International Classification Society News

U.S. based fuel cell and hydrogen technology company Advent Technologies Holdings, Inc. announced it will collaborate with Alfa Laval, a global provider of heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling products, on a project to explore applications of Advent’s methanol-powered high-temperature proton exchange membrane (HT-PEM) fuel cells in the marine industry.Funded by the Danish Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program (EUDP), the project is a joint effort between Advent, Alfa Laval and a group of Danish shipowners.

In November 2019, electric mobility solutions provider eCap began a partnership with fuel cell technologies company Re-Fire Technology for the joint development of cross-sector fuel cell projects.The first milestone of this partnership was reached in May 2020 by achieving the “Approval in Principle“ through the international classification society DNV GL for a concept of maritime Re-Fire fuel cell application. The Hydrogen Electric System (H2ES) developed by eCap combines the…

Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass), a leading international classification society, plans to further expand its operations into the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region with new offices in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon and Nigeria.The expansion plan underlines its commitment towards the growing number of customers from this region and enhances the classification society’s proximity to flag administrations, ship owners, shipyards and other stakeholders in the MEA region.Promoting its new strapline - ‘Your Partner in Maritime Risk Management’…

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri delivered the newly constructed cruise ship MSC Seaview to owner MSC Cruises during a ceremony Monday in Monfalcone.Following fresh on the heels of sister ship MSC Seaside delivered last November, MSC Seaview is the second ship to be built by Fincantieri for MSC Cruises in six months.With a gross tonnage of over 153,000 tons and a length of 323 meters, MSC Seaview is the largest and most technologically advanced ship ever to be designed and built in Italy…

With just a few days to go until MSC Seaview comes into service, excitement is reaching an all-time high among cruise guests, travel agent partners, port officials and the broader industry. While a nearly 4000-strong team at the Fincantieri shipyard is working 24/7 around the clock to put the final touches and ready the ship for her inaugural season, MSC Cruises today revealed some of the key environment-friendly features on MSC Seaview, the third next-generation MSC Cruises ship to come into service in a matter of only 12 months. MSC Seaview will be one of the more innovative ships at sea, also when it comes to the environmental technology that she will feature.

Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass), a leading international classification society, opens an office in Alang, India, today. The new office will serve to support its ship recycling initiative in Alang, following on its recent initiative of certifying ship recycling yards according to EU standards as an ‘Independent Verifier’. IRClass Systems and Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (ISSPL), an entity promoted by Indian Register of Shipping, has since certified four leading ship recycling yards in Alang as an ‘Independent Verifier’ in accordance with the requirements of European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR) 1257/2013. So far, about 25 ship recycling facilities have approached IRClass for different services which included compliance audit against Hong Kong Convention (HKC)…

International classification society Bureau Veritas is to grant GAS-PREPARED notation to six Suezmax tankers under construction for Dynacom Tankers Management. The 157,000 dwt tankers will measure 274.3 meters in length, with a beam of 48 meters and depth of 23.2 meters. They are being built at New Times Shipbuilding in China, with delivery expected in 2017 and 2018. The GAS-PREPARED notation sets out requirements for ships which are designed and fitted out for dual-fuel or LNG fuel propulsion, but which are not initially intended to use gas as a fuel. It provides owners with the flexibility to convert easily to dual fuel or LNG fuel propulsion in the future.

Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has classed the first LNG-fuelled newbuilding oil/chemical tanker, the 15,000 dwt Ternsund, built under BV class at Avic Dingheng, China and delivered to Denmark’s Terntank Rederi at the end of June 2016. The new vessel is the result of close co-operation between Terntank, Avic and Bureau Veritas. The Ternsund is the first of a series of four ships all equipped with the Wärtsilä RT-flex50-D dual-fuel low-speed engine. This is the first installation of such engine and it was done under BV class. In early August the vessel became the first ever ship to take on LNG as bunker fuel in the port of Rotterdam, qualifying for an LNG bunkering premium equal to a ten per cent reduction in port dues.

