DNV Achieves Full ACP Authorization by USCG

DNV is now fully authorized to act as an autonomous certification body on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Today, DNV, as the first non-US classification society, signed the Alternate Compliance Program agreement with the USCG. The Coast Guard delegation to DNV is the authority to act on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard under the Alternate Compliance Program – ACP. ACP is a significant delegation granted to a class society after it has attained authorization for the issuance of a broad range of international convention certificates and demonstrated its professional plan review and survey capabilities to the satisfaction of the USCG. Most of these authorizations to issue statutory certificates on behalf of the USCG were granted in the summer of 2000. Since then, DNV has demonstrated satisfactory performance under the Coast Guard’s authorization and is, from today, itself an autonomous certification body. "The U.S. Coast Guard’s requirements as to safety at sea in general and the class societies in particular are very high. On behalf of DNV, I am proud that our company is the first to achieve this authorization," says Tor Svensen, COO DNV Maritime. DNV opened its first station in New York more than 100 years ago, and is today represented in more than 30 locations throughout North and South America. DNV is now able to issue all of the following certificates to US-flagged vessels as an autonomous certification body under the USCG Alternate Compliance Program: SOLAS Safety Equipment and SOLAS Safety Construction, MARPOL, International Load Line, International Tonnage and ISM. After receiving this ACP authorization, DNV will now be responsible for the total review and survey of US-flagged vessels both in the United States and in foreign countries. The agreement covers cargo vessels, tankers and passenger ships. "This new program will open up for new opportunities for DNV within the US, related to both newbuildings and class transfers. I'm sure that our company, as a quality-focused class society, will be able to add the value that US flag owners and US shipyards expect as we continue to take part in a wide array of important tasks to increase safety at sea," says Blaine Collins, DNV’s regional manager for North and South America. He has been responsible for the collaboration with the US Coast Guard which was completed by a signing ceremony in Washington today.