April 2024 updates to ABS Requirements and Guides

The American Bureau of Shipping, in April updated several documents: Requirements for Hybrid Electric Power Systems for Marine and Offshore Applications, Requirements for Use of Lithium-ion Batteries in the Marine and Offshore Industries, Guide for Gas and other Low-Flashpoint Fuel Ready Vessels and Requirements for Methanol and Ethanol Fueled Vessels.

Here is the summary of the changes made in the April 2024 editions:

Requirements for Hybrid Electric Power Systems for Marine and Offshore Applications

The April 2024 update revises the document title from "Requirements for Hybrid Electric Power Systems for Marine and Offshore Applications" to "Requirements for Hybrid and All-Electric Power Systems for Marine and Offshore Applications." The term "IEPS" has been removed from the "HYBRID IEPS" notation for simplicity. Two new operating modes, "[OCC]" and "[EM]," have been added to the "HYBRID" notation. This update also introduces new notations: "All-Electric Vessel," "HYBRID Ready," and "All-Electric Ready," along with requirements for these notations that address system and equipment design, installation, safety, and automation. Additionally, it includes electrical requirements for connecting a vessel to an offshore charging connection, which encompasses position-keeping requirements for the vessel to be charged.

Requirements for Use of Lithium-ion Batteries in the Marine and Offshore Industries

The April 2024 edition includes an update to the battery system’s energy, which has been reduced from 25 kWh to 20 kWh. This edition adds new requirements for the Lithium-ion battery system components, ventilation system, environment control, and gas detection. It also introduces goal-based standards and functional requirements to prescriptive criteria and includes updates to the requirements for the main and emergency sources of power, battery spaces, fire safety, hazardous areas, risk assessment approach, and maintenance manuals.

Guide for Gas and other Low-Flashpoint Fuel Ready Vessels

The April 2024 edition of the Guide updates the list of submittals required for hull structural reinforcement for fuel storage tank when a standalone notation “Alternate Fuel ready Level 2D (S) is requested.