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*All images courtesy of ABS future may or may not resemble that which has populated the condition-based, continuous and risk-based, with elements ranks of ABS for generations. According to Fireman, ABS that touch both data and cyber security.

now looks for talent not only at the traditional sources – state Before assuming his current duties, Fireman served as ABS maritime academies and Kings Point – but also at places like Vice President, Operational and Environmental Performance.

MIT, the University of Michigan, Texas A&M, Webb, UC With those responsibilities under his domain, it’s probably a

Berkley and others. And, he’s adamant that he’s talking about good thing that Fireman has, by his own reckoning, had as people for ABS, not just the technology groups. many as 11 different careers within one. He explains, “I was

Echoing those sentiments, Wiernicki told CMA listeners, all over the place. I lived on ships, I worked in shipyards, I did “… I want to talk about people – not about technology or regu- research in engineering.” Bringing ABS Nautical Systems and lations – because at the end of the day, it begins and ends with ABS not only closer together, but also working as a team, was people. People move industries, people drive change, make a a key goal of Fireman from the beginning.

difference – not technology or regulations.” Hence, when How- “When I took over, it was its own division. There were ? ve ard Fireman says that new recruits “still want to be surveyors,” divisions in ABS. If you go to our website, there’s only four in the future, they’ll need to be that and a whole lot more. now. I talked to Chris and I said I wanted to be a part of it; I

Fireman continues, “You can start your career being a mari- wanted to be really integrated with corporate.” Next, Fireman ner, but then you can get the subspecialty experience when brought together a number of ABS technology teams, then you’re ashore and do other things. And so I think there’s going existing in a somewhat stovepipe fashion, and brought them to be a hybrid approach. I think, yes, there may be some folks under one roof. At one time in different buildings and ? oors, that are more traditional, but we need to marry them with the they now sit on one ? oor at ABS.

maritime professionals, otherwise you run the risk of creating “All these departments – the OEP team, the Asset Integrity a product that no one wants.” Management team, etc. – it’s all in a very creative environ- ment. There are no of? ces – no one has an of? ce. It’s a very

Stovepiped Data & People: no more open, collaborative, innovative environment – totally different

In April of 2015, Wiernicki asked Fireman to become the feel than if you walked around another ? oor of the building.”

Chief Technology Of? cer. At that point, Fireman controlled the Fireman points to Nautical Systems, Asset Integrity Manage- corporate technology function, product development and addi- ment, and Operational Environment Forms, who now sit in tionally was still head of Nautical Systems. Howard Fireman one space. “Because those arms are subject matter experts, refuses to characterize all of that coming under one hat as a ‘wa- there’s a total linkage between what they now do.” tershed moment,’ but he admits, “I can now bring it all together. ABS and Fireman have clear goals as to what they want

I can bring all these different tributaries into one big river.” to accomplish in this way. “NS was mainly more of a pure

Today, Fireman’s two key focuses are the ABS Technology software group. Now, I wanted to take the bene? t of the fact department, which oversees Rule development and all R&D that I had the operational control of these three groups, use for the company, as well as ABS Nautical Systems (NS). That the subject matter expertise of the guys that know everything alignment of the two groups under one executive was made about regulations, and everything about asset integrity man- because ABS sees NS as a foundational piece for much of agement, and let those functional people help the product the Future Class initiative. In a nutshell, Future Class will be managers build the product speci? cation.” Today, when ABS www.maritimeprofessional.com Maritime Professional 47| | 34-49 Q2 MP2016.indd 47 5/19/2016 11:39:23 AM