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ABS, a nonprofit provider of ship classification services, announced it has signed a cooperation agreement regarding trans-Arctic shipping development with China Ocean Shipping Group Company (COSCO).
Changing climate conditions have opened new operational and trading opportunities in previously unnavigable areas. Using the Northern Sea Route for a voyage between the principal Asian and European ports reduces the distance by nearly 4,000 miles compared to the traditional route through the Suez Canal, the statement said.
COSCO and ABS aim to expand COSCO’s use of the Northeast Passage for more regular trading, explore navigation in Northwest Passage, and develop ice-classed vessel types appropriate for trans-Arctic shipping. The parties will begin by establishing a cooperative initiative on Arctic shipping technology development.
"ABS is excited to work with COSCO to develop this pioneering trading route," Kleess says. "Combining ABS’ technical experience with COSCO’s successful
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use of the Northeast Passage with the first Chinese merchant ship, Yongsheng, navigating this route creates a solid foundation for jointly promoting the development of sustainable shipping in Arctic waters."
ABS says it has extensive experience in Arctic development and was an active participant in the IMO group tasked with establishing new requirements for Polar waters. With the entry into force of the IMO Polar Code on January 1, 2017, ABS has published the ABS Advisory Note on the Polar Code as an introductory knowledge book and general guidance to support ship owners and operators working in the increasingly popular commercial shipping routes through Arctic waters.
The surveyors, engineers, researchers and regulatory specialists who form the ABS team work in more than 200 offices in 70 countries around the world providing traditional classification services as well as on-the-ground technical services in asset performance, energy efficiency, environmental performance and life cycle management.
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