Smart Functionality for Marine and Offshore Assets

Smart Functionality

ABS and HHI Group Complete Landmark Smart-Functions Project

ABS worked with Hyundai Heavy Industries Group (HHI Group) qualifying the shipyard’s new technology by issuing a Product Design Assessment (PDA) and a New Technology Qualification (NTQ) for the smart functions they designed.

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CONNECTING SMART TECHNOLOGY WITH SUSTAINABILITY

Given the rapid rise of digital technologies, connectivity and data processing, smart technology is becoming increasingly more common in the marine and offshore industries.

Smart technology helps to effectively collect, process, and perform advanced data analytics, enabling data-driven decision making. These smart functions help owners and operators more proactively manage the health and performance state of their assets as well as assist the crew in performing their day-to-day work and reporting activities.


Julian Zec, NOV Chief Engineer, Condition Monitoring

 
“Digital technologies derived from smart functionality enable a condition-based approach to maintenance, which is a critical component of our aftermarket service portfolio, and is becoming increasingly important to our customers. This comprehensive path laid out by ABS guides the offshore and marine industries as smart technologies become more and more mainstream.”
 

 

To be effective, smart functions are enabled via a data infrastructure supported by robust software integrity and cyber security, ensuring the aggregate data collected from sensors and other sources is accurate and safeguarded.

Smart technology will be a key factor for industry sustainability moving forward. Future adoption of smart technology will coincide with quickly changing environmental regulations. Advanced monitoring and data analysis, as well as asset performance optimization, will be crucial for environmental compliance moving forward. As we approach 2030 and beyond, smart technologies and how a vessel’s data are utilized to optimize performance are going to be critical to meet the reduced carbon requirements being developed by the IMO.

 

This figure shows the typical configuration of smart functions on a vessel.

This figure shows the typical configuration of smart functions on a vessel.

 

ABS has issued the Guide for Smart Functions for Marine Vessels and Offshore Units (Smart Guide) and Guidance Notes on Smart Function Implementation to help guide marine and offshore applications of smart technology. By implementing smart monitoring, vessel and operational data can be leveraged to assist and augment day-to-day operations, forming the foundation for an autonomous operation. This shifts the burden from crews on board reporting anomalies, to integrated systems that can assist to identify and help suggest resolutions to problems, moving decisions from ship to shore.

The ABS Smart Guide introduces a unique class approach with the marine and offshore industries' first set of notations for smart technology. This guide applies a risk-informed set of easy-to-apply prescriptive requirements for engineering review and survey of smart technology applications. The Smart Guide is also a logical goal-based approach to adding smart functionality that are aligned with your company’s business objectives—laying the basis for improved vessel OPEX as well as a more condition-based class approach. 

The ABS Guidance Notes support data infrastructure assurance by setting risk-based requirements, enabling health and performance monitoring, and augmenting vessel operations leading to more informed decisions in support of fast-moving environmental requirements. The guidance sets an actionable goal-based framework for owners, operators and equipment manufacturers to take smart steps today in preparation for an environmentally sustainable future.

Aaron Bresnahan, Wartsila Vice President for Marine Solutions Sales and Marketing

 
“We are excited to see the thoughtful approach taken by ABS, developing a clear roadmap to guide the industry toward smarter operations. We look forward to working with ABS and applying their smart guidance to our equipment.”