ABS and Korean Organizations Develop Standards for Smart Ships

ABS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three Korean maritime organizations to promote the development of international standards for the next generation of smart ships and shipyards.

The Korea Institute of Marine Equipment Research (Komeri), the Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Association (Koshipa), and the Research Institute of Medium and Small Shipbuilding (RIMS) have joined ABS in a five-year framework to develop global standards for ships and shipyards that leverage digital technology, smart manufacturing, and advanced maritime systems.

As part of a related agreement, ABS is already supporting the development of preliminary standards in two areas: digital production and traceability requirements for ship components manufactured using additive manufacturing, and the design of ventilation masts for hydrogen-powered vessels.

"Next-generation shipbuilding is advancing by leaps and bounds, and the international standards governing smart ships, smart shipyards, and advanced manufacturing are still being defined. ABS maintains a strong and long-standing relationship with Korea's shipbuilding sector, and this agreement leverages that expertise to develop the standards the industry needs. This once again demonstrates why Korean shipyards trust ABS to safely drive these technologies," stated Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.

"International standards are more than technical criteria: they are the gateway to the market and a fundamental element of global competitiveness. Working with ABS allows us to combine Korea's standardization capabilities with ABS's classification expertise, and we expect this to generate practical results that reduce barriers for Korean equipment manufacturers to access foreign markets," indicated Joo-Hyoung Choi, Komeri Managing Director.

The Memorandum of Understanding builds on a previous agreement between ABS and the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) to drive the international standardization of technologies for smart ships and shipyards, within the framework of Korea's national strategy to lead the development of high value-added vessels. The agreement also reflects ABS's growing involvement in the Korean maritime sector, including recent cooperation with Korean and US institutions through the Korea-US Shipbuilding Collaboration Center.