ABS China Looks Ahead to 2030

The annual ABS Joint China and Hong Kong Committee gathered Industry leaders to discuss global challenges facing the maritime sector. The group heard strategies to meet the IMO 2020 Sulfur Cap, as well as a look ahead to 2030, when vessel data will play a significant role in compliance management.

“ABS has become the classification organization of choice for the Chinese shipbuilding and shipping industry, with a long track-record of working closely together on innovative projects in both marine and offshore. The China and Hong Kong Committee enables ABS to bring together the diverse expertise of many knowledgeable stakeholders to continue to address the industry’s complex challenges,” said Tony Nassif, ABS Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

ABS presented its innovative work with industry partners on digital technologies, designed to improve delivery of classification services for clients. The committee also heard about the industry-leading safety milestone ABS accomplished in 2017, reaching one year without a work-related lost-time incident, highlighting its global focus on safety and its mission.

 “ABS is working at the forefront of leveraging new technologies and unique designs, with companies across China and Hong Kong, on innovative projects from dual-fuel applications, to very large ethane carriers and LNG powered vessels, to novel FSRU and subsea production technology systems,” said ABS Senior Vice President, Eastern Hemisphere Operations, Eric Kleess. “Serving the world’s largest shipbuilding nation gives us the opportunity to engage with industry and clients, offering guidance and expertise, while also forging novel solutions to help solve industry complexities.”

Committee meetings are a forum for ABS members, owners, operators, charterers, and representatives from flag administrations, owner associations, the shipbuilding and insurance sectors, to engage with ABS leaders to discuss industry issues and advances.

ABS has a long history in China and today serves the industry through a network of 12 offices across the mainland and Hong Kong.

ABS’ ability to provide innovative and, yet also, practical solutions enabled ABS to become a preferred classification society in China for novel concept and state-of-the-art projects. ABS is the largest classification society in Hong Kong based on both existing tonnage and new construction orders.