l to r: Torgeir Sterri, DNV GL Vice President and Regional Manager in Greater China, Tao Ying, Technical Director of SWS, Shi Yongxin, Deputy General Manager of COSCON’s Safety & Technology Management Division, and Xu Li, Vice President of CCS’ Shanghai Branch, signed a newbuilding classification agreement at Marintec China.

Shanghai, 2 December 2015. DNV GL signed a newbuilding classification agreement with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS) for the classification of three 20,000 TEU ultra large container ships (ULCS) for COSCO Container Lines Co., Ltd. (COSCON). Scheduled for delivery beginning in January 2018, the vessels will be dual classed by DNV GL and China Classification Society (CCS) and will be deployed in the Far East–Europe trade.

“This contract is another milestone in China’s evolution into one of the world’s leading shipbuilding nations,” said Jan-Olaf Probst, Head of Business Development Hamburg. “SWS has been on a very strong development path and has consistently been one of the top Chinese yards in terms of efficiency and innovation, so it is only fitting that they are the first yard to top the 20,000 TEU mark in China. We are very proud that SWS have recognized our unmatched expertise in the boxship sector by awarding us this contract, and look forward to supporting them through to a successful delivery.”

Designed by the Marine Design & Research Institute of China (MARIC), this next generation ULCS represents the first 20,000 TEU plus container ship contracted to be built in China. Developed around the concept of “safe, green and economic”, the design also takes into consideration COSCON’s operational requirements with a focus on efficiencies in both fuel consumption and cargo load.

The vessels will have DNV GL’s Gas Ready notation, which will give COSCON a much easier pathway for a future conversion to operation with LNG as fuel if so desired. They will also have DNV GL’s Route Specific Container Stowage (RSCS) notation, which offers further efficiency gains in the vessel’s cargo capacity. The RSCS notation was developed by DNV GL to provide an even more efficient usage of cargo capacity by giving more flexibility for laden containers on board on specific routes. Additionally, the vessels will be constructed to the highest environmental requirements, meeting the highest EEDI standard and ECA requirements. They also have double-hull protection of fuel tanks and ballast water treatment systems in anticipation of upcoming regulations.

DNV GL will provide comprehensive multidiscipline advisory services to the customers, leveraging DNV GL’s long experience in the analysis and verification of container ships. Together with the customers they will work to realize an optimized and advanced design with high operational reliability in terms of motion, global strength, whipping and springing, noise & vibration and the shafting system.

About SWS

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS), founded in 1999, is a wholly owned subsidiary of China CSSC Holding Ltd. The shipyard covers an area of five million square meters with waterfronts of four kilometers in total. Its shipbuilding capacity has topped the list among domestic shipbuilding enterprises for ten consecutive years since 2005. SWS has a workforce of some 24,000 employees. For more information visit www.chinasws.com

About DNV GL

Driven by its purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. Operating in more than 100 countries, the company’s 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping their customers in the maritime, oil & gas, energy and other industries to make the world safer, smarter and greener. For more information visitwww.dnvgl.com/maritime

A general view from the event’s launching

RINA Hellas, the Greece-based arm of the international RINA Group, is opening a dedicated research and innovation centre in Piraeus. RINA’s R&D/Innovation Centre will boost the research and innovation activities of RINA worldwide and will explore further research opportunities in Greece and Cyprus, in close cooperation with the EU and the strong maritime community in the region. 

Initially the RINA Hellas R&D/Innovation Centre is participating in an EC research proposal under the HORIZON 2020 scheme. This proposal brings together an international consortium to develop models and tools for the holistic optimization of ships’ life cycles.

Spyros Zolotas, RINA Area Manager for Greece and Cyprus, says, “RINA is committed to providing high quality services and to being in the forefront of technological developments so as to assist its clients perform better in today’s competitive market. The R&D/Innovation Centre in Piraeus will add a new higher dimension and extend the range of services offered in the area though the Piraeus Marine, the Plan Approval Centre, the Marine Technical Support Centre, the Yachting Centre and RINA Academy Hellas.”

Mr. Stefanos Chatzinikolaou, RINA – Mr. Spyridon Zolotas, RINA – Mr. Mario Dogliani, RINA – Mrs. Caterina Cerrini, Ib software & consulting

Stefanos Chatzinikolaou has been appointed to lead the Centre. He is a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer, with a background of ten years as a research engineer at the National Technical University of Athens, working in several EC funded and other research projects.

RINA Services is already active in R&D and will present the AnNa Project, a current EU project, in Athens on 4-5 December 2015.

Mario Dogliani, Manager of RINA Connecting Europe Facilities (CEF) Projects, says, “AnNa (Advanced National Networks for Administrations) is a TEN-T Multi-Annual Programme co-financed by the European Commission. Its overall objective is the adoption of the national Maritime Single Window and electronic data transmission for the fulfilment of reporting requirements for vessels entering and departing European ports in accordance with EC Directive 2010/65/EU.”

RINA Services is the RINA group company which delivers ship classification, and testing, inspection and certification services. RINA is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, marine classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Construction, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With a turnover of over 330 million Euros in 2014, over 2,750 employees, and 163 offices in 60 countries worldwide, RINA is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org

Brad Etheridge, Senior Engineer, DNV GL – Oil & Gas.

Pipeline development projects are becoming increasingly complex, spanning longer and deeper terrains. Pipelines must operate at higher pressures and temperatures, in harsher environments and to stricter regulatory requirements. Projects must also be feasible in a cost-constrained market.  DNV GL is inviting industry players to take part in two Joint Industry Projects (JIP) to help the industry work more efficiently while maintaining safety.

The first JIP will reduce uncertainty in tensile testing results and the associated costs of inaccuracies and delays, while the second will help operators save time and money in adapting to new industry requirements.

Gaining confidence in tensile testing results
Inaccurate yield strength measurements can have significant negative implications for a pipeline project, ranging from schedule disruptions and commercial disputes to unanticipated costs and potential regulatory challenges. Current industry standards allow a wide range of tensile testing parameters, creating variability and uncertainty in the test results.

