framework adaptable to new technology, two other important requests were to provide easier access and to improve the clarity of the existing Rules.
To meet those requests, ABS has also released Rule Manager
2.0, an intuitive application that allows users to quickly search and access content across the suite of ABS Rules and Guides. This follows the 2023 launch of the industry’s only Custom Rule Book application, a powerful tool which allows users to instantly create tailored rules sets for their specific vessel or project. Rule Manager 2.0 will also be available to MyFreedomTM Portal subscribers which will allow more personalization and content.
Commentary and updated text simplify class requirements, reducing interruptions during survey and plan review by clearly describing what is required for compliance. New images and figures have been added to explain complex technical content more easily.
By enhancing ABS Rules with risk-based requirements and strengthening the technical content to account for compatibility with objectives, functional requirements and prescriptive criteria, ABS has created a robust infrastructure to enable the innovation and technology to support our clients and the wider maritime industry’s evolving decarbonization and digital ambitions.
* Vice President, Regional Business Development, Europe, ABS
