LR awards AiP to Samsung Heavy Industries for Digital Twin concept

The award was a key result of a Joint Development Project (JDP) formed earlier in the year, LR announced. 

As part of the JDP, SHI generated the digital twin concept and engineering approach for the condition-based maintenance of the rotating machinery in its Smart Ship Solution, SVESSEL CBM and for the model-based engineering support and system monitoring of its LNG fuel gas supply system, S-Fugas.  

As the only classification society involved in the project, LR’s role was to deliver assurance on the correctness, safety and performance of SHI’s digital twin technology. 

To do this, LR applied Digital Twin Ready, the first stage of its ShipRight Digital Compliance framework, to qualify SHI’s engineering, software engineering processes, development tools and subject matter experts. 

LR performed a developer capability assessment and evaluated SHI’s systems engineering approach, including its software engineering practices relevant to the development and sustainment of digital twins throughout their life cycle. This work, carried out by experts led by Joseph Morelos from LR’s Group Technology and Innovation team, led to LR Approval in Principle being awarded.  

Young-Doo Kim, LR’s North East Asia TSO Manager, said: “This is a significant step in the maritime industry’s journey towards digitalisation and for Samsung Heavy Industries as digital twin technology can help shipowners and operators optimise operation costs and more importantly, improve safety. We’re very proud to have worked with SHI and award this Approval in Principle and look forward to working with them going forward as shipping looks to meet IMO 2050 targets and other challenges.” 

Hyun-Jo Kim, Managing Director, SHI, said: “SHI believes digital twin technology shall be a key to open the gateway forward to the next level of unmanned automatically operated ships. Therefore, we’ll keep developing the technologies that has granted AiP of Digital Twin Ready for the service enabling real-time health monitoring, diagnosis and remained life-time evaluation of the main equipment of ships.” 

This announcement is underpinned by LR’s digital strategy that is focused on delivering tangible benefits to our customers and partners, helping them to drive business outcomes through the safe and appropriate adoption of new technologies. Our digital solutions enable clients to optimise the performance of their assets, their people, and their business, whilst opening new opportunities for growth. Our pathway aligns with what matters most to customers, in line with what technical solutions are right, with a customer-led approach.