The Standardization of Flattened-strap Tensile Testing of Line Pipe JIP will investigate different tensile testing variables that affect results, including material properties, sample flattening and preparation practices, testing equipment and testing procedures. The objective is to establish testing parameters and procedures to reduce the variability in yield strength results for large diameter line pipe.  The results will be applicable to both onshore and offshore pipelines.

“The project will ensure that the tensile testing results are both more reproduceable and indicative of line pipe performance. It will reduce the uncertainty of the results and give pipeline operating companies the confidence they need when purchasing new line pipe as well as during the testing and analysis of existing pipe, ultimately saving time and cost,” says Melissa Gould, Senior Engineer, DNV GL – Oil & Gas.

The JIP will be carried out in conjunction with recognized parties such as the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) and the former chair of the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Committee E28, Earl Ruth. The project is expected to last for 18 months and the results will be suitable for incorporation into standards and recommended practices, as applicable.

Standardized approach to meet new requirements for girth weld repairs
The offshore and onshore pipeline industry is adapting to the updated requirements for repair welding in the Twenty-First Edition of the well-known API Standard 1104, “Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities”.  The updates place more requirements on the qualification of repair welding procedures and welders.

The JIP on the Development of Industry Best Practice for Girth Weld Repairs will, in cooperation with pipeline engineering specialists Kiefner/Applus RTD, address the technical aspects of girth weld repairs and the practical aspects of repair welder qualification during the construction of new pipelines. The project is expected to be concluded within 18 months and will result in procedures and guidelines to help the industry meet the new API 1104 requirements.

“Repair welds are often made under more challenging conditions than production welds, which can potentially reduce the quality of the completed welds,” says Brad Etheridge, Senior Engineer, DNV GL – Oil & Gas. “The project fulfils an industry need to meet new requirements and has the potential to reduce cost and complexity, increase safety and reliability, and deliver better quality pipelines.”

Read more about the JIPs here:
Standardization of Flattened-strap Tensile Testing of Line Pipe
For more information, please contact:
Project Manager: Melissa Gould
Senior Engineer, Welding Technology
DNV GL – Oil & Gas
Tel: +1 281 396 1855
E-mail: Melissa.Gould@dnvgl.com

Development of Industry Best Practice for Girth Weld Repairs
For more information, please contact:
Project Manager: Brad Etheridge
Senior Engineer, Welding Technology
DNV GL – Oil & Gas
Tel: +1 614 761 6996
E-mail: Brad.Etheridge@dnvgl.com

About DNV GL
As of 12 September 2013, DNV and GL have merged to form DNV GL. Driven by our purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. We provide classification and technical assurance along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas and energy industries. We also provide certification services to customers across a wide range of industries. With our origins stretching back to 1864, our reach today is global. Operating in more than 100 countries, our 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping our customers make the world safer, smarter and greener.

About DNV GL – Oil & Gas
In the oil and gas industry, GL Noble Denton and DNV’s Oil & Gas business have joined forces to enable safe, reliable and enhanced performance in projects and operations. We provide a broad range of services, such as technical assurance; marine assurance and advisory; risk management advisory and offshore classification. Our 4 000 employees combine industry expertise, multidisciplinary skills and innovation to solve complex challenges for our customers. Together with our partners, we drive the industry forward by developing best practices and standards across the asset lifecycle.

At Marintec China trade fair, Hempel and DNV GL signed an agreement to cooperate for measurable fleet performance improvement (left to right): Claes Skat Roerdam, Fouling Control Marketing Manager at Hempel, Christian Ottosen, Group Vice President Marine Marketing at Hempel, Tor E. Svensen, DNV GL Group Executive Vice President, and Vincent Li, General Manager Maritime Advisory Greater China at DNV GL

Shanghai, 2 December 2015. To reap the benefits of any efficiency improvements, reliable measurement and analytics are essential, both to set baselines and to calculate returns. Today, at Marintec China trade fair, Hempel and DNV GL signed a cooperation agreement to work together to bring customers clear, comprehensible and verifiable analytics to track and assess hull and propeller performance, for reduced fuel costs and a smaller environmental impact.  

“We are very pleased to be able to work with Hempel to bring their customers ECO Insight’s state of the art hull degradation analytics,” said Torsten Büssow, Head of Fleet Performance Management at DNV GL. “This data will not only give their customers transparent and verified data with only a few simple measurement inputs. It will also give Hempel access to advanced analytics for the further optimization of their coatings. We’ve already seen the benefits our customers have gained from having real fleet performance analytics easily available – especially in the area of hull and propeller performance – and we’d like to welcome Hempel customers to the ECO Insight family.”

The potential for improvements in hull and propeller performance on the energy efficiency of vessels is significant, with estimates of potential savings in the range of ten per cent in terms of fuel and greenhouse gas emissions savings. ECO Insight can offer better performance baselines and demonstrate a more explicit relationship between hull and propeller performance and the actual fuel consumed. This allows customers who have invested in Hempel’s high quality coatings the ability to better quantify the value of their investment.

“At Hempel we place great importance in being close to our customers and providing the best individual service. With the data analysed by DNV GL, we will be able to optimize our customers’ fuel performance, improving hull performance matching specifications precisely to individual needs and trade, dry dock intervals and technical service in dock. This will benefit our customers and support their businesses being more efficient in their operations. So far, we have been very pleased to cooperate with DNV GL, and we look forward to working even closer with their staff from now on,” said Christian Ottosen, Group Vice President Marine Marketing, Hempel.

With one of the most sophisticated analysis methodologies for hull and propeller performance on the market, ECO Insight uses advanced normalization algorithms to increase the accuracy of its analysis and is able to benchmark a vessel’s performance relative to other similar vessels. Additionally, by tapping into additional ship specific data (beyond what is used to calculate performance) ECO Insight’s analytics can be used to further customize paint specifications up front and to proactively manage performance once the ship enters service.

