ABS Enhances Container Ship Lashing Notation With Seasonality Factor

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has upgraded its CLP-V(PARR) lashing notation by introducing a seasonality factor, offering increased operational flexibility for container ship operators while maintaining safety in variable sea conditions.

What is CLP-V(PARR) Notation?

Introduced in 2024, the CLP-V(PARR) combines ABS’s Computer Lashing Program (CLP) with Parametric Roll (PARR) Guidance. It allows operators to optimize container stowage and secure one extra tier on deck while reducing the risk of cargo loss due to parametric rolling.

The notation is now further improved with a seasonality factor and a route-splitting approach, enabling smarter load management throughout different segments and seasons of a voyage.

How the Seasonality Factor Adds Value

ABS calculates load reduction factors not for the full voyage, but per route section and season, providing shipowners more precise flexibility. This is especially useful when adapting to changing sea conditions on multi-leg voyages.

With wave scatter diagrams and hindcast wave data, ship operators can make data-driven decisions to reduce rolling risks and improve cargo safety—even in harsh weather.

Setting a New Standard in Ship Safety

Mandatory parametric roll guidance under this notation ensures operators receive digital onboard operational guidance, elevating safety standards in rough seas. ABS leaders note that this step marks a new industry benchmark for secure and optimized containership operations.

ABS continues its legacy of innovation in container ship safety and classification since the journey of the first container vessel, Ideal X, in 1956.