Howard Fireman News

ABS executives informed the industry conversation at Singapore Maritime Week, with presentations on the growing cyber security threat to maritime, new opportunities to take advantage of data, and the huge potential of LNG shipping for the region. Speaking at the Singapore Maritime Cyber Security Seminar, ABS Chief Digital Officer, Howard Fireman highlighted the opportunities and challenges presented by the ever-increasing connectivity of maritime assets. “The cyber threat is real to maritime safety, making it a relevant issue that ABS must address.

ABS announced the launch of e-Certificates. Continuously available, tamper-proof, independently verifiable and secure digital equivalents of traditional ABS paper certificates, e-Certificates are now available to ABS’ entire classed-fleet, subject to individual Flag Administrations’ authorization. Traditional paper certificates are always still available. “E-Certificates are the latest product from ABS’ FutureClass program. Defining the future of class focuses on the utilization of data and digital technology to deliver benefits for our clients,” said ABS Chairman, President and CEO, Christopher J. Wiernicki. Uniquely, ABS’ e-Certificate system allows a simultaneous, vessel-wide view of all applicable certificates, rather than requiring the user to look up each certificate individually.

ABS announced the release of its Nautical Systems (NS) Enterprise fleet management software, including NS Insight, a new business intelligence module. The NS solution provides complete capabilities to plan, execute and document all compliance work processes. The release includes a new cloud-based NS Voyage Manager, the latest mobile applications, an expanded NS Autologger, and enhancements to NS Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental (HSQE) Manager. “Effectively managing compliance is a core business objective for our clients,” said ABS Chief Digital Officer, Howard Fireman.

ABS announced three senior management appointments as part of the organization’s digital class strategy. “As our markets are increasingly shaped by digital technology, ABS is setting the pace in digital innovation,” said ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. “As part of our digital class journey, our entire organization is focused on digital developments and opportunities. Howard Fireman, previously the organization’s chief technology officer, will take on the role of ABS Chief Digital Officer (CDO) leading a global team of experts across the organization in the fields of data analytics, innovative inspection technologies…

As industry increasingly evolves on the digital transformation path, inevitably the focus turns to the move toward cloud computing. Last month Maritime Reporter & Engineering News spoke with Howard Fireman, SVP and Chief Technology Officer of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for take on how industry innovators – large and small – in the shipbuilding and marine equipment sectors are leveraging inherent advantages of cloud computing to better position themselves for the competitive long-haul.

ABS, a leading provider of classification and technical services to the marine and offshore industries, and GasLog LNG Services (GasLog) have completed a joint development project demonstrating a new approach to evaluating LNG boil-off rate (BOR). GasLog is an international owner, operator and manager of LNG carriers, providing support to international energy companies as part of their LNG logistics chain. “By expanding the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to simulate the LNG BOR in cargo tanks, owners are able to better predict boil-off gas and account for it in future designs and operations of LNG carriers,” says ABS Chief Technology Officer Howard Fireman. LNG boil-off gas is the vapor phase of LNG carried in a cargo tank.

ABS has launched ABS Nautical Systems NS Voyage Manager to simplify compliance reporting. The cloud-based, subscription application facilitates compliance with a range of environmental regulations, including the European Union (EU) Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) regulation for CO 2 emissions. “With EU MRV already in effect and additional regulations on the horizon, such as the International Maritime Organization’s Data Collection System requirement, operators need an easy way to manage the increasing volume of data required for reporting,” says ABS Chief Technology Officer and ABS Nautical Systems President Howard Fireman.

ABS held its annual Marine and Offshore Technical Committee Meetings in Houston in early May and addressed industry challenges and sharpen focus on future needs. “Collaborating with significant and recognized industry leaders representing ship owners, yards, operators, equipment manufacturers and vendors helps guide our research and development focus,” said ABS Chief Technology Officer Howard Fireman. Fireman identified four key focus areas that will help industry deal with this new data-centric world: data collection, data security, data management and data analytics. Together, these areas make up ABS FutureClass™ - ABS’ approach to leveraging real-time data to improve decisions and increase operational efficiencies.

ABS has provided a systematic approach to dropped object management and prevention. The new ABS Guide for Dropped Object Prevention for Offshore Units and Installations includes a program of requirements and best practices to protect assets, personnel and working environments from dropped object incidents. “Dropped objects are one of the leading causes of fatalities and serious injuries in the offshore oil and gas industry,” says ABS Executive Vice President for Global Offshore Ken Richardson. “Our new guide will help companies develop effective dropped object prevention programs, reducing dropped object incidents by identifying potential problems, mitigating risks, providing employee training and using lessons learned for continued improvement,” Ken added.

ABS Chief Technology Officer and University of Michigan alumnus Howard Fireman addressed students, professors and guests at the university’s 2017 Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department’s Captain Ralph R. and Florence Peachman Lecture to share his vision of the future of shipping. In a lecture titled “A Brave New World,” Fireman outlined the challenges that will be introduced by the marine industry’s transformation to autonomous vessels, explaining how data, systems…

Howard Fireman, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, joined the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) in 2013. Fireman is responsible for leveraging the latest advancements in technology to drive the development of innovative products and services that promote safety and improve the delivery of class services in the marine and offshore industries. Since joining ABS, Fireman has also served as President of the ABS Nautical Systems Fleet Management Software product line where he has overseen significant advancements in the software and achieved growth in every sector.