The American Waterways Operators (AWO) and ClassNK have signed an agreement under which ClassNK will be authorized to conduct audits of AWO's Responsible Carrier Program, a safety management system for towing vessels with which all AWO members must comply as a condition of association membership. The agreement with ClassNK, an international classification society, expands the options for AWO member companies to obtain RCP audits following publication of the U.S. Coast Guard regulations establishing an inspection regime for towing vessels at 46 CFR Subchapter M.

Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has developed a one-stop- shop mobile application which will allow marine professionals to easily perform daily class and statutory actions through a user-friendly interface. With My VeriSTAR, shipowners and managers will be able to monitor their fleet, plan their surveys and stay informed, anytime and anywhere. Philippe Donche-Gay, Executive Vice President and Head of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore Division says, “We live and work on the move and shipping is a mobile industry more than most. The first version of the app is now available on Apple Store and Google Play Store. It includes key functions from the VeriSTAR Info website, and new ones like the Bureau Veritas Directory.

France-based DCNS has been selected by the Commonwealth of Australia as its preferred partner for the design of the 12 future submarines. DCNS, whose naval systems are recognized worldwide for their operational, innovative multi-mission capabilities, has chosen Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform to manage the entire lifecycle of its products, from concept through engineering, to build, maintain and operations services. DCNS must manage extreme complexity and high-level integration to provide its clients, industrial systems and equipment partners, and supply chain with the most modern cooperation tools and digital interface. Adopting…

Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has developed guidelines for walk-to-work (W2W) motion compensated Offshore Access Systems (OAS) which are used to transfer industrial personnel to and from offshore installations. Guidance Note NI629 Certification of Offshore Access Systems provides a clear and comprehensive overview of the safety principles and technical requirements for the design, manufacturing and operation of reliable and dependable equipment for the safe transfer of personnel at sea. Matthieu de Tugny, Senior Vice-President and Head of Offshore, Bureau Veritas, says, "Getting people safely onto and off unmanned platforms and wind farm towers offshore has become a big issue.

Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has issued Approval in Principle for the WindFloat Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (FOWT) foundation. WindFloat is designed by Principle Power and consists of a ballasted floating platform which supports a multi-megawatt wind turbine generator. Matthieu de Tugny, Senior Vice-President and Head of Offshore, Bureau Veritas, says, “FOWT technology will help exploit clean renewable offshore wind power. It offers substantial advantages over fixed offshore wind turbines as the entire unit can be assembled ashore and FOWTs can be installed in deep water and areas with varied underwater landscapes. There is also a much lower environmental impact from their installation.

International classification society Bureau Veritas has dramatically slashed structural computational and verification times. The dramatic reduction in the time needed to check the structure, seakeeping and stability of new vessels and floating offshore units is being delivered through the use of a powerful 3D model which links directly to BV’s entire VeriSTAR suite of calculation tools. Philippe Donche-Gay, Executive Vice-President, Marine & Offshore Division, says, “The power…

International classification society RINA has completely revised and updated its guidance on the Ballast Water Convention and the procurement, installation, operation and certification of Ballast Water Treatment Systems. The guidance is now available to shipowners, shipyards and equipment manufacturers as a Technical Bulletin. Dino Cervetto, Director of Technical Services, RINA Services, says, “The IMO Ballast Water Convention is almost certainly going to come into force in 2016.

International classification society RINA Services has launched a new Competence Management System certification which it says helps ship owners and managers to raise the skill levels of their crews and shore staff above the basic statutory requirements. Italy-based PB Tankers is the first company to benefit from the new voluntary certification. RINA’s Competence Management System guides shipowners and managers to develop and maintain high level targeted skills in their ships’ crews and operational shore staff. Its certification benefits them by proving to charterers, authorities, financiers and insurers that the company has a system for ensuring that its crews have the skills and competence required to operate safely and efficiently in today’s complex marine environment.

Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass), the leading international classification society, has acquired Geological and Metallurgical Laboratories (GML), a leading India-based industrial testing and standards setting company, through IRClass Systems and Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore-based GML is a specialist, multi-discipline testing laboratory focused on chemical, mechanical, metallurgical, civil, environmental testing, calibration, failure analysis and geological investigations, product-oriented tests for complete characterisation, as well as assisting industries in establishing laboratories and training personnel. “This is an important acquisition by IRClass,” said Mr.

The world's first fireproof bulkhead seal for drive shafts on commercial, sea-going ships, megayachts and so-called special craft has come from Schornsheim in Rheinland-Pfalz (Germany). ProfiSeal, a company from the DEUTSCHE YACHTEN Working Group has now received type approval from the international classification society DNV GL for its innovation, which has been registered for patenting. After a successful water pressure test, the special seal also demonstrated its resistance to fire (A60) over 60 minutes at 945 degrees Celsius.

DNV GL has opened the American hub of its technical helpdesk in Houston, the organization announced today. DNV GL, a Norway-based international classification society, now has 400 technical experts worldwide providing answers to customer questions across Europe, Asian, and American time zones. “Our classification customers tell us they want timely, authoritative and insightful answers to technical questions," said Jan Solum, who leads the new Technical Helpdesk Team in Houston. When offices in Europe close, Houston takes over until Singapore is online to respond to them.

A raft of new and innovative concepts for LNG barge missions hits the market, in North America and across the pond, as well. Industry gears up for the soon-to-come need for bunkering, infrastructure and LNG-related logistics. In 2014, innovation – as it turns out – means new ideas for the (previously) boring subject of marine barges. It also means LNG. Paired together, LNG and barges are giving naval architects, global classification societies and the operators of a new generation of LNG-powered tonnage something to think about. That’s because the final link of the push to move to dual fuel and/or LNG-powered commercial vessels involves infrastructure. Some early stakeholders are ramping up shore infrastructure to meet the coming demand for bunkers.

International classification society RINA Services informs it is to fit RINA’s InfoSHIP EGO performance monitoring system to d’Amico Group’s entire fleet. The first units will be installed on two newbuildings under construction in Korea and China, one tanker and one bulk carrier. The system will be progressively extended across the d’Amico fleet. InfoSHIP EGO is the fleet performance monitoring solution developed by RINA Services in cooperation with IB Software and Consulting. The software has different modules that allow it to automatically collect data on board and benchmark the actual performance of the ship against a target. Michele Francioni, CEO, RINA Services, says, “InfoSHIP EGO will be customized for the d’Amico fleet to meet the company’s specific reporting needs.

International classification society RINA Services is to fit RINA’s InfoSHIP EGO performance monitoring system to d’Amico Group’s entire fleet. The first units will be installed on two newbuildings under construction in Korea and China, one tanker and one bulk carrier. The system will be progressively extended across the d’Amico fleet. InfoSHIP EGO is the fleet performance monitoring solution developed by RINA Services in cooperation with IB Software and Consulting. The software has different modules that allow it to automatically collect data on board and benchmark the actual performance of the ship against a target. Michele Francioni, CEO, RINA Services, said, “InfoSHIP EGO will be customized for the d’Amico fleet to meet the company’s specific reporting needs.

International classification society Bureau Veritas has been chosen to class the unique LNG bunkering vessel which will be built at Hanjin Heavy Industries, Korea, under an agreement between Japan’s NYK and Mitsubishi and France’s GDF-SUEZ. The vessel will carry 5,000 cu m of LNG for ships’ fuel stored at 4 Bar in two IMO Type C pressure tanks. Delivery is set for 2016 when the vessel will operate from the Fluxys LNG Terminal in Zeebrugge, initially supplying LNG fuel from GDF-SUEZ to the fleet of United European Car Carriers.