About Hempel

Hempel is a world-leading coatings supplier for the decorative, protective, marine, container and yacht markets. From wind turbines and bridges to hospitals, ships, power stations and homes, our coatings protect man-made structures from the corrosive forces of nature. We offer a full range of protective coatings and technical service to customers in the industries. For more information, please visitwww.hempel.com or e-mail to Communications@hempel.com

About DNV GL

Driven by its purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. Operating in more than 100 countries, the company’s 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping their customers in the maritime, oil & gas, energy and other industries to make the world safer, smarter and greener. For more information, please visit www.dnvgl.com/maritime

Fly Bag test (Photo credit D’Appolonia)

Italy-based D’Appolonia, the engineering arm of the RINA group, has developed and patented a bomb-proof bag which will improve aircraft safety.

Fly-Bag is a flexible bomb-proof container which airlines can use to contain luggage and cargo in the holds of passenger planes. The innovative fabric of the bag contains the blast and stops it from destroying the aircraft structure.

Roberto Carpaneto, CEO, D’Appolonia, says, “This new generation fabric container marks a turning point in aviation safety. It is light and flexible enough to be used on all aircraft and full scale tests have proven that it will protect aircraft and passengers from explosions caused by any explosives hidden in the baggage.”

The Fly-Bag comes in different sizes all made from fabrics and compounds resistant to the major dynamic and thermal impacts generated by an explosion. Unlike a rigid blast-proof container it weighs very little and is flexible for confined spaces making it ideal for use in aircraft where weight and space are crucial. It works by absorbing the shock wave from the explosion through a mechanism controlling the deformation of the multilayer fabric with which it is made. The Fly Bag has several layers each with a specific function: fragment retention, absorption of shock wave and fire-resistance.

The Fly Bag has been produced as a prototype in three versions:

• for holds in narrow-body aircraft (Airbus A320 type, normally used for regional flights),
• for baggage containers, normally in aluminium, used in large-body aircraft (Boeing 747 type, used for intercontinental flights),
• for small explosive materials which may be found in the passenger cabin.

The system is covered by an international patent and is certified by EASA, the European Aviation Safety Agency.

See a full scale test on this You Tube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sp7eod9ML4

SHANGHAI, China (December 1, 2015) – GE Marine and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) announce it has obtained Lloyd’s Register’s (LR) Approval in Principle (AiP) for the jointly developed gas turbine-powered LNG carrier design, the two companies announced today at the Marintec China 2015 trade show.

“With the AiP in hand, customers can feel confident in procuring a COGES-powered LNG carrier through DSIC, said Brien Bolsinger, Vice President, Marine Operations, GE Marine, Evendale, Ohio. “Operational benefits of gas turbines to naval architects, owners and operators include high power in a compact package and design flexibility. The gas turbine is so lightweight — fully 80% lighter and 30% smaller than comparable slow-speed diesel applications – that it can be located anywhere on the ship,” Bolsinger added.

The LNG carrier design allows room for more cargo — some 4,000 m³ of additional space in the same size hull – along with low emissions and the flexibility to operate on LNG or liquid fuel. The LNG carrier will be built around a GE gas turbine-based COGES (COmbined Gas turbine, Electric and Steam) system that will feature one 25-megawatt gas turbine, one steam turbine generator-set and a heat recovery system including gas combustion unit.

The carrier will allow for flexible configuration of prime movers and a total installed power of more than 50 MW, if required. The GE gas turbines can be equipped with a GE Dry Low Emissions (DLE) or single annular combustion system — both capable of meeting Tier III IMO/Tier IV United States Environmental Protection Agency requirements now with no exhaust treatment and no methane slip.

Lloyd’s Register spearheaded and completed a preliminary hazard identification (HAZID) and hazard and operability (HAZOP) study and a COGES Operation Modes evaluation.  Commenting, Lloyd’s Register’s Global Special Projects Manager Thanos Koliopulos said, “This study delved into the carrier’s power station configuration, hazardous areas, structural integrity, safe separation, pipe routing and ventilation. The studies will help mature the design and minimize risk for the COGES LNG carrier system. Meanwhile, we evaluated technical risks including the gas combustion unit and compressors with the equipment makers to ensure safety and operability”.

Additional Gas Turbine Benefits

×          More than 90 GE marine gas turbines have been delivered for 17 cruise ships, 19 fast ferries, eight fast cargo ships and five high-speed yachts in various propulsion configurations.

×          GE marine gas turbines are highly reliable; most recent third-party field data show the GE 25 MW industrial gas turbines operating with a better than 99% reliability level.

×          GE gas turbines can operate on various fuels including LNG, Marine Gas Oil (MGO), biodiesel, bio-synthetic paraffinic kerosene blends and natural gas. Fuel flexibility is even more beneficial today as commercial ship operators adopt dual-fuel operating scenarios to meet new emissions regulations. No liquid pilot fuel is required and GE gas turbines can seamlessly respond to rapidly changing load demands in either mode of operation with no methane slip.

×          Marine turbines generate very low NO_X emissions when compared to traditional diesels. With the optional dual fuel Dry Low Emissions (DLE) combustion technology, GE gas turbines in a combined cycle operation meet IMO Tier III and United States Environmental Protection Agency Tier IV today burning either (MGO or natural gas fuels). To date, GE has manufactured 880 DLE systems for its industrial aeroderivative gas turbine fleet, accumulating a total of 19 million operating hours.

×          GE follows an “on condition” maintenance philosophy, so a gas turbine overhaul is not time-limited, but arranged when necessary as revealed during a regularly scheduled inspection. GE offers comprehensive field and depot level repair services including the popular lease engine program for coverage during maintenance operations; engines can be swapped-out within 24 to 48 hours. A COGES system needs a mere 300-man-hours per year for routine operator maintenance, requiring less from an operator’s crew.

GE Marine, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of marine solutions, systems and services, including aeroderivative gas turbines ranging from 6,000 to 70,275 shaft horsepower/4.5 MW to 52 MW. For more information, visit ge.com/marine.

Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. Ltd. was established in 1898. She is the biggest shipbuilding yard with the most comprehensive range of products in China. Main businesses including shipbuilding, offshore engineering and construction, ship repair conversion recycling and heavy industry.

Lloyd’s Register provides independent assurance to companies operating high-risk, capital-intensive assets in the marine, energy and transportation sectors. We enhance the safety of life, property and the environment by helping our clients to ensure the quality construction and operation of critical infrastructure. 

