By
Alex Smith |
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has signed two separate agreements at Seatrade Cruise Global 2026 in Miami with United Waterways and Alfred Maritime covering crew training and technical collaboration in the cruise and inland shipping sectors.
ABS and United Waterways have signed a letter of intent to establish a joint venture with River Academy, United Waterways’ training and education subsidiary, to support crew competence and qualification across the European inland barge, river cruise and coastal vessel sectors.
The collaboration is intended to support workforce readiness as European operators respond to evolving safety and decarbonisation requirements across cruise, freight and ferry operations. Training programmes will align with regional and national standards and focus on maintaining consistent competence management for inland navigation crews.
The initiative responds to demand for licensed navigation officers across a global fleet of more than 16,000 vessels. A key element is the ‘ocean to river’ programme, launched in 2025, which enables oceangoing officers to transition to river vessels. The two-year training pathway is designed to prepare officers to assume captain roles on river ships and expand the available talent pool.
“River Academy has earned a strong reputation for developing the skilled crews that this industry depends on, and we are proud to work together with United Waterways to build on that legacy,” said Campbell Smith, senior vice president of training solutions at ABS. “This partnership positions ABS as a premier provider of maritime training in the European inland industry and reflects our enduring commitment to safety, serving as a trusted advisor to the maritime community.”
“United Waterways has long recognised that crew competence is fundamental to operational excellence in the European river and inland cruising sector,” said Ivan Winterhalder, managing director of River Academy. “With River Academy’s proven training capabilities and ABS’s leadership in maritime safety and performance, this joint venture is well positioned to serve the inland cruising industry and help meet the growing demand for qualified crews.”
ABS has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Alfred Maritime to explore technical collaboration across cruise operations.
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in three areas: fleet performance and health monitoring, maintenance optimisation, and safety and emergency systems. The collaboration combines Alfred Maritime’s fleet performance expertise with ABS’s classification and safety services, with the aim of improving operational efficiency and supporting regulatory compliance.
“ABS is committed to helping shape the future of cruise vessel safety, reliability and performance,” said Joshua Divin, senior vice president of marine business development at ABS. “We are pleased to join Alfred Maritime in this agreement to work together to advance the next generation of cruise vessel operations.”
“The partnership with ABS allows us to unlock powerful synergies that will drive operational excellence and safety for the cruise sector,” said Dr. Paul Meyer, managing director of Alfred Maritime. “By combining our collective expertise, we are accelerating our shared vision for innovation and advancing our digital solution portfolio for the maritime industry.”