Offshore staff
HOUSTON –ABS has completed the Rowan Resolute ultra-deepwater drillship, making it the second high-specification drillship to be equipped with Integrated Software Quality Management (ISQM) notation. This newbuild was constructed in the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) yard in Ulsan, South Korea.
"Reliance on computer-controlled systems has increased and verifying software programs - including their integration - is vital to safe and efficient operations," said ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. "ABS identified software verification and integration as construction issues several years ago and developed ISQM to address these problems so the time to first production could be reduced."
ISQM, representing a change in focus for classification societies that previously focused on the physical assets, is the first proven approach to providing a clear process for minimizing software-related risk throughout the life of an asset, the company stated.
"No other class society has classed the drilling equipment and other essential marine equipment with a software notation that addresses software quality during construction, at delivery and into operations," said Paul Walters, ABS manager.
Rowan stated it is pleased with the ABS ISQM process and has seen the results in the commissioning of the first ISQM drillship,Rowan Renaissance, which began operations in late April.
"Following ISQM with the construction of theRowan Renaissancepaved the way so that the second drillship, Rowan Resolute, went even more smoothly," said Greg Lanier, Rowan software quality manager. "Rowan was ahead of the pack in testing this approach and has seen very favorable results, which we expect to be passed on to our customers."
HHI plans to follow the ISQM process in the construction of the remaining two drillships in the four-unit series.
08/26/2014
