Tag: DNV

DNV focused on how ShipGaz manages its operations for continuous improvement ShipGaz Training was awarded the DNV SeaSkill Maritime Education and Training Certificate. The certificate was handed over to ShipGaz Training at the Nor-Shipping conference in Oslo, Norway.DNV SeaSkill helps training providers and manufacturers to ensure that competence is properly addressed, built and retained.ShipGaz Training is the first on-line training provider meeting DNV Seaskill requirements. By this certification, ShipGaz Training has proved its ability to deliver high quality, consistent services according to a well-recognised standard.During the audit leading up to certification, DNV focused on how ShipGaz manages its operations and reflects on its own performance in order to achieve continuous improvement.Approximately 100 maritime academies, training centres and simulator centres are currently certified by DNV SeaSkill.Source: DNV

Aims to increase competitiveness in the rapidly-developing wind energy market The Special Level Type Certification will provide DNV's clients with an additional approach to help increase competitiveness in the rapidly-developing wind energy market.DNV still strongly recommends the entire IEC 61400-22 Type Certification system is completed as part of a blade development process, as fatigue testing of blades reduces the wind turbine's technical and commercial risks. However, the Special Level Type Certificate can provide a fast and flexible path to the market, with reduced time and expense, with the option to transition to a full IEC Type Certificate at a later time.Introducing more flexibility in the scope of certificates allows for verification levels consistent with the demands of different market, financial, and regulatory requirements. The scope of the Special Level Type Certificate, which will not include blade fatigue testing, will be similar to products offered by other certification bodies. Blade fatigue testing, which is part of IEC 61400-22 will still be required for DNV's other type certification products."This step is in reaction to requests from our clients," says Claus Christensen, Head of Department for DNV's wind certification center in Copenhagen, "We expect that most of our clients will still conduct blade ...

Zero tolerance for loss of life is equally as important as zero environmental damage A downward trend in safety statics creates concerns and it is now time to reinstall the balance between safety and environmental risk. A greater focus on the human elements and competence in the shipping industry is needed, said Tor Svensen, the President of DNV.The positive trend in which the accident rate was decreasing has now stopped. In fact, it has been reversed, and navigational errors still play a dominant role. In addition, we are facing a future of more sea transportation, more ships and more technologically advanced ships.Due to the combined efforts of the industry, including owners, charterers, classification societies and port state authorities, the accident rate decreased year by year for more than 20 years. This trend stopped almost a decade ago, and over the past few years an increased rate has been reported.The shipping industry is facing different challenges. There is now a high focus on the environment, and this is leading to major changes. In my mind, it is now time to reinstall the balance between safety and environmental risk. Zero tolerance for loss of life is equally as important as zero environmental ...

Fuel Insight provides real-time information on bunker deliveries worldwide Launched at Norshipping 2011, Fuel Insight is a subscription-based web application that taps into DNVPS live bunker quality database the most extensive in the shipping industry.It distils complex data on fuel prices, ISO 8217 fuel specification parameters and regulatory compliance into accurate insights for supplier evaluation and purchase decision-making, helping ship charterers, operators and owners optimise costs and reduce risks.Bunkers make up a large fraction of a vessels operational costs. As fuel prices continue to soar, many shipping companies are now facing considerable pressure on their bottom lines. Moreover, volatile fuel quality trends, supply chain developments and increasingly stricter environmental regulations are also complicating the fuel management function.The launch of Fuel Insight is therefore a very timely one, says DNV Petroleum Services managing director Tore Morten Wetterhus. At todays extremely high bunker prices, getting the best value in fuel purchases is a must, especially for shipping companies struggling to stay afloat. Fuel Insight can help bunker buyers and fleet operators decide on sources that yield optimum value, based on the test results of delivered bunkers captured in our database.Fuel Insight further benchmarks various bunker performance indicators of individual vessels and fleets ...