Speech addresses food systems resilience link to climate change

LRQA, the world’s leading provider of professional assurance services, took centre stage during one of the COP21 Paris Climate Change Conference’s keynote sessions. Vincent Doumeizel, Strategic Marketing Manager and the LRQA representative at COP21, addressed the conference on the importance of food safety resilience and built on the work that the Lloyd’s Register Foundation started during an April 2015 workshop held at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey.

Following the keynote session, Doumeizel commented on the importance of food safety and ensuring a sustainable global food supply chain, “The footprint of the global food supply chain has a direct impact on climate change, with water conservation, food security and the transportation of foodstuffs around the world all front and centre for global food manufacturing, production and retail organisations. We are increasingly seeing our clients making a direct link between climate change, corporate social responsibility and their financial bottom line.”

The April 2015 Lloyd’s Register Foundation workshop featured participants from more than 12 countries over five continents, fostering discussions on the emerging field of resilience engineering, and to exploring how the Lloyd’s Register Foundation might make a distinctive contribution to the field. Experts came from a wide range of infrastructure sectors including healthcare, transport, food and water and brought perspectives from industry, government, city and regional-scale planning, and from academia.

Based on the April workshop and subsequent consultations, in October 2015 the Lloyd’s Register Foundation published a foresight review that explores how resilience engineering could enhance the safety of life and property through the improved resilience of engineered structures, systems, organisations and communities around the world. The report can be downloaded at http://www.lrfoundation.org.uk/publications/resilience-engineering.aspx.

COP 21 – also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference is, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aiming to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C. The conference runs from 30 November - 11December 2015. COP21 is expected to attract 147 of the world’s leaders, close to 50,000 participants including 25,000 official delegates from government, intergovernmental organisations, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society.

The Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity established in 2012, funds the advancement of engineering-related education and research and supports work that enhances safety of life at sea, on land and in the air. The Foundation is funded partly by the profits of their trading arm, the Lloyd’s Register Group Limited (LR), a global engineering, technical and business services organisation. LRQA is a member of the LR group.

About LRQA
LRQA is a member of the Lloyd’s Register group. LRQA is a leading independent provider of assurance services including assessment, certification, validation, verification and training across a broad spectrum of standards and schemes.

About Lloyd’s Register
Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global engineering, technical and business services organisation wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and engineering. Founded in 1760 as a marine classification society, LR now operates across many industry sectors, with over 9000 employees in 78 countries.

Lloyd’s Register has a long-standing reputation for integrity, impartiality and technical excellence. Our compliance, risk and technical consultancy services give clients confidence that their assets and businesses are safe, sustainable and dependable. Through its global technology centres and research network, Lloyd’s Register is at the forefront of understanding the application of new science and technology to future-proof its clients’ businesses.

About the Lloyd’s Register Foundation

The Lloyd’s Register Foundation is a UK charity, established in 2012, which funds the advancement of engineering-related education and research and supports work that enhances safety of life and property. It is funded partly by the profits of its trading arm, Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, a global engineering, technical and business services organisation.

Its vision is to be known worldwide as a leading supporter of engineering-related research, training and education that makes a real difference in improving the safety of the critical infrastructure on which modern society relies.  In support of this, it promotes scientific excellence and acts as a catalyst working with others to achieve maximum impact.

The Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s strategy for 2014-2020 focuses funding on four strategic themes: promoting safety and public understanding of risk; advancing skills and education; supporting excellent scientific research; and accelerating the application of research. Four research themes have been prioritised: structural integrity and systems performance; resilience engineering; human and social factors; and emergent technologies. See more at:www.lrfoundation.org.uk/strategy

www.lrfoundation.org.uk

The safety of the seafarer and the maritime environment begins with good design, followed by sound construction and efficient operation. Naval architects and engineers involved in the design, construction and operation of maritime vessels and structures can make a significant contribution to safety and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, with the support of Lloyd’s Register, wishes to recognise the achievement of engineers in improving safety at sea and the protection of the maritime environment. Such recognition serves to raise awareness and promote further improvements.

The Maritime Safety Award is presented annually to an individual, company or organisation that in the opinion of the Institution and Lloyd’s Register is judged to have made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of maritime safety or the protection of the maritime environment. Such contribution may have been made by a specific activity or over a period of time. Individuals may not nominate themselves. Nominations are invited for the 2015 Maritime Safety Award.

Nominations of up to 750 words should describe the nominee’s contribution to:

• safety of life or protection of the maritime environment through novel or improved design, construction or operational procedures of ships or maritime structures
• the advancement of maritime safety through management, regulation, legislation or development of standards, codes of practice or guidance
• research, learned papers or publications in the field of maritime safety
• education, teaching or training in maritime safety issues

The closing date for nominations is 31 December 2015. The Award will be announced at the Institution’s 2016 Annual Dinner.

Nominations may be made by any member of the global maritime community and should be forwarded online at  www.rina.org.uk/MaritimeSafetyAward  or by email to MaritimeSafetyAward@rina.org.uk

Queries about the Award should be forwarded to the Chief Executive at hq@rina.org.uk

Katharine Palmer, LR Environmental Manager, delivered a paper on Understanding Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV)

Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EAL) and Barred Speed Range & Light Running Margin were key themes at the combined session of Lloyd’s Register’s (LR) Hellenic Technical Committee and Hellenic Technical Environmental Sub-Committee

Piraeus, 27 November – LR Hellenic Technical Committee (HTC) and Hellenic Technical Environmental Sub-Committee (HTESC) met on Thursday 26 November 2015 in a combined session at the premises of Hellenic Lloyd’s in Piraeus.

In his opening comments, Theodosis Stamatellos, LR Regional Marine Manager GEMA, focused on the activities of the LR Foundation (LRF) and its aim to connect science, safety and society by supporting research and promoting education. He specifically referred to the support of LRF to research exploring the potential implications of nanotechnology on the safety and performance of the engineering assets and infrastructure on which modern society relies. Underpinning a commitment to the Greek Shipping Community, Mr Stamatellos made specific reference to the long standing collaboration of LRF with Greek educational and industry bodies such as the NTUA, HELMEPA and UGS.

