ABS – Driving Innovation in NH3CRAFT

May 7, 2025

About ABS

ABS, a global leader in classification services, is focused on delivering a safer, cleaner future for the marine and offshore industries. For over 160 years, ABS has been setting standards for safety and excellence and continues to innovate in the fields of clean technology, digitalization and artificial intelligence, providing industry-leading technical advisory services. With a global network of surveyors, engineers, technology specialists and support staff, ABS works with industry leaders including its members and clients around the world to improve safety in operational performance and efficiency with innovative solutions for the complete life cycle of marine and offshore assets.
ABS is actively involved in the decarbonization of the maritime industry, focusing on ammonia (NH3) as a sustainable fuel option. They collaborate with industry partners on research and development, contributing to ammonia fuel systems and infrastructure. ABS also publishes white papers and reports to share knowledge and recommendations, supporting the industry’s transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
In the NH3CRAFT project ABS will review drawings and documentation from the designers of the demonstration vessel’s tank storage and auxiliary systems to ensure compliance with ABS Rules and Requirements, as well as relevant international regulations, towards issuing a New Technology Qualification Statement. They will also be involved in developing pertinent rules and safety guidance and provide feedback on all activities related to the project.

Meet the Experts Driving NH3CRAFT Forward

Konstantinos Voutzoulidis – Director of Europe Contracted Research and Development:

He graduated with a Master’s degree (MSc) in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece and an Executive master’s in business administration (EMBA) degree from Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), Greece. He has over 15 years of expertise in classification societies, with extensive background in digital classification, smart shipping, autonomous vessels, lifting appliances, hull, machinery, and electrical systems, and a strong focus on business development, regulatory frameworks, compliance, and rule development. He has deep experience in EU policy engagement and maritime research & innovation, shaping industry regulations and sustainability strategies. He is currently leading contracted R&D activities in Europe at ABS, securing, managing and coordinating EU-funded, national, international and other contracted R&D projects, while collaborating with shipowners, technology firms, academia, and policymakers to drive maritime innovation and regulatory advancements. Konstantinos Voutzoulidis in the NH3CRAFT project was leading all managerial, financial, communication and dissemination aspects of the project from the side of ABS.

Katerina Vasileiadou – Project Manager:

Katerina Vasileiadou joined Europe Contracted Research and Development, in ABS Piraeus office in October 2023. Previously, she worked in Bureau Veritas Piraeus office as a plan approval engineer for sixteen years. She is a Naval Architect & Marine Engineer, having graduated from the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). She has extensive experience in classification, statutory and regulatory matters, project management, and client consultation. She is also involved in project coordination for NH3CRAFT, LH2CRAFT, and BlueBARGE, EU projects related to alternative fuels and innovative designs. In the NH3CRAFT project, Katerina Vasileiadou was the project manager of ABS in this project and was involved in all financial and project management activities of ABS in the project.

Spyros Hirdaris- Manager, Global Ship Systems Centre:

Dr Spyros Hirdaris is the Manager of Global Ship Systems Centre of the American Bureau of Shipping in Athens, Greece. To date his work involved research, product development, management, planning and strategy for R&D, consultancy and marine new construction. In his research he combines knowledge from advanced ship theory for safe and sustainable ships and their systems. He is Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (UK) and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (USA). He is a member of the International Towing Tank Conference since 2021 and the International Ships and Offshore Structures Congress since 2006. Part of his editorial duties involve Associate Editorship of the IMechE Proceedings Part M: Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment (ISSN:14750902, Sage Pub. Ltd). To date he has been sponsored by the EU Framework programs, EMSA, Lloyd’s Register and their Foundation (LRF), British Maritime Technology, The Finnish Maritime Foundation (Merenkulun säätiö) and the Academy of Finland. Main Horizons projects that Spyros is currently involved in, include NH3CRAFT, BAMBOO,LH2CRAFT, HS4U, SAFARI, ECOSHIPYARDS. Before joining ABS, he worked for 6,5 years for Aalto university,14 years for Lloyd’s Register Classification Society internationally (UK, Poland, South Korea) and spent short spells with UK based engineering consultancy firms. To date he held visiting faculty appointments at the University of Southampton (UK), INTI University (Malaysia), Wuhan University of Technology (China), IIT – KGP and Madras (India). He has Scopus H-index 29 and he is included in Elsevier/Stanford University top 2% International Scientists database. Spyros Hirdaris in the NH3CRAFT project was involved in the development of pertinent rules and safety guidance.

Maria Sokou – Senior Engineer:

Maria Sokou joined Engineering Department of ABS Piraeus office on October 2010 and also has been working in ABS Busan office as new construction plan approval engineer for two years. She is Naval Architect & Marine Engineer, graduated from the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at National and Technical University of Athens (NTUA), with extensive experience in Classification, Statutory and Regulatory matters, project management, plan approval, client consultation. She is also involved in technical coordination of NH3CRAFT, LH2CRAFT and SAFeCRAFT, EU Projects related to alternative fuels / innovative designs.

