ABS and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on digital technologies aimed at improving safety and performance in shipbuilding.
The agreement creates a framework for collaboration on digital threads, secure and integrated data flows across the full vessel value chain.
Priority areas will include digital engineering, autonomous vessel systems and embedded cybersecurity tools.
“Digital technologies are transforming shipbuilding, and this agreement reflects our shared commitment to remain at the forefront of the maritime industry,” said ABS chairman and CEO John McDonald.
HD Hyundai CEO Ki-sun Chung said the partnership with ABS would help the company develop digital engineering standards across the vessel lifecycle and accelerate market entry through global class certifications.
The two organizations will also study the possibility of creating a 3D model-based approval system and a reliable data exchange process between shipyards and classification societies.
The partnership will further explore integration between HD KSOE’s vessel software architecture and ABS Wavesight, the company’s digital platform for fleet performance and compliance monitoring.
On cybersecurity, ABS and HD KSOE will jointly develop integrated guidelines for data security and cyber protection in autonomous vessel environments, building on current IACS requirements and extending them to address emerging threats facing next-generation fleets.