A view from the combined session

Vassilis Papageorgiou, Vice President, Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement SA and LR HTC Chairman, highlighted shaft alignment issues in the new building sector. He also expressed his concerns regarding legislation not being always at the same pace with technological developments, mentioning as examples the NOx Tier III regulations and the BWM Convention.

Sokratis Dimakopoulos, Deputy Managing Director, Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement SA and LR HTESC Chairman, stressed the importance of MRV regulations being effective from 2018 onwards, when the first reporting cycle for CO₂ emissions from shipping will apply, and said that the shipping community must be prepared to have the monitoring plans ready. Furthermore, he brought to the attention of the audience a new Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/253 of 16 February 2015, laying down the rules concerning the sampling and reporting under Council Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels.

Guest speakers from LR Global Technology Centre (GTC) in Southampton provided their valuable insight on technical subjects currently at the top of the agenda of the shipping industry. Katharine Palmer, LR Environmental Manager, delivered on Understanding Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), David Hampson, LR Lead Technology Specialist, addressed the Barred Speed Range & Light Running Margin, whereas Peter Davies, Principal Specialist, Engineering Systems, made a presentation on Sterntube Bearings and Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EAL). Charalampos Anastasakis, LR Senior Marine Specialist from the Piraeus Technical Support Office, provided an update on Ballast Water Management (BWM) developments and the expected entry into force date of the BWM Convention.

The presentations were well received and induced fruitful and productive discussions.

About Lloyd’s Register

Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global engineering, technical and business services organisation wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and engineering. Founded in 1760 as a marine classification society, LR now operates across many industry sectors, with over 9,000 employees in 78 countries.

LR has a long-standing reputation for integrity, impartiality and technical excellence. Our compliance, risk and technical consultancy services give clients confidence that their assets and businesses are safe, sustainable and dependable. Through our global technology centres and research network, LR is at the forefront of understanding the application of new science and technology to future-proof our clients’ businesses.

Howard Fireman

Parties expand cooperation in developing a new generation of feeder container carriers.

l to r: George Andreadis, Lambros Chahalis, Antony D. Faraklas, Anastassios Angelopoulos and John Kokarakis

The Marine Technical Committee meeting of Bureau Veritas for the end of 2015 took place on November 25^th at prestigious Yacht Club of Greece. The well-attended meeting started as always with the social time, where attendees had the change to exchange their views and latest news from the shipping world.

The meeting started with the introduction of the new members. They were introduced by the Committee’s Vice Chairman Mr. Antonis Faraklas, Managing Director of Chartworld Shipping Corp., Mr. Anastasios Angelopoulos, Marine Chief Executive for Greece & Cyprus, Secretary of the Committee, then welcomed the Committee members.

The technical presentations started with Mr. George-Paul Perantzakis, Technical Manager of Naftomar Shipping & Trading Co. Ltd. The title of his presentation was: “LPG Gas Carriers, What you wanted to know about LPG carriers operations and you were afraid to ask”. His presentation focused on vital equipment utilized in LPG carriers as well as all different types of storage tanks for LPG.

Naftomar’s U. Perantzakis and G.P Perantzakis

Dr. John Kokarakis, Vice President Technology & Business Development of Hellenic, Black Sea Region & Middle East Zone, presented “Challenges and implementation of the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) EU”. This presentation was related to the specific aspects of the recently unveiled MPV regulation for the monitoring of CO₂ emitted from ships visiting EU ports.

Last but not least, Mrs. Vayia Hatziyianni of Minerva Marine Inc., outlined the obligations of the vessels visiting US ports, regarding the ballast water treatment systems.

The technical meeting closed with a presentation by Mr. Dionissis Christodoulopoulos, Managing Director of the Greek office of MAN Diesel & Turbo on the hot potato issuer of light running margin and dynamic limiter functions.

Minervas’ Vayia Hatziyianni and Alpha Bulkers’ C. Manoudakis

Like always the meeting was finished with the traditional dinner, where there were ample opportunities for everybody to fraternize and enjoy the delicious food offered by the restaurant of Yacht Club of Greece.

Noboru Ueda

Tokyo – Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) announced that it established Ship Data Center Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan on 7 December 2015, a wholly owned subsidiary that aims to support the utilization of data gathered from ship operations. The Data Center will be headed by ClassNK Executive Vice President Yasushi Nakamura.

Thanks to rapid advances in the development of information and communication technologies, it is now possible to collect large volumes of data on a diverse range of items related to ship operations. However, the approach to data capture is still very fragmented with similar data being sent to several vendors and analysis still being carried out almost entirely on a ship-by-ship basis.

To make larger gains, an effective platform capable of centralizing and managing such diverse data is essential. However, creating and maintaining this kind of platform is costly, time-consuming and unrealistic for some organizations. Furthermore, special care needs to be given to the handling of data to ensure confidentiality of information; hence it is also necessary to establish a secure yet effective platform from an impartial perspective.

As an independent, non-profit organization with over a century of experience in ship classification, ClassNK drew on its extensive technical knowledge and expertise to develop Ship Data Center Co., Ltd. The Data Center consists of a secured shipping operations database which will serve as an information hub to independently manage the utilization of big data in the maritime industry. Through the Center’s integrated data, the industry can maximize the benefits of big data with minimum cost and burden.

Trials of the Data Center will commence on a container vessel in February 2016 in cooperation with a Japanese shipping company. Various information including data from the ship’s voyage data recorder and data logger will be gathered from the vessel. Full operation of the Data Center is scheduled from April 2016.

Opportunities for future application of the Data Center are infinite. In addition to optimizing ship operations and improving condition-based monitoring of machinery, the Data Center could also be used to help the industry overcome current and emerging challenges. For example, the entry into force of the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) regulation by the EU requires shipowners and operators to annually monitor, report and verify fuel consumption for vessels 5,000 gt or over which call at any EU port. Data collection will be required from 1 January 2018. The Data Center plans to offer these shipowners and operators a secure and neutral database in which to store and manage these vast amounts of fuel consumption data.

