CEO Outlines DNV GL's Key Themes at SMM

Tor E. Svensen, CEO of DNV GL addressed the SMM 2014 trade fair in Hamburg, explaining that the classification society's key themes were: enhancing operational efficiency; improving safety, and smarter data.

Svensen also looked at some of innovative new projects and research underway at DNV GL, especially the growing trend toward LNG ready vessels and the increasing use of a diverse range of alternative fuels.

SMM marked the first full year of operation for DNV GL, said Tor E. Svensen, having launched officially on September 12th 2013. Taking stock one year after commencing operations, the merger makes a lot of sense, he said. The financial performance of both the Maritime unit and the Group as a whole had been very strong over the past 12 months – a very positive sign of the trust and continued confidence that customers had in DNV GL.

Svensen said that DNV GL will continue to focus on  its core classification business as it recognised that the industry was still going through challenging times and needed the support of a competent class society. Moving ahead, Svensen said that DNV GL would continue to build on its strong focus on research and innovation, and on developing an even stronger technical support network.

The trend toward LNG as a ship fuel continues, said Svensen, with an order book that has shifted from a strong Norwegian focus to a more global mix. DNV GL has pioneered LNG as a ship fuel for more than a decade, he said, and the industry’s recognition of its expertise as a class in this field was reflected in the order intake.

There was also an increasing trend toward LNG Ready and a larger variety of alternative fuels were being explored, he said, including ethane, battery and hybrid vessels. DNV GL had taken a leading role in enabling many of the new technologies, Svensen said, and each offered different advantages and new technical challenges.

Later in the fair DNV GL would be presenting Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) with the first ever LNG Ready Approval in Principle for a true mega box ship – the series of 11 14500 TEU and 7 18800 TEU currently under construction with DNV GL class.

DNV GL adds that throughout the SMM week, it will also be holding a series of expert presentations at the DNV GL Forum. Some 41 speakers will hold 36 presentations covering 11 topics over the 4 days of the fair – giving a broader view on the latest technologies, market conditions and pressing challenges of the maritime world.