ABS expands engineering services in China

December 2014 marked the first anniversary of the establishment of the ABS Dalian Engineering office and Yantai Engineering office. ABS has the largest engineering office and the strongest technical capabilities in China among all foreign classification societies. During the past year, these two engineering offices have delivered services and technical support for several significant marine and offshore projects, contributing to the transformation and development of northern China’s marine and offshore industry.

After the financial crisis, China shifted toward high-tech, high value-added sectors such as advanced offshore and new ship designs that meet the maritime regulations and market demands. The goal was to achieve development through restructuring in challenging economic conditions. To keep its commitment to “Global Reach, Local Response,” ABS laid plans for new engineering offices in northern China. After three years of preparation, the ABS Dalian Engineering office and Yantai Engineering office were opened.

Since the office openings, there has been a new platform and new achievements.

As the first ABS branch engineering offices in Greater China, these offices have been responsible since December 2013 for all marine and offshore projects in northern China, including Yantai, Weihai, Qingdao and Dalian, offering closer and stronger technical support to ABS clients. Meanwhile, local services and face-to-face communication are helping ABS and shipbuilders understand one another better, and this improved communication has promoted plan review and greater efficiency. Open technical comments can impact delivery; so they are of considerable concern to shipbuilders and owners. The Dalian and Yantai Engineering offices not only provide weekly comments status reports for shipbuilders but also visit clients to help them understand and resolve comments so open technical comments can be closed quickly.

During the past year, ABS has provided technical support and professional services for several significant projects for CIMC Raffles, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd (DSIC), Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co., Ltd and others. Establishing a Yantai Engineering office in the CIMC Yard shows commitment on the part of ABS in promoting growth and supporting Chinese shipbuilders. It is also a big step toward better collaboration. Since the establishment of the Yantai Engineering office, CIMC has developed three basic designs: the gas compression jackup, the CR600 column-stabilized unit (CSU) and the BT5000 column-stabilized drilling unit (CSDU). All will be classed by ABS. The gas compression jackup was the first basic design for CIMC, and the fabrication schedule was very tight; so the Yantai office worked closely with CIMC and gave this project particular attention. The advantage of direct communication has been proven in two subsequent projects. The ABS Yantai office also is helping shipyards review designs for drillships, FPSOs and FLNG vessels.

The Dalian Engineering office has taken a similar approach that has led to similar success, reviewing designs for the DSIC, Bohai, COSCO Jiayang offshore support vessels as well as new ship types that only ABS has classed in China. And with the increasing attention on HCSR, which will enter into force on 1 July 2015, the ABS Dalian Engineering office is delivering technical support and training that will give shipbuilders a better understanding of the new regulation. Many Chinese shipbuilders took the initiative to cooperate with classification societies in preparation for the changes, and several pre-contract projects have been handled by the Dalian Engineering office. And in answer to local interest in developing new ship types, the Dalian office is providing training.

The expansion of engineering resources in China is expected to be a driving force for transforming the Chinese marine and offshore industries. China continues to be a strategically important growth area for ABS. With the rapid growth of the Chinese maritime industry since 2000, the demand for new orders necessitates a closer relationship between Chinese shipbuilders and ABS.

ABS Greater China Division (GCD) Engineering provided strong support to shipbuilders and design institution in 2014, approving to ABS class such vessels as the world’s first CNG carrier, ultra large container carriers, LNG and LPG carriers, VLCCs, LNG-fueled container carriers, newcastlemax/capesize bulk carriers, semisubmersibles and jackups. The society’s experienced professionals provide technical support and assistance to clients through the entire process, including the initial design concept, the design approval process, plan review, construction and throughout the entire service life of the vessels.

Today, ABS operates engineering offices in Shanghai, Taipei, Dalian and Yantai, facilitating design review of ships on order to ABS class. And ABS is the only IACS class society with an engineering office in Taiwan.

Besides classification, certification, engineering and type approval activities, the full range of ABS engineering capabilities also includes advanced analysis. The new ABS China Operational and Environmental Performance Team established in August will further enhance these technical abilities, which will help clients improve energy efficiency and environmental performance of their assets.

Focusing on the needs of clients, ABS GCD engineering will continue to expand its services and deliver critical training for the offshore and marine industries through continued emphasis on communication. ABS will keep pushing forward with cooperative relations with shipbuilders, owners and design institutes to promote growth in China.
Source: ABS