Kirsi Tikka News

ShipIn Systems, developer of a Visual Fleet Management Platform, announced it has secured an investment by Munich Re Ventures, the venture capital arm of Munich Re Group, one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, primary insurance, and insurance-related risk solutions. “By partnering with Munich Re Ventures, we are helping to build a safer and more productive future for the maritime industry,” said Osher Perry, Co-Founder and CEO of ShipIn Systems. “The reality is that as ships are getting bigger, crew are getting smaller.

Ardmore Shipping Corporation (NYSE: ASC) (“Ardmore”) has announced the appointment of Dr. Kirsi Tikka to the company’s Board of Directors.Dr. Tikka has over 30 years of shipping experience having recently retired from the American Bureau of Shipping  (“ABS”) in July 2019. She joined ABS in 2001 and held various specialist and leadership positions within ABS including as ABS Executive Vice President Global Marine, Europe Division President, and as Vice President and Chief Engineer, Global.

Shipping industry leaders, joined by Goldman Sachs, discussed IMO 2020 challenges and opportunities at the ABS panel discussion held at the start of SMM 2018. They exchanged their views on compliant fuel availability, fuel pricing spreads and scrubbers shape the conversation at SMM.Christian Lelong, Senior Commodities Analyst, Goldman Sachs; Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President Marine Solutions, Wartsila; Paddy Rodgers, Director and Chief Executive Officer, EURONAV; Wolfgang Hintzsche, Marine Director, German Shipowners’ Association; Lars Robert Pederson, Deputy Secretary General, Bimco and moderator Kirsi Tikka, ABS Executive Vice President and Senior Maritime Advisor…

ABS issued the ABS Advisory on Marine Fuel Oil to help industry prepare for the IMO’s 2020 global sulfur cap. The Advisory provides owners and operators with industry-leading guidance on the considerations and challenges with marine fuels, which are likely to be used in addressing the 2020 global sulfur cap requirements.“The IMO 2020 sulfur cap requirement will introduce a significant demand change from heavy fuel to low sulfur fuel almost overnight. The industry currently is debating how to prepare as the consequences of this shift are difficult to predict,“ said Dr.

Automated now; autonomous looms large in the center porthole. The word ‘autonomous’ is probably the maritime industry’s most frequently used term in the past year. The word, however, has a far different meaning than the similarly sounding “automated” – which means that certain processes are handled by machines, rather than by humans. Throughout 2017, industry thought leaders have been mulling over the new digital paradigms that are emerging including the ‘Internet of Things’ and/or the linkage of processes and machines – the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ – where devices talk to each other…

Setting out to increase fairness, equality and inclusion within the maritime sector, Maritime UK has established a Women in Maritime Taskforce, a move welcomed by the U.K.’s new Maritime Minister, Nusrat Ghani MP. “I am delighted to see Maritime UK taking action to attract more women into our maritime industries, and I welcome this taskforce as an important first step,” said Ghani, who is only the second woman to hold the Department for Transport portfolio for the U.K.’s £40 billion maritime sector.

“With fast-paced advances in technology, we are on a journey to autonomous transportation at sea,” said ABS Executive Vice President for Global Marine Dr. Kirsi Tikka, at the 2017 Marintec China conference in Shanghai, China. Tikka, who chaired a panel session on the marine industry’s journey to autonomy, described the benefits that will come during interim phases of the voyage to autonomous shipping. “The transition to the next generation of shipping is fueled by automation, data and connectivity.

ABS published a report providing insights into how industry is progressing with ballast water management (BWM) systems. Based on input provided by owners and operators with BWM systems on board their vessels, the report covers a range of topics, including installation, commissioning and operations of BWM systems. “It is important to share with all stakeholders the outcome of the ABS organized workshop on the issues and best practices with ballast water management systems,” says ABS Executive Vice President for Global Marine Dr. Kirsi Tikka. To form an accurate picture of the current progress with BWM compliance, owners and operators with installed ballast water management systems were surveyed and invited to participate in the workshop.

Classification society ABS unveiled its Global Ship Systems Center and announced the formation of its Hellenic Technical Committee in Athens. “This cutting-edge facility brings together industry-recognized technical leaders to support clients throughout the entire lifecycle of their assets,” said ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. Through a systems-based approach, the Global Ship Systems Center addresses the increasing complexity of mechanical and cyber-enabled systems onboard vessels.

ABS has introduced a new service and analysis tool that will allow atypical cargoes on bulk carriers. The software streamlines loading analysis and provides a safer approach to loading atypical bulk cargo. “ABS understands that maintaining a leadership role means finding ways to improve safety and efficiency for industry,” says ABS Executive Vice President for Global Marine Dr. Kirsi Tikka. In developing this new software and service, ABS has taken a comprehensive approach to steel coil loading. This new capability helps improve efficiency, enabling faster decisions regarding the safety of nontraditional loads. Using the ABS loading analysis software enables timely and accurate decisions about the achievable safety for steel coil loads that are not included in the loading manual.

ABS has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) for the Seatransporter-DF, a dual-fuel design concept developed by Algoship Designers Ltd. of Nassau, Bahamas. The design has the capability to accommodate multiple engine types as well as Type-C or membrane containment systems for liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel. “Technically innovative designs that advance the use of LNG as fuel will play an increasingly important role in the marine sector, and ABS is working alongside industry to enable this critical technological advancement,” said ABS Executive Vice President for Global Marine, Dr. Kirsi Tikka.

