ABS has extended its commitment to marine and offshore education and research with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Centre for Offshore Research and Engineering (CORE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). 

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ABS Pacific President & Chief Operating Officer James Liebertz (3rd from left) stands with other dignitaries during a recent ceremony in support of the Centre for Offshore Research and Engineering (CORE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). 

The agreement between ABS and CORE was one of the collaborations announced during recent ceremonies in which NUS received $10 million (SGD) from Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore to further its scientific research and development programs. The three-year MOU outlines the working relationship between CORE and ABS to address offshore technology issues as well as the transfer of knowledge to the region where a tremendous amount of offshore development is taking place. In particular, the efforts will focus on three areas: research and development, teaching and a research scholarship at NUS.

"ABS involvement with CORE is a natural extension of our business," said James Liebertz, President and Chief Operating Officer, ABS Pacific. "We have the experience in offshore and deepwater technologies and our organization's mission is to promote marine safety through the development of technical standards and Rules. ABS is proud of this collaboration as it will foster world-class research and creates the next generation of talent committed to maritime excellence."

The R&D collaboration will include studies related to offshore tubular steel structures, offshore concrete gravity structures, marine geotechnical engineering and intelligent offshore structure monitoring. ABS plans to provide instructors and offer short courses on such topics as first-principle analyses, marine hydrodynamics, computational fluid dynamics, structural reliability and fracture and fatigue. A research scholarship for an advanced academic degreed (Ph.D.) individual is being established by ABS.

These activities are in parallel with ABS' recently established Singapore Offshore Technology Center (SOTC) supporting offshore developments in Southeast Asia. Three highly qualified engineers staff the Center which is working with universities, shipyards, design agencies and other organization to advance offshore technology innovation in the region.