ClassNK’s establishment of Ship Data Center Co., Ltd. reinforces its position as the indispensable infrastructure of the industry and demonstrates its commitment to creating a safer, greener and more efficient global maritime industry.

Company Name: Ship Data Center Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Representative Director: Yasushi Nakamura
Capital: 100 million yen
Date of establishment: 7 December 2015

An image of the 28K dual-fuelled MPV design showing the location of the LNG containment system

Gas-fuelled multi-purpose design from NACKS with Lloyd’s Register approval in principle and risk insight

Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co. (NACKS) and Lloyd’s Register have developed a new 28K dual-fuelled multi-purpose vessel (MPV) design

The design is an evolution of NACK’s established 28K MPV design; the new design is fitted with a 500m3 Type ‘C’ LNG fuel containment system located aft and on deck over the engine room and the LNG Fuel Supply System. The main engine is a MAN ME-GI high-pressure gas fuel system while the main electrical generator and boiler are in a low-pressure gas fuel system. Accommodation is located forward maximising space for cargo operations and three deck cranes (2sets x 350T, 1 set x 100 T) are situated on the port rail.  

Mr.Yamamoto, Vice President of NACK, commented: “MPVs are important workhorses in commercial shipping, providing more flexibility in operation. While the COP 21 discussions are ongoing, the industry is required to showcase an appropriate response to the need for ever-cleaner designs. This evolution of our proven 28,000 dwt MPV design demonstrates that shipping can provide clean fuel designs to meet the requirements of world trade.”

The design complies with LR’s Gas Fuelled Ship Rules and also has gone through LR’s ShipRight ARBD (Assessment of Risk Based Design) Procedure – the highly robust risk assessment analysis and report process pioneered by LR. The dual-fuelled system design and arrangement have also achieved LR’s approval in principle and Gas Ready Class descriptive note – GR(A).

Wei Ying, Principal Specialist and General Manager, LR Shanghai Technical Support Office, said: “We provide the highest level of expertise and our experience to help the industry make the best commercial decisions based on the best technical insight. We are continuing to share our understanding of marine risk and the realities of LNG as a marine fuel in both short sea and the development of designs, like this one, suitable for the deep sea trades by providing the insight and experience needed by ship designers, shipbuilders and operators.”

Offshore gangway in operation rig

Bridging the gap: First standard for classification of offshore gangways launched

DNV GL, the leading technical adviser to the oil and gas industry, today published the first industry standard providing guidance on offshore personnel transfer by gangway. DNVGL-ST-0358 will contribute in documenting and securing safe operational performance of offshore gangway solutions and contribute to predictability and transparency within the industry. 

Offshore gangways are used as a bridge between two vessels or between a fixed object and a floating installation to transfer people, cargo or equipment. For offshore operations, offshore gangways provide a safe and cost effective alternative to personnel transfer by helicopter, basket transfer or boat landing.

The gangways can take many forms ranging from use for long duration personnel transfer between accommodation units and offshore production assets, to use for short duration transfer between service vessels and unmanned installations such as offshore wind turbines, offshore fish farms and similar installations.

Per Arild

“By addressing a complete set of requirement for materials, strength, safety and functionality as well as testing and recommended in-service follow-up, we have created a specific and dedicated standard to make gangway operation safer and more efficient,” says Per Arild Åland, Business Development, Offshore Classification, DNV GL – Maritime.

Until now, the ISO7061 standard from 1993 has partly served as a reference document by industry for offshore gangway applications despite only addressing ship-to-shore transfers. Next to the ISO07061, offshore gangways are also certified against man-riding crane standards. The limited relevance and lack of offshore specific requirements has driven the development for a dedicated offshore gangway standard providing in-depth and specific guidelines on offshore gangway operation.

In 2013, DNV GL gathered major industry players in a joint industry project to examine offshore gangway transfer operations. Experience gained through this W2W (“walk-to-work”) project resulted in the publication of an industry guidance to assist offshore facility operators achieve safe and efficient personnel transfers to/from their facilities via a gangway system on a workboat, ship or semi-submersible.

The new standard, DNVGL- ST-0358, is the result of further development of this work and continuous DNV GL research. It covers the majority of gangway operations offshore including where there is controlled or uncontrolled people flow.

The Standard for Certification of Offshore Gangways reflects the experience gathered on all relevant operating modes and will contribute to predictability and transparency, and at the same time help to reduce risk in personnel transport offshore.

“Finally we can base our work on a set of definite criteria. The industry has for some time needed a dedicated set of guidelines addressing the specifics of offshore personnel transfer through gangway solutions,“ says Christian Bernbo, Business Area Manager Gangway in Marine Aluminium, Norway.

Marcel van Meel

“The new standard for offshore gangways is a welcome addition to DNV GL’s list of guidelines to improve quality, function and safety for offshore personnel. As a launching customer we believe this will be a crucial part in our development of the first compact mobile motion compensating gangway solution,” says Marcel van Meel, General Manager in L-bow Offshore Access Solutions BV, The Netherlands.

The new standard DNVGL-ST-0358 is launched today in a workshop at the London Offshore Accommodation Access conference, where leading industry experts gather to discuss practical guidance on ensuring safe and efficient crew transfer in difficult offshore environments.

About DNV GL  As of 12 September 2013, DNV and GL have merged to form DNV GL. Driven by our purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. We provide classification and technical assurance along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas and energy industries. We also provide certification services to customers across a wide range of industries. With our origins stretching back to 1864, our reach today is global. Operating in more than 100 countries, our 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping our customers make the world safer, smarter and greener.

About DNV GL – Oil & Gas In the oil and gas industry, GL Noble Denton and DNV’s Oil & Gas business have joined forces to enable safe, reliable and enhanced performance in projects and operations. We provide a broad range of services, such as technical assurance; marine assurance and advisory; risk management advisory and offshore classification. Our 4,000 people combine industry expertise, multidisciplinary skills and innovation to solve complex challenges for our customers. Together with our partners, we drive the industry forward by developing best practices and standards across the asset lifecycle.

