Decarbonisation Technology May 2026 Issue

of evacuation procedures, and improved coordination among emergency response participants. Training future-ready crews ABS recognises virtual training as one of the most effective tools available to enhance maritime safety, particularly in preparing crews for handling ammonia-related emergencies. Live drills have limitations, including high costs, resource intensity, and potential safety risks when simulating hazardous scenarios. Therefore, simulation technology can play a crucial role in overcoming the limitations of live drills while providing safe environments for testing emergency procedures under diverse conditions and can be done prior to the ship’s construction. Leveraging sophisticated physics engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine, ABS’s agent-based tool delivers immersive virtual training scenarios tailored specifically for maritime personnel. This powerful training method allows crews to participate in single-player drills or engage collaboratively in multiplayer virtual exercises, simulating realistic ammonia-related incidents in a controlled and risk-free environment. Multiplayer virtual drills provide distinct benefits by enabling team members, including Captains, Officers On Watch (OOW), engineers, and first responders, to simultaneously practice their roles and responsibilities during complex emergency scenarios. Such collaborative training significantly helps to enhance communication and coordination among crew members. For example, in a simulated ammonia leakage scenario, the ship Captain might detect the issue, make critical early-stage decisions, and issue evacuation orders. The OOW would promptly relay instructions, activate alarms, and initiate initial containment measures. Engineers would then quickly take steps to isolate ammonia fuel lines and safely shut down relevant equipment, while first responders focus on casualty management and hazard mitigation. This coordinated practice helps promote a clearer understanding of interdependent roles, improves communication, and contributes positively to overall team effectiveness during emergencies. The quality and timeliness of decisions made during an incident directly influence casualty

outcomes, making effective coordination among crew members a critical factor. Merely having a robust emergency response plan is not sufficient; having confidence that crew members can and will execute the plan correctly under both normal and panic-driven situations is equally vital. Under stressful conditions, individuals may experience heightened anxiety, decision fatigue, and impaired judgement, potentially causing deviations from established procedures. Virtual training environments explicitly account for these human factors by realistically simulating high- pressure scenarios, allowing crews to experience and manage stress safely. Repeated exposure to these simulated emergencies reinforces proper decision-making processes, helps crew members internalise response procedures, and builds mental resilience. Importantly, virtual training environments allow continuous and repeated practice – something impossible in real-world scenarios involving ammonia due to its acute toxicity and associated risks. Crew members can rehearse emergency responses, evacuation protocols, and mitigation strategies repeatedly until they are confident and proficient. The iterative nature of virtual simulations, capturing diverse scenarios, variations in human behaviours, and different emergency progression pathways, helps to comprehensively prepare crews. With each virtual session, crew members have opportunities to refine their actions, enhance reaction times, and progressively reduce potential errors. Ultimately, this extensive virtual training helps reinforce key operational practices and makes emergency responses more intuitive over time. ABS views advanced simulation-based training as an important step in bridging the gap between theoretical emergency planning and practical, on-the-ground execution. By building familiarity and confidence through repeated exposure to realistic scenarios, such training plays a valuable role in supporting safer and more effective crew responses as the maritime industry moves toward wider adoption of ammonia as a fuel.

Gu Hai ABS-WorldHQ@eagle.org