ABS awards another AiP for AI-enabled safety monitoring tech  

The artificial intelligence-based autonomous machinery health management function (HiCBM) and the autonomous safety management function (HiCAMS) both received AiPs from ABS at this month’s Offshore Technology Conference in Houston.

HiCBM and HiCAMS received ABS product design assessments for ships throughout 2022 and 2023. HiCBM provides real-time diagnoses and manages key devices such as propulsion and power generation engines, compressors and pumps by allowing artificial intelligence to detect and prevent signs of failure during navigation. HiCAMS detects and analyses safety-related events in real time using CCTV on board.

Last year, Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries delivered a 180,000-tonne LNG-powered bulk carrier equipped with HiCAMS and HiCBM, the first ship equipped with an AI-based engine automation system. 

Now, ABS is supporting their application to the offshore industry.

The certificates are the latest stage in ABS and HD Hyundai Group’s collaboration to expand the development of autonomous ship technology.

“Autonomous technologies hold significant promise to advance safety and efficiency at sea for the whole industry. Together, ABS and HD Hyundai Group have made huge strides in realising that potential and developing the components that lead to a future with autonomous functions. Our partnership continues to bear fruit for the benefit of the entire ocean energy industry and is an example of the value ABS can bring to advance the adoption of new technologies,” said ABS chairman and chief executive Christopher J Wiernicki.

Award of the AiPs comes in the wake of ABS signing a memorandum of agreement to work together on autonomous projects, that built upon a previous strategic framework agreement where ABS worked with both KSOE and Hyundai subsidiary, Avikus.

Most notably, on the landmark voyage of the LNG carrier Prism Courage, which sailed across the Pacific from Freeport, Texas to South Korea’s Boryeong LNG Terminal through the Panama Canal, using Avikus’ HiNAS technology, which uses AI for route and speed optimisation, and collision avoidance. 

KSOE chief technology officer Kwang-Pil Chang said, “This co-operation with ABS has great significance in that we have begun the development of AI solutions for offshore platforms in earnest based on our previous experience in developing AI solutions for ships together with ABS. HD Hyundai Group will lead the market in technologies and safety enhancements for unmanned offshore platforms based on cutting-edge AI technologies.”