American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has launched the Hellenic Ship Safety Center (HSSC) in Athens, a next-generation training facility that introduces immersive learning techniques such as virtual reality (VR), game-based scenarios, and simulated ship environments. The center is designed to equip Greek seafarers and maritime professionals with the skills needed to navigate a rapidly transforming maritime landscape marked by technological change and alternative fuels.
Immersive Training: The Future of Maritime Education
The new facility features computer simulation stations, interactive VR training rooms, and collaborative learning areas, allowing trainees to walk through digital replicas of ships, interact with systems, and rehearse safety procedures virtually.
ABS CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki emphasized the hands-on learning advantages:
“The ABS Hellenic Ship Safety Center is expressly designed to equip our people with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to operate safely in a rapidly evolving maritime landscape. This center will pioneer immersive learning techniques, using virtual and augmented reality to create powerful, hands-on training experiences. Through simulated environments, learners can walk through a ship, interact with systems, and practice procedures, all before ever stepping on board.”
This immersive approach helps seafarers gain real-world confidence in handling complex vessel systems and responding to evolving onboard risks.
MetaSHIP: Virtual Vessels for Real Learning
One of the standout features is the ABS MetaSHIP Fleet, which includes ABS Spirit, ABS Eagle, and ABS Integrity—virtual ships built to scale using real ship drawings. These vessels allow learners to:
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Conduct virtual field trips
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Perform simulated inspections and surveys
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Review documentation and certificates
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Train on different ship types and ages
This method offers safe, repeatable training that bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and onboard practice.
Supporting the Greek Maritime Community
The center, supported by the Hellenic Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Union of Greek Shipowners, addresses the need for future-ready training. As noted by shipping leader Dimitrios Fafalios:
“Shipping is the daily management of change, and shipping is facing many challenges with new technologies and alternative fuels. It falls to our seafarers to be trained to overcome these challenges and this is why the ABS Hellenic Ship Safety Centre (HSSC) is so important.”
The Athens location joins other ABS training hubs in Doha and Singapore, strengthening ABS’s global training infrastructure focused on cybersecurity, hybrid propulsion, alternative fuels, and emerging vessel safety protocols.
With the launch of the Hellenic Ship Safety Center, ABS has taken a bold step in shaping the future of maritime training. By leveraging virtual tools and immersive technologies, the center empowers Greek seafarers to confidently face the evolving challenges of a decarbonizing and digitizing industry—setting a strong precedent for maritime safety and operational excellence worldwide.
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Source: ABS