Kostas Tsoukas – Senior Principal Engineer:

Kostas Tsoukas joined Engineering Department of ABS Piraeus office on June 1992 and also has been working in ABS Busan office as new construction plan approval engineer (responsible for the electrical group) for seven years. He is Naval Architect & Marine Engineer, graduated from the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at National and Technical University of Athens (NTUA), with extensive experience in Classification, Statutory and Regulatory matters, project management, plan approval, client consultation. He is also involved in technical coordination of NH3CRAFT, LH2CRAFT and SAFeCRAFT, FLEETfor55 Projects related to alternative fuels / innovative designs.

Vassilis Zouzoulas – Senior Engineer:

Vassilis Zouzoulas joined ABS in July 2023 as Senior Engineer at the Global Ship Systems Centre in Athens, Greece. He is a member of the Technology team responsible for the delivery of EU programs and JDPs. Vassilis holds a MEng in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, as well as the diploma of International Welding Engineer. Before joining ABS, he worked as a mechanical and design engineer for consulting firms, delivering engineering studies ranging from detailed product design to large-scale vessel retrofits. He has industry experience in the design of ship’s systems and mechanical arrangements, new product development, as well as in heat transfer and flow simulations using CFD. His focus is on the development of systems and engineering solutions for safe and sustainable ships. Vassilis has been involved in the NH3CRAFT in the development of pertinent rules.

Vasileios Moukas – Engineer II:

Vasileios Moukas has been working in the Machinery engineering department of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Hellenic office since October 2022. He is a graduate of the School of Mechanical Engineering at National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and holds a master’s degree in Shipping Management from the University of Piraeus. He started his career as new building coordinator in a middle-sized shipping company working in two new building projects in Japan and China. After two and a half years continued his work experience in a marine consultancy company working in retrofits and energy efficiency related projects for three years. From October 2022, Vasilis joined ABS machinery engineering department as a plan approval engineer. Vasileios Moukas has been involved in the review regarding the testing procedures of the new metallic and composite tanks based on ABS Rules and ASME Section X for Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, as well as he assisted the engineering team with the issuance of the New Technology Qualification of NH3CRAFT project.

How ABS is Powering NH3CRAFT’s Success

[WP2 Demonstration Implementation plan and evaluation criteria]-ABS has contributed by providing feedback on the establishment of the boundaries on the storage technology demonstrator as well as in the development of the concept design of the demonstrator.
[WP3 Engineering design process for the tank storage systems] and [WP4 Engineering design process for the auxiliary systems] – ABS has reviewed drawings and documentation from the designers of the demonstration vessel tank storage systems and auxiliary systems in accordance with the ABS Rules and Requirements, and relevant international regulations towards the issuance of a New Technology Qualification Statement.
[WP5 digital integration and virtual demonstration] – ABS has contributed to the development of the design tool in the form of a software system.
[ WP6 assembly, installation and functionality testing of system] – ABS surveyors have witnessed all the relevant testing activities in accordance with the applicable Rules, Requirements and Regulations. In addition, they will also witness the testing activities during the demonstration phase.
[WP7 Safety & Risk assessment] – ABS was actively engaged in the safety risk assessment of the demonstrator and is preparing a report summarizing information that can be used for the development of safety assessment guidelines for ammonia. The document is developed after taking into consideration available rules, regulations, engineering procedures and industry standards as well as lessons learnt from the engineering studies of the NH3CRAFT project, focusing on identifying risks and providing recommendations for the safe design and use of ammonia as marine fuel.
[WP8 Assessment of operational and modularity characteristics] – ABS has been involved in assessing various ammonia bunkering concepts and procedures, considering inputs from related tasks and safety evaluations. ABS contributed by providing feedback on the guidelines for selecting the best concept based on ship and port characteristics, and to define safety zones, necessary equipment, and safe bunkering procedures.
[WP9 Development of pertinent Technical Rules] – ABS is the leader of this Work Package, which includes the issuance of a New Technology Qualification Statement of Maturity for the developed technologies. Furthermore, ABS will review the differences in the developed technologies pertaining to their application in different vessel types, for the desktop studies. In this Work Package ABS also leads the development of proposals on pertinent technical rules, establishing specific goals and functional requirements to promote the safe and efficient use of Ammonia as a fuel.
[WP11 Dissemination, Exploitation and communication] – ABS has played a significant role in the dissemination and communication activities, including presenting the project to various events, contributions to the website, the poster, the banner, and relevant posts shared across communication platforms.

NH3CRAFT is a Co-funded by the European Commission Project. UK participation in NH3CRAFT Project is funded by UK Research and Innovation(UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe guarantee [grant numbers 10038548 and 10037828].