Digital twins have captured the maritime industry’s attention amid the global journey toward digitalization and decarbonization. However, confusion remains about what exactly a digital twin is, what it isn’t and how it can be used.

On this episode of Setting Course, an ABS Podcast, Eric VanDerHorn, ABS Technology Manager, joins host John Snyder, Managing Editor of Riviera Maritime Media, to discuss digital twins and the potential benefits for the maritime industry.

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Key Points

• Digital twins are a hot topic in the maritime industry, with over 20,000 publications mentioning them in 2023 alone.
• The concept of a digital twin can be traced back to the use of physical twins throughout history to better understand the real world.
• Building a digital twin involves integrating various data sources and models, but there is no grand unified model yet.
• Digital twins offer potential advantages in areas such as diagnostics, predictive maintenance, performance optimization and training.
• Digital twins can also be used to support decision making in the decarbonization journey of shipowners and operators.

Guest

Eric VanDerHorn is a Technology Manager for ABS. He supports digital transformation in the maritime industry by developing and qualifying cutting-edge technologies such as digital twins, smart functions, structural health monitoring, asset integrity management, predictive analytics, and condition-based Class programs. Eric holds a bachelor’s and master’s in mechanical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and a doctorate in civil engineering with a focus on uncertainty quantification from Vanderbilt University.