ABS, the leading provider of classification and technical services to the offshore industry, collaborated with industry experts during its annual Special Committee Meeting held recently to discuss the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs), with the goal of assuring that Rule requirements align with industry needs. “Our leadership position in the offshore sector is based on the ability to provide exceptional guidance and services,” says ABS Executive Vice President of Global Offshore Ken Richardson. More than 50 participants, including delegates from major owners, designers, shipyards and technical representatives from ABS, provided input at the Special Committee Meeting that will be used to refine ABS Rules.

ABS has published the ABS Advisory on Hybrid Electric Power Systems to help marine and offshore owners and operators make decisions about energy generation and storage. “ABS continues to lead industry safety with the first comprehensive Advisory to address the latest hybrid electric power technologies,” said ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. With the increased industry focus on environmental compliance and operational performance, many owners and operators…

ABS said it has issued its first notation for the ABS Guide for Cybersecurity Implementation for the marine and offshore Industries. “The focus on cyber safety is increasing, and that is changing the expectations industry has for classification services,” explained ABS Chairman, President and CEO, Christopher J. The ABS CyberSafety program is aimed at mitigating the risk of cybersecurity-related conditions or incidents that could negatively affect operations. Awarding the CS1 notation (Asset…

ABS has published the ABS Guide for Habitability of Industrial Personnel on Accommodation Vessels. This industry-leading Guide establishes criteria for improving the living environment and ambient environment on board accommodation vessels. “People are the most important resource for any organization,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. Applicable to existing and new construction accommodation vessels, the ABS Guide for Habitability of Industrial Personnel on Accommodation Vessels addresses overall crew health, promoting reliable performance and safety. The Guide was developed using ergonomic and environmental design principles aimed at improving accommodation areas and ambient environmental conditions…

New Guide provides standards for growing LNG bunkering vessel sector. ABS, a provider of classification and technical services to the marine and offshore industries, has published the ABS Guide for LNG Bunkering. This new Guide provides standards for the design, construction and survey of LNG bunkering systems that are on board a vessel. “This industry-leading Guide incorporates our expertise in the safety aspects of LNG storage and handling as well as LNG as fuel,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. As LNG as fuel becomes more widely adopted in the marine industry, the infrastructure will continue to expand. LNG bunkering vessels are a prime example of that supply chain expansion and will provide a viable refueling option around the world.

ABS is presenting cyber seminars in multiple locations across Europe to deliver critical safety guidance. The ABS CyberSafety program team is presenting industry-leading guidance to address cyber-related threats and risks in the marine and offshore environments and explaining how the comprehensive ABS program can be used to combat cyber threats. “ABS is providing real-time, practical solutions to the cyber challenges owners and operators are facing today,” says ABS Chief Technology Officer Howard Fireman. The ABS CyberSafety program equips ship and asset owners, vendors and managers with the first risk-based management tool for mitigating risks connected to cybersecurity, automated systems safety, data integrity and software verification.

ABS has published the ABS Guidance Notes on Structural Monitoring Using Acoustic Emissions. This industry-leading guidance presents best practices for planning and executing Acoustic Emission Testing (AET). “A primary goal at ABS is to improve safety without interrupting operations,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. AET is a passive nondestructive examination technology that has been successfully applied to detect and monitor crack propagation, corrosion activity, cavitation erosion and leaking in structures made of steel, aluminum, composites and other materials. AET is seeing increasingly widening applications in a number of industries as a feasible way to detect weaknesses and monitor structural health in a broad spectrum of structures from storage tanks…

ABS brought together nearly 100 industry leaders, government officials, technical experts, and academic leaders in Singapore to discuss cyber-related threats and risks in the marine environment and explain the value of the ABS CyberSafety program. The seminar is one of many ABS is hosting across Asia, Europe and the Americas currently. “ABS understands the cyber challenges owners and operators face today with increased software integration and greater levels of automation,” says ABS Chief Technology Officer Howard Fireman. The ABS CyberSafety program equips ship and asset owners, vendors and managers with the first risk-based management tool for mitigating risks connected to cybersecurity, automated systems safety, data integrity and software verification.

ABS, a classification and technical services provider to the offshore and marine industries, has been recognized by the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) as this year’s recipient of the Honorary SMI Collaboration Award. Guest of honor Lucien Wong, Chairman of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, presented the Honorary SMI Collaboration Award to ABS on October 10 at the SMI Forum. The award represents special acknowledgement of the many projects pursued in collaboration with the ABS Singapore Innovation and Research Center (SIRC).

Forum promotes improved safety, security, productivity, efficiency and environmental performance through collaboration and innovation. ABS hosted the fall meeting of the Ship Operators Cooperative Program (SOCP) in Houston October 5 and 6, welcoming representatives from industry, government and academia to discuss current issues and new technologies. “It is a privilege to host the SOCP and to share information with the other member organizations,” says ABS Chief Technology Officer Howard Fireman. A number of significant issues were on the meeting agenda, which kicked off with a look at the impact of Subchapter M and how companies can prepare for implementation.

ABS, a provider of classification and technical services to the global marine and offshore industries, said it has been awarded a research contract by the Maritime Security Center (MSC) – a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of Excellence, led by Stevens Institute of Technology – for a two-year research program focused on defining the future of cybersecurity for the maritime industry. Study participants, which include DHS and the Department of Defense, will focus on key areas that will help define future research and guidance.

ABS, a provider of classification and technical services to the global marine and offshore industries, unveiled the first comprehensive cybersecurity certification and optional notations for marine and offshore assets and facilities at the SMM (Shipbuilding, Machinery, Marine) bi-annual international maritime trade fair. Introduced in early 2016, the ABS CyberSafety series is the industry’s first risk-based management program for asset owners to apply best practice approaches to cybersecurity, automated systems safety, data integrity and software verification.