ABS Deepens South Korea-US Shipbuilding Collaboration
ABS has signed two agreements with South Korean shipbuilding organizations aimed at advancing software-defined vessel technology and strengthening workforce development for the U.S. and Korean shipbuilding industries.
The first agreement will see ABS Consulting and affiliate ABS Wavesight support HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) in developing its software-defined vessel (SDV) platform by providing software quality assurance advisory, verification and validation support.
The collaboration is intended to help establish a framework for software quality, verification readiness and implementation as shipbuilders increasingly shift vessel functions from dedicated hardware to software.
“Software is becoming increasingly central to how next-generation vessels are designed, integrated and operated. As the maritime industry advances toward more connected and software-enabled platforms, strong quality governance and independent validation are essential to building confidence in performance, reliability and long-term readiness,” said David Wechsler, President and CEO, ABS Consulting.
"The core competitiveness of future vessels will increasingly be determined by advanced software capabilities rather than hardware alone. By leveraging ABS Consulting’s proven expertise in software quality and security assurance, we look forward to accelerating HD KSOE's AI and Digital Transformation (AX/DX) and bringing the true era of Software-Defined Vessels (SDV) closer to reality," added Kim Hyung-Kwan, President & CEO of HD KSOE.
Separately, ABS signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA) and KUSPC to establish a framework for workforce development, technical certification and regulatory cooperation between the U.S. and South Korean maritime sectors.
The initiative will focus on developing workforce capabilities for the U.S. naval maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market through jointly recognized qualification and certification programs, instructor exchanges and alignment with U.S. naval and international technical standards.
Under the agreement, KRISO will contribute expertise in advanced ship engineering, smart manufacturing and research, KOSHIPA will support workforce development through its industrial network, while KUSPC will coordinate collaboration between governments, industry and research institutions. ABS will provide guidance on classification, certification, verification, maritime safety and regulatory frameworks.
