CCS gives thumbs up to SSSRI’s hull monitoring solutions

China Classification Society (CCS) has issued approval in principle (AiP) certificate for the software system of three hull monitoring solutions which were developed by compatriot COSCO Shanghai Ship and Shipping Research Institute (SSSRI).

The three solutions that were greenlit are a hull monitoring system (HMS), a hull monitoring system for ships operating in ice (HMSOI) and an intelligent hull system (IHS).

As disclosed, CCS Shanghai Rules & Research Institute cooperated closely with China COSCO Shipping Corporation to study and examine the technical ‘advantages’ of the systems and to overcome any technical difficulties in order to complete the certification.

It is understood that this process was based on the requirements and related scientific research related to the “Rules for Classification of Sea-going Steel Ships”, the “Rules for Intelligent Ships” and the “Guidelines for Hull Monitoring and Assistant Decision-making System for Operations on Ice.”

According to CCS, HMS can be used for real-time monitoring of the ship’s structural status, ship motion monitoring, fatigue strength assessment, and yield strength assessment, among other things. The solution is also said to offer ‘early warnings’ for potentially risky situations, which could aid in the crew’s ‘timely’ decision-making.

HMSOI, on the other hand, is integrated with ice zone hull structure monitoring, ice-induced vibration, ice monitoring navigation, ice zone safety assessments and warnings as well as assistant decision-making functions that can provide technical support for ships navigating through ice, the classification society explained.

Moreover, IHS offers life cycle management of the hull structure, hull monitoring, and assistant decision-making. The hull monitoring and intelligent hull systems are considered ‘important’ for improving the vessels’ safety performance. According to CCS, it could also extend their service life, reduce operating costs and ‘enhance’ ship efficiency.

Within the space of hull monitoring solutions, there were other developments over the past couple of years.

In 2023, CCS gave the go-ahead to the China Ship Scientific Research Center for its hull monitoring system. This certificate is believed to be the first of its type in the Far Eastern nation.

During the award ceremony, the two sides reportedly had technical discussions about the hull monitoring system, air model drag reduction system, and the dynamic wave compensation bridge system. They also reached a consensus on energy-saving intelligent technology, scientific research projects, as well as standardized evaluation and feedback.

A year before that, namely in 2022, U.S. classification society ABS and South Korea’s shipbuilding titan Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) signed a joint development project (JDP) to improve hull safety with smart ship technology for structural health monitoring (SHM).

In a statement at that time, the two parties explained that the hull stress monitoring system (HSMS) software would be integrated into SHI’s proprietary SVESSEL Smart Platform, which was engineered to ‘speed up’ the transition from analog-based conventional ship systems into a digital-based lifecycle vessel management approach.