About DNV GL – Maritime DNV GL is the world’s leading classification society and a recognized advisor for the maritime industry. We enhance safety, quality, energy efficiency and environmental performance of the global shipping industry – across all vessel types and offshore structures. We invest heavily in research and development to find solutions, together with the industry, that address strategic, operational or regulatory challenges. DNV GL has the largest share of gas fuelled vessels and gas as fuel has been a strategic topic in the company the past 15 years.

Leo Karistios

LR establishes design and construction standards for the use of low-flashpoint fuels (LFPF) with new notation

With the development of gas as a marine fuel going beyond LNG – LR has developed a notation, coming into effect on 1 January 2016, that provides clarity and helps to ensure technology can be adopted effectively

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has developed a new notation for low-flashpoint fuels (LFPF), allowing owners and shipyards to demonstrate that their design and construction meet requirements. The notation will come into effect as of 1 January, 2016, as part of LR’s and Regulations.

In the last 12 months, the industry experienced two major changes in legislation with the revised International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) and the adoption of the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code). The codes have broadened the horizons for gas applications, encompassing the use of low-flashpoint fuels for gas carriers and non-gas carriers, but it is the classification society’s role to ensure clear standards, requirements and methodology are put in place, to help ensure the required levels of safety and reliability are achieved.

LFPF is assigned where the main propelling and/or auxiliary machinery is designed to operate using a low-flashpoint fuel in accordance with the applicable LR Rules and Regulations. LR’s approach to this developing market is through Rules and Regulations applicable to all ships using low-flashpoint fuels under an overarching notation that is clearly structured, scalable and can evolve as the industry’s knowledge matures.

Leo Karistios, LR’s Global Gas Technology Market Manager, commented: “The innovation in gas carriers and non-gas carriers using gas as a marine fuel has been tremendous over the last two years. Our new class notation LFPF is Lloyd’s Register’s response to the market’s evolution. Our rules and regulations are evolving at the same pace so that classification’s role maintains its significance in the marine and gas market sectors.”

The LFPF notation is to be appended by the associated characters GC or GF:

• GC: Assigned to gas carriers indicating that the gas-fuelled machinery has been constructed, arranged, installed and tested in accordance with the relevant requirements of Chapter 16 of LR’s Rules for Ships for liquefied gases, or is equivalent there to.
• GF: Assigned to ships other than gas carriers indicating that the low-flashpoint-fuelled machinery has been constructed, arranged, installed and tested in accordance with the LR Rules and Regulations applicable to the fuel(s) used.

The low-flashpoint fuel (or fuels) that the ship is designed to use is indicated in the notation using a two letter identifier:

• NG: Natural Gas
• EG: Ethane Gas
• PG: Liquid Petroleum Gas
• ML: Methanol

Hamburg, 8 December 2015 – DNV GL has published this year’s third issue of the classification society’s customer and stakeholder magazine Maritime Impact. It covers innovation and technology trends in shipping and features outstanding projects with our industry partners.

The theme of the issue is: ‘You never sail alone’. “The maritime industry is currently going through many changes. But there is one thing that does not change, and that is the importance of building relationships and supporting our customers,” says Knut Ørbeck Nilssen CEO of DNV GL – Maritime. “In this issue we look at a great range of different projects from innovative vessel designs and retrofits through to digital solutions for the maritime industry. We also have set a special focus on the development and implications of the new DNV GL rule set, which enters into force on 1 January 2016.”

Some of the standout topics from this issue of Maritime Impact include:

• The new DNV GL rule set – Maritime Impact explains why and how the new rules set a new benchmark in ship classification
• Going green pays off – The United Arab Shipping Company speaks to Maritime Impact about their fleet expansion programme
• LNG in bulk – Oshima Shipbuilding teams up with DNV GL to develop a new concept for an LNG-fuelled bulk carrier
• Successful surgery – How to increase a container ship’s TEU capacity by 30 per cent
• Strengthening the weakest link – DNV GL guideline addresses the lack of common standards in jacking gear maintenance
• Waking up to smart shipping – How digital solutions can help the industry achieve its true potential
• Emerging powerhouse – China has the potential to become the world’s largest cruise market

A flick through the Maritime Impact Magazine: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWVhqBEobRw

Maritime Impact magazine is now available for download on the DNV GL website: https://www.dnvgl.com/maritime/publications/magazines.html

Cork Pilot disembarking

Leading classification society Bureau Veritas has issued its first certificate under the ISPO (International Standard for Maritime Pilot Organizations) standard of best practice for pilots and pilot organizations to the Pilotage Authority, Port of Cork, Ireland. The ISPO certification covers the Pilotage services and Vessel Traffic Management System.

The ISPO is an accessible industry specific standard, managed by a group of users, that improves safety and quality and provides transparency to shipowners and stakeholders on pilotage standards.

Philippe Donche-Gay, Executive Vice-President and Head of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore division, says, “The Port of Cork has adopted this industry code as a means of building continuous improvement into its pilotage operations. Bureau Veritas is pleased to be able to audit the pilotage and support this initiative. It is part of our own continual drive to support and deliver services which help shipowners and the marine community operate more effectively.”

Paul O’Regan, Harbour Master, Port of Cork, says, “Port of Cork Pilots have always been at the forefront of the industry when adapting to change and in consistently achieving the highest levels of safety and operational standards. The accreditation by Bureau Veritas from ISPO recognises the fact that the Cork Pilots and Pilotage Authority have, for many years, had a systematic approach to achieving first class port operations. The Port Company and Cork Pilots have worked hard with BV over the last twelve months in order to meet the requirements of ISPO and I believe this standard will achieve global recognition. The pilots and ports that achieve ISPO will be best placed to meet the needs of our maritime customers.”

The ISPO certification for the Port of Cork covers twelve pilots which safely managed mixed marine traffic handling over 9 million tonnes of cargo and 56 cruise ship calls during 2015.
http://www.ispo-standard.com

http://www.portofcork.ie

Explosion wave from hydrogen explosion

The oil & gas industry is under pressure to develop cost effective designs without compromising safety. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software is used for this purpose, but improvements are needed to help solve complex safety and design challenges in oil and gas offshore engineering.  DNV GL is launching two CFD joint industry projects (JIP) to meet the industry’s need for more cost efficient and precise decision support. Both JIPs are still welcoming new participants.

