Research

Identification of Safety Concerns and Consequences of Ammonia Release during Marine Operations

Researchers at Texas A&M are working with ABS to improve the understanding of ammonia risks and proper safety measures. This includes storage, bunkering (leakage during loading/unloading), and handling ammonia with an emphasis on marine operations. It also examines the analysis of an ammonia leak in a confined or enclosed space, such as in the vicinity of an ammonia engine. The work includes analysis of the rate of gas release, dispersion over impact, impact on structural members, mechanisms to control/ maintain safe pressure.

At the center of the effort is an experimental component and V&V (Verification and Validation) study to determine best practices for models and simulations of ammonia leaks. The experimental work is examining ammonia plume evolution over a water body in a variety of conditions.

The effort at Texas A&M is led by Dr. Adonios Karpetis, Dr. Harini Gunda & Dr. Faisal Khan. Quaim Choudhury and Onur Semiz are the leads at ABS working on developing guidelines and industry best practices. The work is conducted within the Laboratory of Ocean Innovation within the Ocean Engineering Dept at Texas A&M.

Artificial Intelligence – Rapid Component Identification Using AI-trained Algorithms to Rapidly Build Virtual Vessel Component List

The ability to efficiently and accurately survey and inventory offshore facilities is critical for owners and operators. Proper accounting of assets and equipment can be accomplished by analyzing images and videos. A project involving Texas A&M and ABS seeks to use AI for rapid component detection and labeling.

Experimental data sets are being analyzed by Dr. Paul Koola and his team at Texas A&M, Harsh Mattoo, and Madhulika Dey. They are working with ABS’ Subrat Nanda on case development and refinement. Computational process development is being worked on along with testing and quantification of the accuracy and level of detail. The work is being conducted under a Texas A&M-ABS research agreement covering the Laboratory for Ocean Innovation

Critical Factors associated with Transition between Manual and Autonomous Modes of Operation for Autonomous Functions on Marine Vessels

Drs. S. Rathinam, H. Kang, and P. Pagilla and students Anthony Saaiby, Mayur Patil, Nataraj Sudharsan, and Jiachang Xing at Texas A&M are working with a team of Subject Matter Experts at ABS led by Jin Wang on Critical Factors Associated with the “Transition between Manual and Autonomous Modes of Operation for Autonomous Functions on Marine Vessels.”

The maritime industry is rapidly adopting autonomous technologies, exemplified by the development of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). These advancements promise significant improvements in safety and operational efficiency. However, the implementation of autonomous systems poses substantial challenges, including high development costs, logistical complexities, and the inherent risks of real-world testing. Replicating rare or extreme conditions—such as severe weather, equipment malfunctions, or collision scenarios—safely and economically adds to these difficulties.

To address these challenges, this work presents a modular, high-fidelity simulation framework designed to provide a controlled and cost-effective virtual environment for the testing and certification of autonomous systems. Developed using MATLAB and Unity, this framework enables the simulation of complex maritime scenarios, including adverse weather conditions, equipment failures, and near-miss events, which are often hazardous or impractical to replicate in real-world settings. The framework integrates advanced physics, realistic sensor modeling, and dynamic environmental factors, ensuring a high degree of fidelity in testing and validation.

A comprehensive set of Performance Indicators (PIs) and customizable test scenarios are developed and embedded within the framework to evaluate the safety, reliability, and compliance of autonomous systems with maritime standards.

Identification of Fire Safety of Current and Emerging Battery Technology for Marine Operations

The interest in using batteries as the sole or complementary energy source for offshore vessels has never been higher. Concerns about thermal runaway events and fire risk in the marine industry are being worked on at the Laboratory of Ocean Innovation, a collaboration between ABS and Texas A&M. Researchers are focusing on Sodium-Ion, Lithium Sulfur, Redox, Metal-Air, and Li-metal, considering battery size (energy density, capacity), state of charge (40%, 50%, 75%, 100% and overcharged) during normal operations and thermal runaway. The study also considers the type and volume of off-gas and toxicity, and the thermal runway temperature profile.

Fire suppression technologies are a big focus area. The study identifies the fire suppression agents and systems with a focus on the nuances of the marine environment that may impact batteries and their safety.

Drs. Harini Gunda, Faisal Khan, and Sreeram Vaddiraju are working on the project with student Dhananjay Swamy and ABS’ Mejdi Kammoun. The project involves laboratory experiments to investigate thermal runaway accident scenarios. The work is being conducted under a Texas A&M-ABS research agreement covering the Laboratory for Ocean Innovation

Identification of the Safety and Integrity Challenges for Carbon Capture Systems Onboard Marine Vessels or Offshore Facilities

ABS and Texas A&M are working on safety and integrity for Carbon Capture Systems onboard marine vessels and offshore facilities. This work is clarifying the impact of CO2 on materials used in equipment, piping, storage, and valves. It includes a focus on the implications of impurities such as NOx, SOx, and H2S. The focus is on onboard storage and offloading implications and the safety implications and risks.

The work is led by Texas A&M Principal Investigators: Dr. Harini Gunda, Dr. Faisal Khan and Dr. Tanjin Amin and ABS Subject Matter Experts Quaim Choudhury and Altaf Shaik along with Texas A&M graduate student M. Elkady. The work is being conducted under a Texas A&M-ABS research agreement covering the Laboratory for Ocean Innovation.

Modeling and Simulation of Different Case Scenarios of a Nuclear Power Generation Installed on Different Types of Vessels: Identification and Classification

Improving Safety for Industrial Graphical User Interfaces of Augmented Reality deployed on Wearable Devices

Researchers at Texas A&M are working with ABS to improve the understanding augmented reality (AR) wearable devices. The goal is to provide guidance on the hardware requirements to be fit-for-purpose in marine environments – elements such as environmental noise, illumination, bandwidth, internet connectivity, storage capacity, set-up requirements, and streaming capabilities. The focus is on the impact AR wearable devices have on hazard perception capabilities of the wearer.

A laboratory was created in Texas A&M’s Laboratory for Ocean Innovation. Participants maneuvered through a mock-up of a ship, complete with tripping hazards, head knockers, etc. The navigation task was monitored with motion tracking while the participants engaged in the environment and with the virtual elements from the AR devices.

The Texas A&M team is led by Drs.  Edgar J. Rojas Muñoz and Freddie D. Witherden and their students Lawrence Soberanis, Kyper Bezanson, and Graciela Fidalgo. ABS’s Vicente Hernandez is engaged and working closely with the team.