Classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has released two new tools focused on assisting the container ship sector with pressing operational challenges.

The two tools are expected to contribute to safety for the sector and include the Guide for Certification of Container Securing Systems (Container Securing Guide) along with its companion software, and the Guide for Fire-Fighting Systems for On-Deck Cargo Areas of Container Carriers (FOC Guide).

"In today's operating environment, container ship owners must improve performance while maintaining reliability and safety," said Matt Tremblay, ABS Vice President for Container Ships.

As container ships become larger, stack weights increase, and new lashing systems are designed, container ship owners and operators are facing increased challenges to optimize the cargo securing systems on their vessels.

To help address this concern, ABS said it has updated the Container Securing Guide dealing with new procedures for twist lock testing. By year's end, the guide will introduce changes in on-deck container stack load analysis and lashing bridge design load calculations, introducing a methodology to on-deck container stack load analysis to more accurately determine container carrying capabilities.

To facilitate application of the updates to the guide, ABS has developed a software tool known as C-LASH. The tool provides full non-linear direct calculations for load analysis of on-deck container stacks.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements for additional container deck firefighting capabilities went into effect this January. In order to comply with the new regulations, ABS has updated its FOC Guide. According to the classification society, the FOC notation provides additional arrangements that improve capabilities for fighting fires on deck in cargo areas of container carriers.