CFD software uses numerical analysis and algorithms to assess and solve problems involving fluid flows, providing decision support for addressing, among other, fire and explosion risks. The first JIP will develop guidelines on optimal and cost effective gas detector allocation, and the second JIP will improve explosion safety while avoiding costly overdimensioning of topside structures, through an updated congestion factor database.

Gas detector allocation

Mapping of gas detectors is a balancing act during the design of oil and gas facilities; too few detectors increases major accident risk, while too many increases risk of spurious failures causing production losses, reducing trust and increasing maintenance costs. To complicate matters further, location of detectors are essential for proper coverage and highly dependent on the assumptions and inputs to the allocation analyses, often solved by CFD.

Pressure wave from explosion in offshore module

The proposed JIP on Gas Detector Allocation aims to address this challenge by integrating the detailed physical description of consequence modelling by CFD simulations, with process and environmental conditions, incorporating the best practices in international standards.

The JIP will deliver a guideline covering all relevant input parameters that impact the gas detection grid. The main areas of interest, such as the recommended gas cloud size to be detected, gas leak rates to be simulated and influence of confinement/congestion level, will be addressed in the JIP. Guidance on sensitivity assessment of cost impact of production loss and repair will also be included for a complete guideline on recommended gas detector coverage.

Rafael Pereira

“Applying CFD dispersion simulation in determining the optimal number and position of gas detectors is a big step towards an improved detector network. However, the lack of industry guidance on gas detector deployment needs to be addressed  to reduce the uncertainties in assessing efficient final gas detector layout,” says Rafael Storch, Senior Consultant, DNV GL – Oil & Gas. “The industry needs more assertive guidelines addressing uncertainties in the results, ultimately reducing the number of sensors and providing optimal gas detector mapping.”

U-CFD JIP

An explosion risk analysis (ERA), developed through CFD software, is very sensitive to the congestion factor and its distribution represented by the geometry model, where the congestion level reflects the final total amounts of pipes, structures and equipments. The U-CFD JIP is inviting participants to share offshore as-built geometries. This will then be available to participants for improved congestion level data; reducing uncertainty and increasing efficiency in early phase engineering and explosion design.

“The JIP will deliver an improved congestion level database giving a complete documentation of typical physical distribution of pipes, structures and equipment for different areas, equipment packages and skids in as built offshore units,” said Rafael Pereira, consultant, DNV GL – Oil & Gas. “This will not only provide safe and more accurate dimensioning accidental loads for structures and equipment, it will also help avoiding overdimensioning and costly reconstructions, ultimately reducing weight and safely saving costs.”

The improved congestion data will differentiate the congestion level and size distribution for each type of area based on type of process module or utility unit, type of installation such as an FLNG and other floaters or fixed platforms, as well as the congestion levels in typical skids and for specific equipment packages. The project is expected to last one year.

Theodosis Stamatellos, LR Marine Regional Manager GEMA at the podium

With over 60 high-calibre attendees the 5th^h Greek Day organised in Shanghai by Lloyd’s Register on 5 December marked a great success.  The Greek Consul General Mr. Vassilios Xiros together with the Consul for Economic & Commercial Affairs and the Maritime Attache honoured the event.

The day is especially organised for the representatives of the Greek Shipping Community in China and aims to provide the attendees with the latest developments in the Chinese shipbuilding industry as well as a chance to meet collectively with the Greek LR surveyors in China and the LR Management team.

Nikolaos Skaribas, LR Operation Manager, Greater China

Theodosis Stamatellos, LR Regional Marine Manager for Greece, East Mediterranean and Adriatic, travelled to Shanghai to attend the event. “This is definitely a great opportunity to bring together internal and external stakeholders related with Greece and the shipbuilding activity of Greek shipowners in China. We believe in what we do and we strive to doing it continuously better. We welcome the chance to come together with our clients, discuss on how we can better support them and obtain their feedback. Once again it was a great pleasure for me to meet with the Greek Shipping Community in China as well as with our teams around shipyards.“

The program included a technical seminar addressing key subjects as Shaft Alignment, Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs), Welding & Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) and Port State Control. The event ended with a dinner over which discussions continued on issues of common interest.

l to r: Vassilis Papageorgiou, Lambros A. Chahalis, Panagiotis N. Tsakos and Captain Panagiotis N. Tsakos

During the 2015 Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards Gala Dinner which took place on Friday December 4th 2015, at the Athenaeum Intercontinental, Bureau Veritas Hellas S.A. became the first Classification Society to win the prestigious Piraeus International Centre Award.

The award was handed out to Mr. Lambros A. Chahalis, Vice President, Regional Chief Executive Hellenic & Black Sea Region, by Captain Panagiotis N. Tsakos, Mr. Vassilis Papageorgiou and Panagiotis N. Tsakos, on behalf of the sponsor “The Tsakos Group”.

It was the first time in the history of the Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards that a Classification Society won such a distinction.

This very award- a profound token of acknowledgement for the French classification Society’s marked presence in Southeastern Europe for far more than a generation-, undoubtedly speaks for the wide acceptance and appreciation met among shipping industry’s members towards Bureau Veritas; and this, against the background of the local center’s outstanding results, which are founding on BV team’s collective efforts aiming on continually enhancing overall performance so as to accommodate Greek Ship-owners’ expectations from a recognized organization, authorized for statutory and voluntary certification and classification services by a vast number of flag States.

By combining traditional Gallic flair with Greek dedication and professional sense of duty, BV Hellas gradually rose -thanks to the unceasing efforts of its people-, to enjoy a predominant position and importance among the twelve international marine centers of our parent Society worldwide.

While the BV registered fleet had doubled in terms of DWT within the last decade, BV Hellas contributed a staggering thirty two percent of this figure, thanks to the shipping industry’s trust, dedication and encouraging spurs.

Adhering to the common values and principles for safeguarding property and lives at sea, without compromising on environmental aspects, this trophy reflects the collective efforts of Bureau Veritas Hellas’ personnel, who, in difficult circumstances, have made it possible.-