Page 60: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 2019)

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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CLASSIFICATION

ABS & the Future of Classi? cation

By Greg Trauthwein

Photo: ABS

The discussion of the ‘future of class’ certainty and unpredictability, Wiernicki designed, built and operated going impetus to proceed at pace.

seems more relevant today than ever, as counts the impact of regulation on ship- forward,” said Wiernicki. “Regulations are going to have to ac- the maritime industry navigates a tran- ping cycles and the impact of technology celerate their pace to be technically fea- scendent period, with digitalization, de- – not just technology itself but the in- The Business of Technology sible and economically viable. In fact carbonization and a long list of related creasing speed of technological change While it can be easy to get caught up I’m about to send a personal letter now safety and risk concerns occupying the – as the “three tectonic shifts” impact- in the glamor of new technologies, Wi- to Kitack Lim at IMO encouraging him attention and budgets of shipowners ing the maritime industry for the coming ernicki said that the future is not sim- to take a hard look at SOLAS,” a regu- globally. generation. From these shifts come ? ve ply about adopting new technology in a lation that was not only created before “There are many things going on in opportunities and challenges, including: vacuum, rather assessing how it impacts the internet and iPhone, “in fact it was the industry, and in fact the world, and • The effect of digitalization & maritime operation wholistically, from created before the fax machine,” said looking ahead I think we’re looking at automation, emissions to performance to risk pro? le Wiernicki. “It’s a regulation that needs a ‘new norm’,” said Christopher J. Wi- • Cyber security, to the business of maritime. to be upgraded, and this is a challenge to ernicki, ABS Chairman, President and • The continued focus on “You are beginning to see that (tech- regulation overall to be able to allow for

CEO. “It’s a norm where everyone in the performance optimization, nology) creep up into things like The the rapid rate of technological change.” industry is going to have to make uncer- • The course toward low-carbon Poseidon Principles, which essentially Looking at the ISM the safety manage- tainty our friend.” shipping, and, brings the shipping technology and ? - ment code, Wiernicki sees this as poten-

The course toward greenhouse gas • “The last one, which is nearest and nance worlds together as you look at the tially being a framework for the industry emission reduction is set, but the path dearest to my heart, is safety.” While next generation of vessels and the banks as we move into the digital 4.0 world. is anything but certain as shipping com- the convergence of new technolo- start benchmarking the conditions of ? - “It is built from a systems perspective panies wrestle with the best means and gies offers tremendous promise and nance,” said Wiernicki. “You are going and built to be indifferent to the technol- methods to not only achieve new stan- business opportunities, it also comes to see the technical side become as im- ogy, it recognizes that future safety is dards, but to achieve them while still with challenges, from selecting the portant as the commercial side of deci- synonymous with security and reliabil- maintaining a solid business model. best new tech for your ? eets pro- sion making.” ity,” said Wiernicki. “You are starting to “There are many sign posts that are help- ? le to recognizing and addressing Hand-in-hand with the pace of tech- see evidence of that as ? ag states start ing to guide us, but how we choose as unintended consequences brought nology will be the pace of regulation, to put their cyber security requirements an industry to connect these sign posts on with the digitalization, automa- arguably one of the taller hurdles in the into ISM. But I think ISM in general is will really make a difference,” said Wi- tion, decarbonization. “These will equation as the technology and business/ going to move from a compliance check- ernicki. Along with increased market un- have impacts on how vessels are ? nance communities have a commercial off to an important management tool.” 60 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • OCTOBER 2019

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