The development of electrification and battery technologies is driving new efficiencies for the maritime industry, especially for short-range vessels like tugs and ferries.

In this episode of Setting Course, an ABS Podcast, Olli Tuunainen, Local Business Line Manager for ABB’s Marine and Ports Division in Singapore, and YunTao Chen, head of the ABS Global Electrification Center in Singapore, joined host Brad Cox to discuss the benefits, safety considerations and future of maritime electrification.

Share this episode on social media, leave a review on your favorite podcast platform or send feedback to podcast@eagle.org. Learn more about how ABS is supporting the maritime industry at www.eagle.org.

Key Points

• Challenges in electrification include technology limitations, awareness among stakeholders, and the need for a stable energy supply.
• Safety concerns regarding battery technology and the transition from AC to DC power systems are critical for the industry.
• Current trends include the growth of hybrid applications, retrofitting existing vessels, and the development of charging infrastructure.
• Collaboration between maritime and land-based energy sectors is essential for successful electrification.
• Regulatory frameworks must evolve to support the safe implementation of electrification technologies.

Guests

Olli Tuunainen is a Local Business Line Manager for ABB’s Marine and Ports Division in Singapore. He has close to 20 years of experience in electrical systems and project operations for various industries and countries, always within ABB. Olli holds a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from Tampere University of Technology in Finland. ABB Marine and Ports is committed to sustainable maritime future and prepares both vessels and ports to meet the demands of tomorrow.

Dr. YunTao Chen is the head of the ABS Global Electrification Center in Singapore. He has a background in Aerospace Engineering with a Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan. He started his career in the energy sector, held several positions in the US and Germany at Siemens Energy. Prior to joining ABS, he was leading the R&D team for sustainable solutions (such as battery energy storage systems and fuel cells) at Rolls-Royce in China. At ABS, Dr. Chen is leading the Global Electrification Center in Singapore to promote marine electrification in the Asia Pacific region and across the globe.

In this episode of Setting Course, an ABS Podcast, we dive into the world of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and their impact on maritime operations — from commercial to research to national security.

Featuring insights from retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral and current Saildrone President John Mustin, ABS Senior Vice President of Global Engineering Gareth Burton, and ABS Director of Government Engineering Jihed Boulares, the discussion explores the key elements of successful autonomous systems and the critical role of human oversight.

The guests also highlight the rigorous standards and rules already helping to enable safe and efficient operations for USVs in real-world conditions while regulations continue to develop.

Don’t forget to share this episode on social media, leave a review on your favorite podcast platform or send feedback to podcast@eagle.org. Discover how ABS is helping advance the maritime industry at www.eagle.org.

KEY POINTS

• Saildrone’s USVs have achieved full classification status from ABS, setting a precedent for autonomous technology.
• Effective risk mitigation for USVs relies on robust perception, reliability and trust to help ensure safe operations.
• The regulatory framework for USVs is evolving, necessitating adaptations to existing guidelines for autonomous vessels.
• Human oversight is essential in high-risk operations involving USVs.
• The integration of autonomy in maritime operations is already happening, enhancing commercial operations, climate research, domain awareness and more.

GUESTS

A former U.S. Navy Vice Admiral and C-Suite technology entrepreneur, John Mustin brings to Saildrone more than three decades of experience at the intersection of national security, emerging technology, team development, and enterprise growth. A frequent speaker, published author, early-stage start-up investor, and advisory board member, he has led large, global enterprises and managed multi-billion-dollar budgets. With a BS in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, an MS in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School, and an MBA from Babson College, he is an advocate for military and veteran causes and speaks and writes regularly on national security topics and post-military service hiring practices.

Gareth Burton is Senior Vice President, Global Engineering for ABS. He is a long-time ABS employee, having joined in 2001, as an engineer. While at ABS, Gareth has held several key positions, including Principal Engineer, Director of Engineering, Vice President of Operational and Environmental Performance, and Vice President of Technology, just to name a few. His positions have spanned the globe, including the U.S., Mexico and Singapore. In his current role, Gareth leads the ABS Engineering function, responsible for the review and approval of designs of marine and offshore assets for compliance with ABS, national and international requirements.

Jihed Boulares is the Director of Engineering of the Government Engineering Services group at ABS. He oversees design review of U.S. and international government vessels for compliance with ABS Rules and international regulations. Boulares worked in the maritime industry for 21 years in various roles, including naval ships operation and maintenance, naval ships structural design and analysis, and operational and environmental performance. He joined ABS in 2008 and has served in various engineering and leadership positions in the U.S. and Europe. Prior to ABS, he has held positions as surface warfare officer aboard a combatant ship, engineering duty officer at a naval shipyard and naval architect at McDermott International.

In this episode, Senior Project Manager Konstantinos Vouroutzis and Sustainability Engineer Tim Badalotti join host Brad Cox to explore the latest findings from the seventh edition of the ABS Outlook series, Beyond the Horizon: Vision Meets Reality.

As lead authors, Vouroutzis and Badalotti, discuss the maritime industry’s ambitious emission goals and the market realities that challenge these targets. They highlight key checkpoints on the horizon, emphasizing the role of alternative fuels, energy efficiency technologies and sustainability financing in achieving goals.

Download the full Outlook here.

Don’t forget to share this episode on social media, leave a review on your favorite podcast platform or send feedback to podcast@eagle.org. Discover how ABS is helping advance the maritime industry at www.eagle.org.

Key Points

• There is a tension between high sustainability ambitions and market realities.
• Total maritime emissions are increasing despite improvements in carbon intensity per unit of work.
• Green fuels like ammonia and hydrogen are still in early developmental stages.
• Energy efficiency technologies are crucial for decoupling emissions from growing seaborne trade.
• Regulatory compliance costs are expected to rise significantly in the coming years.
• LNG remains a key transitional fuel for the maritime industry.
• Fragmentation in the shipping industry presents challenges for integration and efficiency.

GUESTS

Konstantinos Vouroutzis is a seasoned Naval Architect and manager with over 20 years of experience in the maritime and offshore industries. He possesses a diverse skill set including expertise in management, project management, decarbonization, performance and energy efficiency of ships, green shipping, naval architecture, structural design and analysis, as well as regulatory compliance. He is a registered European Engineer (EUR ING) and Chartered Engineer (CEng, MRINA). In 2023, he joined ABS as a Senior Project Manager – Global Sustainability, where he leads strategic sustainability projects and key initiatives, while being an integral part of the department’s Leadership Team. He also serves as ABS’s representative in the Working Group of the Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF). Prior to joining ABS, he held various roles in other Classification Societies and ship design firms, demonstrating a diverse and extensive professional background.

Tim Badalotti is Principal Engineer at the ABS Global Sustainability Center in Japan. His primary responsibility is to assist Japanese clients in decarbonizing their fleets by offering technical and regulatory guidance, helping ensure that these efforts remain economically viable. With a background in Aerospace Engineering, Tim was previously a researcher on Mathematical Models for Fluid Dynamics before joining the industry. He is passionate about infrastructure design, modeling and optimization. His career spans multiple sectors, including railway and shipping. He used to be in charge of high-speed train design for the European market at a major Japanese conglomerate before transitioning to the shipping classification sector, where he has been developing new technologies, rules, and guidelines aimed at improving ship safety and decarbonizing operations, all the while collaborating with private and public stakeholders, mainly in Japan and Europe.