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ing and documenting the credibility of these solutions.How is AI being used to predict structural, machinery, and safety risks before they turn into incidents, and how reliable are these models today?The marine industry has a strong foundation: decades of experience in the physics that govern structural integrity, machinery performance, and safety. AI is not replacing this knowledge, but is integrating with physics-based understanding to create hybrid approaches that better reflect how assets behave in real-world operation and reduce different sources of uncertainty.The reliability of these models is highly use-case dependent. A model that is credible for one decision may not be appropriate for another. Data quality, both in training and in operation, is critical, which is why ABS has issued the %u201cAdvisory on Data Quality for Marine and Offshore Applications %u2013 Time Series Data%u201d. Other factors, such as explainability, operational robustness, and usability also play a significant role in determining the level of trust placed in these systems. To what extent will real-time ship data affect physical inspections in terms of ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations?Real-time and near real-time ship data will not eliminate physical inspections, but they are already making them more targeted, efficient and effective, which is why ABS is actively moving in that direction. The most significant impact comes from digitally integrating operational and maintenance data into the survey process, so that compliance checks are better informed and less intrusive for the vessel.A practical example is the ABS Preventive Maintenance Program (PMP), including the PMP-MS and PMP-DG notations, which recognise owners who digitally integrate their Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) with ABS. By sharing maintenance records directly with the classification society, much of the review can be conducted in advance or in parallel with operations, streamlining the survey and allowing surveyors to focus on the physical verification of higher-risk areas.ABS has also implemented a Condition-Based Program with US government clients that uses operational data, such as structural sensor readings and machinery maintenance reports, to plan availability periods and prioritise survey activities. This data-driven approach helps identify where risk is greatest and supports more transparent, collaborative survey planning between ABS and the operator.As vessels become increasingly connected and software-driven, how is cyber risk being incorporated into class guides and risk assessments?As vessels become increasingly connected and more reliant on software and operational technology (OT), cybersecurity is being treated as a core safety consideration. At ABS, cyber risk is addressed as part of our mission to promote the safety of life, property, and the natural environment. Rather than being handled solely as an IT concern, cybersecurity is integrated into vessel design, system architecture, and lifecycle risk management.ABS has developed a comprehensive CyberSafety framework and associated notation suite that provides guidance to shipowners, shipyards, equipment manufacturers, and software providers on how to design and operate cyber-resilient systems. Key publications include guides for %u201cCybersecurity Implementation for the Marine and Offshore Industries%u201d, %u201cSoftware Systems Verification%u201d, %u201cSoftware Provider Conformity%u201d, and %u201cCybersecurity for Equipment Manufacturers%u201d.These guides support the secure design and operation of both IT and OT environments, addressing areas such as system architecture, network segmentation, secure remote access, software assurance, and lifecycle cybersecurity management for safety-critical shipboard systems.ABS is also actively involved in the development and implementation of mandatory maritime cybersecurity requirements, including the IACS Unified Requirements E26 and E27, and engages with emerging regulatory initiatives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the US Coast Guard.To support operators of existing vessels, ABS has introduced the Cyber Resilience %u2013 Existing Vessel (CR-Ex) notation. CR-Ex provides a structured pathway for As vessels become increasingly connected and more reliant on software and operational technology (OT), cybersecurity is being treated as a core safety consideration. May 2026 197