Advancing Innovation from Concept to Reality

The marine and offshore industries continually invest in new technologies to streamline operations, reduce costs and improve safety. Recently, low commodity prices have intensified this effort. More often than not, these new technologies are developed faster than the industry codes and regulations that govern them.

This lack of service history, established standards or regulations for proposed new technologies raise questions about readiness, maturity and safety. The ABS new technology qualification (NTQ) services offer guidance on early adoption and efficient implementation of new technologies – demonstrating level of maturity – and that potential risks have been systematically reviewed. 

ABS New Technology Qualification services provide vendors and end-users a clearly defined approach to confirm new technologies perform intended functions in accordance with defined performance requirements.  We also provide details regarding the required submittals and key interaction points with ABS during the new technology development.

WHAT CONSTITUTES A NEW TECHNOLOGY?

Any new design (materials, components, equipment or systems), new process or procedures with no prior in-service experience or any classification rules, statutory regulations or industry standards directly applicable to them as a new technology. It is possible to categorize the type of “novelty” in one of four categories:

• Existing design/process/procedures challenging the present boundaries or envelope of current offshore or marine applications
• Existing design/process/procedures in new or novel applications 
• New or novel design/process/procedures in existing applications 
• New or novel design/process/procedures in new or novel applications.

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING APPROACH

The Systems Engineering Approach allows for systematic and consistent evaluation of new technologies as they mature, all the way from a concept through to the intended application in operations. A five-stage process is followed that aligns with the typical product development phases of a new technology:

• Feasibility Stage
• Concept Verification Stage 
• Prototype Validation Stage
• System Integration Stage
• Operational Stage.

The qualification activities within each stage revolve around risk assessments and engineering evaluations that build upon each other in order to determine if the new technology provides acceptable levels of safety in line with current offshore and marine industry practice. The qualification efforts by all stakeholders such as the vendor, system integrator and end-user at each stage are recognized and captured within a new technology qualification plan.

STATEMENTS OF MATURITY AND TYPE APPROVAL

Through Statements of Maturity, issued at each stage in the qualification process, vendors are able to demonstrate feasibility and maturity levels to gain a competitive advantage with customers, partners and potential investors. Additionally, regulatory agencies can be confident that foreseeable hazards associated with the introduction of the proposed new technology have been systematically reviewed. Upon completion of the Prototype Validation Stage, eligible products can be “Type Approved” under the ABS Type Approval Program to limit repeated evaluation of identical designs. When all engineering evaluations are complete in the Prototype Validation Stage, a Product Design Assessment (PDA) can be issued prior to further consideration for ABS Type Approval.

QUALIFICATION TO CLASSIFICATION OR CERTIFICATION 

The new technology qualification process is integrated with the Novel Concept Approval process to facilitate a seamless transition to Class Approval. An asset such as a marine vessel or an offshore unit becomes a novel concept if the incorporation of any new technologies appreciably alters its service scope, functional capability or risk profile. ABS can class or certify novel concepts when requested by using the process in the ABS Marine Vessel Rules Part 1D.

For additional assistance with New Technology Qualification, please contact innovate@eagle.org.