ABS, HD KSOE and Siemens Sign MOU to Develop Digital Twin Technology for Ammonia Safety

ABS, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), and Siemens have reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop digital twin technology for enhancing the safety of ammonia-fueled vessels. The agreement, announced at Gastech 2026, seeks to merge computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis with digital twin technology to swiftly predict ammonia dispersion in the event of a leak.

This new capability would allow designers to evaluate a broad spectrum of leakage and accident scenarios early on in the vessel design process.

Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, expressed his pride in bringing ABS's technical expertise to the collaboration with HD KSOE and Siemens. Ryan stated, "By pairing CFD analysis with digital twin technology, this project gives designers a faster, more rigorous way to understand leak behavior."

HD KSOE will be responsible for developing ammonia safety systems and leading related experimental research, while Siemens will contribute simulation analysis and digital twin technology. ABS will provide a safety assessment methodology centered around digital twins. Chang Kwangpil, Head of the Future Technology Institute at HD KSOE, emphasized the transformative impact of AI and digital twin technologies in the shipbuilding industry.

He remarked, "The AI transformation of the shipbuilding industry is not simply about applying new technologies; it is a process of innovating the way we work. We expect the integration of AI and digital twin technologies to accelerate further in the R&D field as well."

Byung Joon Oh, Country Manager of Siemens Digital Industries Software Korea, highlighted the importance of physics-based simulation and advanced digital twin technologies in ensuring the safety and engineering reliability of next-generation vessels. Oh expressed his commitment to accelerating safety validation for ammonia-fueled vessels through a close technical collaboration with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and ABS.

He stated, "Through close technical collaboration with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and ABS, we will accelerate safety validation for ammonia-fueled vessels and continue to support digital innovation across the global marine industry."

With the ongoing exploration of alternative fuels, ABS plays a crucial role in providing guidance on the application of ammonia as a marine fuel. Interested parties can learn more about ABS's support for the ammonia value chain by visiting their website.