ABS, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), and Siemens signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for collaboration in digital twin technology to assess the safety of ammonia-fueled ships. This agreement was officially announced at the Gastech 2026 exhibition and aims to combine computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis with digital twin technology to quickly predict ammonia dispersion behavior in case of a leak.
Details of Digital Twin Technology
This capability helps designers evaluate a wide range of leak and incident scenarios in the early stages of ship design. Patrick Ryan, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of ABS, stated: “By combining CFD analysis and digital twin technology, this project provides designers with a faster and more accurate way to understand leak behavior. ABS is proud to bring its technical expertise to this collaboration with HD KSOE and Siemens.”
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Roles of the Companies in the Project
In this project, HD KSOE will be responsible for developing ammonia safety systems and leading related experimental research, while Siemens will provide simulation analysis and digital twin technology. ABS will also offer a safety assessment methodology based on digital twins.
Chang Kwang Pil, Head of the Future Technology Institute at HD KSOE, emphasized: “The transformation of artificial intelligence in the shipbuilding industry is not just about adopting new technologies; it is a process for innovating how we work. We expect the integration of AI and digital twin technologies in research and development to accelerate.”
Byung Joon Oh, Country Manager of Siemens Digital Industries Software Korea, also stated: “Physics-based simulation and advanced digital twin technologies are key to ensuring the safety and reliability of next-generation ships. Through close collaboration with HD KSOE and ABS, we will accelerate verified safety for ammonia-fueled ships and continue digital innovation in the global maritime industry.”
As part of ongoing industry assessments for the use of alternative fuels, ABS provides critical advice on the application of ammonia as a marine fuel. The continuation of this collaboration could lead to increased safety standards and reduced risks associated with the use of ammonia fuel in ships.
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