Classification societies can help to remove barriers, speed up the process, and assist stakeholders make the most of the new landscape, IACS Chairman and chairman DNV GL - Maritime, Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, said at DNV GL’s press conference at Marintec China.
“One of the major contributions of class in current times of transformation is to bring familiar assurance processes to new and unfamiliar technologies,” said Ørbeck-Nilssen. “This will help to ensure a quick uptake and smoother implementation of new technologies which can enhance safety and increase efficiency.”
He said that IACS was working to adapt regulations to new needs and remove regulatory barriers. “An effective regulation is one that rewards early adopters. At the moment, it could be argued that those who adopt last get the best financial return. Instead, let us embrace the opportunities which arise from the digital transformation and be proactive in addressing challenges,”
Ship systems are becoming ever more complex and increasingly controlled by software. “This is leading to new risks, like hacking and cyber crime. Accordingly, the role of class would expand into new verification fields, eg cyber safety, assurance of data quality, and sensor-equipped cyber-physical systems,” said Ørbeck-Nilssen. “Even so, the methods and processes might change but the purpose of classification remains the same: ensuring safe operations at sea while protecting life, property and the environment.”
At the conference, Ørbeck-Nilssen also announced that from January, 2018, Norbert Kray, currently area manager for Japan, will move to become the new regional manager for Greater China.
The current head of the region, Torgeir Sterri, will become the regional manager of Western Europe, covering Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Benelux, and the UK and Ireland.
Kray outlined some of the new digital initiatives from DNV GL. One of the most significant was the rollout of electronic certificates across the DNV GL fleet. “Just six weeks after the rollout, over 25,000 electronic certificates have been issued for more than 3,000 vessels in operation, including many class entries and newbuilds, and this number is growing rapidly every day,” he noted.
In addition, new digital services such as the smart survey booking tool, the machine-learning enhanced DATE (direct access to technical experts) service, drone surveys, and the Veracity open data platform were all improving the efficiency of DNV GL’s core services. “This is part of our drive to be recognised as the most customer centric classification society,” said Kray, “and I look forward to working with customers and stakeholders in China to help them find new efficiencies.”
At Marintec, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC) received Approval in Principle (AiP) certificates from DNV GL for a new shuttle tanker and a crane unit.
Sterri, who presented the AIP certificates to the shipyard, said. “We are pleased and proud to be able to further strengthen our co-operation with DSIC with the presentation of these AiPs, in particular to help them introduce a new design in the promising shuttle tanker segment.”
In response to market indicators signalling an upturn in the shuttle tanker market, DSIC has developed a new 127,000 dwt shuttle tanker design for operation in the North Sea and on the Norwegian Continent Shelf. The design features DP2 capacity and a twin propulsion system, and is already in compliance with EEDI Phase 3 regulations.
Prior to the start of the AiP project, DNV GL’s leading expert on shuttle tankers, Olav Tveit, was invited to conduct a two-day shuttle tanker workshop at DSIC. “DNV GL class has the biggest share of the global shuttle tanker market, in particular for those operating in the North Atlantic,” he said. “DSIC is one of DNV GL’s key customers in China, and we are very pleased to support them in this segment.”