ABS Releases Guidance for Assessing the Safe Use of Augmented Reality Aboard Vessels

ABS has published a guide intended to help maritime and offshore operators determine whether augmented reality (AR) is suitable for specific tasks on board, warning that productivity gains must not come at the expense of safety. The document, titled Advisory on Assessing Augmented Reality for Industrial Operations, sets out a method for comparing AR-enabled work against existing procedures in terms of safety and performance, and covers inspection, maintenance, navigation, training and remote assistance.

According to ABS, AR makes it possible to place instructions, operational data and hazard warnings directly within a worker's field of view. Possible uses mentioned include displaying maintenance steps in front of a technician, marking inspection tolerances, and flagging exclusion or hazard zones as crews move through a space. However, the actual benefits depend on the specific task, the individual user and the operating environment in which it is applied.

The guide was developed together with the ABS Ocean Innovation Lab at Texas A&M University, which studies the suitability of hardware, connectivity, lighting and noise, as well as the effect of AR devices on workers' perception. The document requires operators to evaluate AR against the currently accepted method of work, rather than assuming the technology will improve performance on its own, and distinguishes the different demands imposed by navigation tasks, hand-eye coordination, memory and information processing.

Among the risks flagged by the guide are distraction, visual occlusion and over-reliance on digital instructions. Safety4Sea noted that the display of digital information can increase cognitive load, divert attention away from the surrounding environment, or interfere with the visual scanning needed to detect hazards, which is especially relevant in dynamic or hostile environments where personnel must monitor changing weather conditions, moving equipment and the activity of other workers.

Patrick Ryan, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at ABS, said augmented reality could change the way industrial work is carried out by bringing expert guidance, operational data and digital workflows directly into the user's field of view, but stressed that the industry needs a clear understanding of the safety and performance implications in order to harness that potential responsibly. ABS stated that the guide aims to help operators move beyond pilot projects and make evidence-based implementation decisions, and that it will continue working with the industry on the safe adoption of AR as its use becomes more common in day-to-day operations.