ABS, a leading provider of classification and technical services to the marine and offshore industries, was awarded accreditation by Greece’s National Accreditation Body, the Hellenic Accreditation System (ESYD), to perform assessments for European Union (EU) Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) compliance. “We are proud to be the first class society accredited to perform EU MRV assessments,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. In recent years, greenhouse gas emissions from shipping have come under increased scrutiny at the International Maritime Organization and on regional levels, leading to new emissions requirements. Among these is the EU MRV regulation, EU Regulation 2015/757, for ships traveling to, from and between EU ports.

Greece’s National Accreditation Body recognizes ABS as EU MRV frontrunner. ABS said it was awarded accreditation by Greece’s National Accreditation Body, the Hellenic Accreditation System (ESYD), to perform assessments for European Union (EU) Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) compliance. “We are proud to be the first Class Society accredited to perform EU MRV assessments,” said ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. In recent years, greenhouse gas…

The ABS-classed Ethane Crystal, the world’s first Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC) -- and a Maritime Reporter & Engineering News "Great Ship of 2016" as profiled in the December 2016 edition -- has loaded its first shipment of ethane cargo at Enterprise Products Partner’s Morgan’s Point Terminal. Delivered in November 2016, the Ethane Crystal is the first of six VLECs that will be delivered with ABS Class through 2017. The second vessel, the Ethane Emerald, was delivered in early December 2016.

ABS, a provider of classification and technical services to the marine and offshore industries, has updated the ABS Guide for Ballast Water Treatment to support industry in the design and installation of ballast water management solutions that meet both regulatory and operational requirements. “As vessel owners and operators prepare for the implementation of the recently ratified IMO (International Maritime Organization) Ballast Water Management Convention, they need guidance from a trusted advisor like ABS.

ABS, a provider of classification and technical services to the global marine and offshore industries,has confirmed that the ABS-classed Navigator Aurora, the world’s largest ethane/ethylene capable liquefied gas carrier, has been delivered to Navigator Gas by Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, China. The Navigator Aurora is the first of four Navigator Gas ethane/ethylene midsize vessels to be delivered with ABS Class during 2016 and early 2017. It has a cargo carrying capacity in excess of 37,000 cbm and is fitted with dual fuel engines that enable the ship to operate on either diesel fuel or LNG, making it capable of meeting the most stringent current and future air emissions requirements.

ABS, a leading provider of classification services to the global marine and offshore industries, has completed a project with a group of leading Greek shipowners to support preparations for implementing the European Union’s Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) regulation for CO2 emissions. The result of this initiative is a clear interpretation of the regulation that allows companies to understand how they will be affected and what steps have to be taken to achieve and demonstrate compliance. “The EU MRV Regulation establishes a regional regime that requires owners to put in place systems and practices that provide clear and precise evidence of compliance,” says Dr. Kirsi Tikka, ABS Executive Vice President, Global Marine.

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), already one of the world’s well-regarded classification societies, recently restructured its ranks to meet the perpetually evolving needs of its customers. Kirsi Tikka, the global head of marine, and Howard Fireman, CTO, explain. While the business of ship classification is ever-evolving, it could be argued that today is a watershed of sorts in terms of this businesses evolution. Increasing amounts of data and data analytics are rapidly changing the operational profiles of ships at sea…

ABS, a provider of classification services to the global marine and offshore industries, announced the election of ABS Europe and Africa Division President Dr. Kirsi Tikka as a Foreign Member of the United States National Academy of Engineering (NAE). The invitation to become a Foreign Member of the NAE is a result of Tikka’s contributions leading to internationally recognized standards for ship structural design, construction and maritime safety. “Industry needs professional organizations like NAE to provide leadership for the engineering profession and to promote technological advancement…

ABS reports that it has centralized its global Marine strategic planning, client development, and product and service offerings to deliver enhanced classification services and joint technical projects. Effective Feb. 15, 2016, Dr. Kirsi Tikka is promoted to the new role of Executive Vice President – Global Marine. She will continue to be based in London. “An industry-recognized and respected expert, Kirsi brings tremendous experience and insight to deliver improved coordination, consistency and responsiveness to our members and clients,” sadi ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. As the Global Marine lead, Tikka will align ABS strategic planning, client development, and product and service offerings with the industry’s technical needs and requirements.

Dr. Kirsi Tikka says diversity at alma mater played a pivotal role on the path towards a 'truly global career' in the shipping industry. Dr. Kirsi Tikka, President and COO of the ABS Europe Division, provided the 2015 Engineering Master's and Doctoral Commencement address at the College of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, on Monday 18 May. The ceremony was held in the Hearst Greek Theatre at the UC Berkeley campus for over 550 M.T.M., M.Eng., M.S. and Ph.D. graduates, their families and faculty members.

Leading provider of classification services to the maritime and offshore industries, ABB, says it has  been chosen to class two LNG-fueled containerships to be built in China for German owner GNS Shipping/Nordic Hamburg. The 1,400 teu vessels will feature dual-fuel propulsion enabling them to burn LNG and conventional bunker fuel. They will be built at Yangzhou Guoyu Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, for GNS Shipping/Nordic Hamburg for long-term charter to Containerships Ltd Oy, of Finland. ABS will review the design, survey the construction and class the ships for operation on delivery in the course of 2016. The order includes options for a further two vessels.

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) awarded its highest technical honor, the David W. Taylor Medal for notable achievement in naval architecture or marine engineering, to Howard Fireman, ABS Senior Vice President, Asset Performance Management (APM). "Howard is recognized as a technical leader in naval architecture," said ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. "His insight and guidance in design and energy efficiency are valued by the industry in great part because of his ability to provide real-world practical solutions.