ABS hosts Ship Operators Cooperative Program
ABS, a leading provider of classification and technical services to the marine and offshore industries, hosted the fall meeting of the Ship Operators Cooperative Program (SOCP) in Houston October 5 and 6, welcoming representatives from industry, government and academia to discuss current issues and new technologies, ABS said in its press release.
A number of significant issues were on the meeting agenda, which kicked off with a look at the impact of Subchapter M and how companies can prepare for implementation. The program included a discussion on navigational safety in the Houston Ship Channel and a segment on technology that provided an opportunity for ABS to share insights on ocean predictions and underwater noise, information on how companies can strengthen safety culture at the deck plate and some of the innovative technologies being developed to support mariners.
Another subject – one that has moved to the forefront of industry concerns – is what needs to be done to prevent cyber intrusions. As a leader in this space, ABS shared its plans to expand the ABS CyberSafety™ series, the industry’s first risk-based management program for asset owners to apply best practice approaches to four key cyber areas: cybersecurity, automated systems safety, data integrity and software verification, along with some of the developments being undertaken in the ABS CyberSafety laboratory.
SOCP is a non-profit organization of maritime industry professionals. Its objective is to promote innovations in ship and other maritime operations by identifying, developing and applying new methods, tools, and technologies.
About ABS
Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life and property and preserving the natural environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine and offshore assets.