It is time to reinstall the balance between safety and environmental risk The positive trend in which the accident rate was decreasing has now stopped. In fact, it has been reversed, and navigational errors still play a dominant role. In addition, we are facing a future of more sea transportation, more ships and more technologically advanced ships.Due to the combined efforts of the industry, including owners, charterers, classification societies and port state authorities, the accident rate decreased year by year for more than 20 years. This trend stopped almost a decade ago, and over the past few years an increased rate has been reported."The shipping industry is facing different challenges. There is now a high focus on the environment, and this is leading to major changes. In my mind, it is now time to reinstall the balance between safety and environmental risk. Zero tolerance for loss of life is equally as important as zero environmental damage," Mr Svensen said when talking to the press at Nor-Shipping today."The industry will always have to balance safety and other priorities, but the negative trend in accident rates indicates that we are no longer managing to get the balance right," he said.DNV has for ...

The collaboration will focus on the maritime industry According to the agreement signed in Athens today, DNV will sponsor NTUA to fund three PhD students in Marine Engineering, including the supervising work of professors and post doctoral researchers to materialise this new phase of the collaboration. The interaction with DNVs R&D unit in Greece will further enhance the collaboration and align it with industry needs.After a successful first phase of research collaboration (2008-2010), the intention is to continue merging the expertise of these two renowned organisations so that they can together develop further initiatives and achieve better results and more progress than they could have done individually.The collaboration will continue to focus on the maritime industry and the universitys School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. The optimisation of marine energy systems, optimal control of hybrid propulsion powertrains and dual-fuel marine engine optimisation are the three main topics selected for the 2011-2014 period.Elisabeth Harstad, managing director of DNV Research & Innovation, explains: DNV has focused on research and innovation for more than 50 years. Together with industry partners and educational institutions, this has introduced new technologies and new solutions. Through closer collaboration between Greeces oldest and most prestigious educational institution ...

Survey finds 94% of respondents had problems with their fuel deliveries A new DNV Petroleum Services (DNVPS) survey has found that, in the past 12 months, 94% of ship operator respondents encountered problems with their fuel deliveries, the majority of whom said off-specification bunkers was their biggest challenge.About 43% said the off-specification fuel deliveries were serious quality cases.Filter clogging was the most common problem encountered, followed by sludging, fuel pump sticking and seizures, and piston ring breakages.While most of the respondents said the fuel quality cases they encountered were resolved in a satisfactory manner, 18% did not report a positive outcome.This latter group suggested that the availability of an industry standard on fuel contaminants, technical advice guiding the ship on how use problematic fuels, and debunkering would have been useful.About 50% of the respondents were from technical departments, 15% from operations and 18% represented management. about 60% of the respondents are involved in fuel purchasing.Some 73% of the respondents have ships trading in the emission control areas (ECAs) and the survey findings suggest that "a more matured enforcement of the sulphur regulations in Europe has developed, with ship operators gradually becoming adapted to the requirements in the EU and the ...

Addendum to Final Report The USCG-BOEMRE Joint Investigation released Addendum to the Final Report of Det Norske Veritas (DNV) regarding its forensic examination of the Deepwater Horizon blowout preventer (BOP).To view the Report please click hereSource: DNV

Improvements in ship safety is now turning into a negative trend. "Statistics show that the accident frequency has started rising from a historic low. This trend is supported by increased pay-out from the insurance companies.Technology, rules and compliance will never bring us to the expected level of safety without focusing stronger on the human element," Tor E. Svensen said."Historically, the safety focus on shipping has been on technical improvements. Most employees dealing with the operation of the vessel in a shipping company have a technical background. Audits and inspections are strongly focused on technical compliance. This technical focus has brought major improvements to ship safety. Now," Mr. Svensen said, "is time to increase focus on the soft issues.""The improvement potential is great," Svensen claims. "DNV has made some observations when performing audit and projects for shipping companies. These show that much of the training offered could be more effective with more time spent on actual training of higher quality. Shipping companies struggle to deliver training on soft skills, and few companies measure the effects of their training."Possible initiatives to improve safety level include safety culture mapping, crew resource management training, and safety performance monitoring through leading and lagging indicators."Public and ...