The US government has hired classification society American Bureau of Shipping to set up a maritime innovation centre to pursue clean shipping fuels.
ABS won the five-year contract from the Office of Environment & Innovation, which is part of the US Maritime Administration (MARAD).
A federal contracting database shows the deal is worth $2m.
The US Center for Maritime Innovation is intended to support the adoption of clean energy on US ships through research and development, as well as training support, ABS said.
It will support development of clean energy, identify research gaps and evaluate equipment to provide guidance on best-available technologies.
It will also assist with understanding complex regulation and document best practices, and will work with academic and private-sector training entities.
ABS chief executive Christopher Wiernicki said the centre will be an important resource to allow the US maritime industry to respond to rapid changes driven by decarbonisation and digitalisation.
“ABS is proud to have been selected to work with MARAD in launching and operating the centre, which will research, develop, assess, demonstrate and deploy emerging maritime technologies and practices, especially those related to emerging environmental challenges faced by the marine transportation system,” he said.
“ABS is well positioned to serve in this role because we bring to the centre our experience as the US-based marine classification, standards/certification and research organisation, as well as the industry-leading coalition of research partner organisations and relationships that we bring to the centre.”
Over the next six months, ABS and MARAD will work together to stand up the new centre and establish research priorities.
ABS said the effort will create engagement opportunities with maritime stakeholders.
After Congress set out the funding for the centre, MARAD chose ABS through a request for proposals.
Maritime administrator Ann Phillips said the centre will serve as a “strategic resource” for US shipping.
“The centre will be critical for engaging industry, academia, government and other stakeholders in the setting and execution of multi-year research priorities that drive innovation,” she said.
