ABS grants approval in principle for offshore rocket recovery platform design

Photo Caption: Attendees gather at an ABS Approval in Principle (AIP) certificate ceremony during the 2026 Sea Japan International Maritime Exhibition and Conference. Pictured holding ABS AIP certificates (L to R): Kojiro Hatada, President and CEO, Innovative Space Carrier Inc. (ISC); Hiroyuki Kakehashi, Associate Executive Officer, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL); and Kenichi Shibata, President and Representative Director, TSUNEISHI SOLUTIONS TOKYOBAY Co., Ltd. (T-SOL). Also pictured: Timoteo Badalotti, ABS Principal Engineer, Global Sustainability (second from left); and Makoto Oba, ABS Director, Japan Business Development (third from right).
Photo Caption: Attendees gather at an ABS Approval in Principle (AIP) certificate ceremony during the 2026 Sea Japan International Maritime Exhibition and Conference. Pictured holding ABS AIP certificates (L to R): Kojiro Hatada, President and CEO, Innovative Space Carrier Inc. (ISC); Hiroyuki Kakehashi, Associate Executive Officer, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL); and Kenichi Shibata, President and Representative Director, TSUNEISHI SOLUTIONS TOKYOBAY Co., Ltd. (T-SOL). Also pictured: Timoteo Badalotti, ABS Principal Engineer, Global Sustainability (second from left); and Makoto Oba, ABS Director, Japan Business Development (third from right).

ABS has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) for a new offshore rocket recovery platform. The design was developed by Innovative Space Carrier (ISC), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and TSUNEISHI SOLUTIONS TOKYOBAY (T-SOL).

The approval covers an unmanned, autonomous barge. It also includes the full recovery system, with a support vessel and a land-based control station.

The platform will support the recovery of reusable rockets at sea. It aims to reduce costs and improve safety. Offshore recovery lowers overflight risks. Autonomous operations reduce the need for onboard personnel.

ABS reviewed the design under its offshore spaceport requirements.

“ABS is proud to be at the forefront of shaping the infrastructure that makes offshore space operations possible,” said Matthew Tremblay, Senior Vice President, Global Offshore at ABS. “We are honored to collaborate with ISC, MOL and T-SOL to support this emerging sector.”

ABS continues to play a key role in offshore space development. It introduced industry requirements for offshore spaceports in 2023 and supports projects focused on autonomous recovery systems.