“With the diagnostics and remote access that is being built into our rigs now, it is really important that software integrity is flawless,” said CEO Ivar Brandvold of Fred. Olsen Energy ASA. “This DNV initiative is very welcome.”
Potential savings
“Our analysis indicates that applying the ISDS class notation can easily save USD 6-20 million by avoiding the delays caused by the need to re-work software,” said Rolf Benjamin Johansen, the director of operations at software integration for DNV maritime and energy. “In fact, this range is conservative as it does not include avoided costs. Being on schedule avoids propagating supply-chain costs and loss of brand reputation.
The ISDS notation focuses on how to set up and run a project and how to develop quality assurance processes that will last throughout the vessel’s lifetime.
“The class notation alone is not a silver bullet that will solve all software-related problems on drilling units, but it is an important part of the solution. This notation provides a well-defined industry framework for systematically assuring the quality and performance of software-dependent systems,” said Johansen.
Long track record
DNV's history of working on integrated software-dependent systems goes back to 1982 when the first classification note on computer-based systems was launched. Since then, DNV has steadily developed its system and software reliability services. During the past few years, the company has performed more than 15 successful ISDS projects in the offshore and maritime industries, and it also has experience of applying similar methods in hundreds of projects within the aerospace, automotive and telecom industries. The new ISDS notation is the product of DNV’s combined expertise in software engineering, classification and offshore operations.