(HOUSTON) ABS has issued an approval in principle (AIP) to Light Structures for its new hull monitoring concept, ARGUS-VM.
The ARGUS-VM concept
The ARGUS-VM concept received a SMART (SHM) Tier 1 AIP from ABS, which provides an industry recognition that the product complies with the functional and system requirements listed in the ABS Guide for Smart Functions for Marine Vessels and Offshore Units.
Virtual measurements of hull responses using vessel data
Unlike traditional hull monitoring systems that require physical strain sensors, ARGUS-VM provides virtual measurements of hull responses using vessel data from existing onboard systems. This makes it a scalable alternative for a wider range of shipowners and shipbuilders looking to monitor structural performance without additional onboard instrumentation.
AIP for Light Structures
“Our AIP for Light Structures is a continuation of the ABS activities to approve in principle new technologies that provide informed and actionable insights to vessel owners and operators on the structural health condition of their vessels. These insights, underpinned by real operational data, provide crew and support personnel with key information to aid in decision making,” said Gareth Burton, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Engineering.
A SMART (SHM) Tier 1
“We are proud to be the first company to receive a SMART (SHM) Tier 1 approval in principle from ABS, which validates the core concept behind ARGUS-VM,” said Niklas Hallgren, CEO of Light Structures. “This recognition affirms our role as pioneers in the field of structural health monitoring and reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of what SHM can offer.
A powerful and scalable entry point for owners
ARGUS-VM demonstrates that reliable structural health indicators can be derived through software-based approaches that leverage existing vessel operational data. While sensorless systems like ARGUS-VM do not deliver the high-fidelity insight of fully sensor-equipped SHM solutions, they provide a powerful and scalable entry point for owners to integrate structural health awareness into their operations, and a natural step toward deeper structural insights provided by sensor-driven implementations.”
The ABS Guide
The ABS Guide for Smart Functions for Marine Vessels and Offshore Units, which can be found here, provides guidance to the industry on the effective implementation of smart functions on vessels.
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Photo Caption (L to R): Leile Froufe, ABS Vice President, Engineering, presented an ABS AIP certificate to Niklas Hallgren, CEO of Light Structures, at the 2025 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas.
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 excellenchttps://ww2.eagle.org/en.htmlhttps://ww2.eagle.org/en.htmle 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,
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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.
