Verifavia to Provide IMO DCS Services for Liberian-flagged Ships

 

Emissions verification company for the transport sector Verifavia said it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Liberian Registry to conduct IMO DCS and EU MRV verification services for Liberian-flagged vessels. The Liberian Registry – the second largest in the world – includes more than 4,200 vessels aggregating 150+ million gross metric tons, representing 12 percent of the world’s ocean going fleet.   

 

As part of the cooperation – the company’s first major step as an IMO DCS (data collection system) verifier –  Verifavia Shipping will leverage its existing knowledge and expertise as an independent EU Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) dual-accredited verifier to deliver streamlined and efficient verification services to Liberian-registered vessels. Verifavia will offer verification services under both the IMO’s DCS and the EU’s MRV regulations, which have clear objectives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping.

 

Given the commonalities between the EU and IMO monitoring schemes, the cooperation provides ship owners and operators with additional reassurance that independent EU MRV accredited verifiers have the knowledge, expertise and understanding to provide support in navigating the requirements and challenges relating to both EU MRV and IMO DCS regulations. 
 

 

Ship owners of Liberian-flagged vessels that are required to comply with EU MRV will also benefit from obtaining a verification service from a single point of contact and a single verification audit based on the same primary data and procedures. This consolidated approach will ensure a cost effective and streamlined reporting verification process.  

 

Julien Dufour, CEO, Verifavia Shipping, commented, “We are proud to be the first independent verifier in the world to collaborate with the Liberian Registry, which is renowned for its excellence, efficiency, safety and expert service. We are confident that support from this leading flag administration is the first step towards full recognition of Verifavia Shipping worldwide – paving the way for other flag administrations to replicate the cooperation with EU MRV accredited verifiers.”

 

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the U.S.-based manager of the Liberian Registry, said, “We aim to provide our clients with a comprehensive service that ensures compliance with all maritime legislation, and we are pleased to offer Liberian-flagged vessels the opportunity to streamline the process of compliance with both of these key maritime environmental regulations in a cost effective and efficient manner. We have the upmost confidence in Verifavia’s knowledge, expertise and capabilities, and we trust that it will uphold the highest levels of service that we strive to deliver.”

 

Verifavia is the first globally accredited verifier to receive dual accreditation under the ISO 14065 standard and Regulation 757/2015, and the first independent accredited verifier to sign an agreement with a flag state administration. The company is in the process of being recognized by other major flag states. With accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and France’s national accreditation body, Cofrac, Verifavia can assess or verify any ship in the world, regardless of country of ownership, flag State, or class. The company’s client roster currently includes circa 120 shipping companies spanning 1,500 ships, and 16 ICT providers.