In a significant development, ABS, a classification society, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korean shipbuilding company HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), its subsidiary Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), and the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR) to collaborate on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance ship safety. The MoU was signed at Posidonia 2024 in Greece.
Under this agreement, ABS will provide support for design assessment, new technology qualification, and approval in principle, as well as develop rule guidance for technical requirements, safety standards, and regulatory compliance. The main goal of the MoU is to use advanced technologies to increase seafarers’ situational awareness, ultimately supporting increased autonomy on board.
ABS Chairman and CEO, Christopher J. Wiernicki, expressed enthusiasm about the potential of this project to significantly advance safety at sea through AI support for seafarers. Jang Gwang-pil, Vice President of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, emphasized the significance of this agreement for AI-based autonomous navigation solutions and institutional automation solutions developed by HD Hyundai.
In 2022, ABS had previously granted approval in principle for HHI’s autonomous technology in four areas. Additionally, HD KSOE had collaborated with Avikus, a local startup specializing in autonomous navigation solutions, last year for a fuel-saving verification project using autonomous navigation systems. Jang Gwang-pil reiterated the company’s commitment to developing new types of ships while improving ship and sailor safety through advanced technology development.
This collaboration is set to bring about significant advancements in ship safety by leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AI to enhance situational awareness onboard ships.
