Safer, Smarter, Greener

DNV GL, provider of classification and technical assurance and advisory services to the maritime, oil and gas, and energy industries. Not forgetting the certification services to customers across a wide range of industries. DNV GL operates in over 100 countries and boasts 16,000 professionals. For the company sustainability and the environment are two very important words.

Maritime by Holland Magazine speaks to Harald Seibicke, area manager Benelux Maritime and Bas Veerman, customer service manager, Maritime Area Benelux in Barendrecht; this location in the Netherlands has the maritime industry as the main focus, which is part of the larger scope DNV GL assists. For the company is amongst others also active in renewable energy, offshore and oil and gas. Today, we are not strictly discussing rules and regulations or standards, but we focus on ‘thinking green.’ Seibicke and Veerman simultaneously point to a notice on the wall, which states, amongst other elements, the purpose of the company: ‘To Safeguard Life, Property, and the Environment’. ”This statement you see is embedded in our roots and we are proud of it”, states Seibicke. ”As DNV GL we offer our clients 150 years of knowledge and we believe we have become an even stronger company thanks to the merger. Our goal is to help companies, to classify their products or vessels and if they so wish, we can guide them to taking a next step and go beyond the existing rules and regulations. Furthermore, we help to make their work transparent, so the industry knows about it.”

Small steps, great results

In classification terms, you have a basic class, where companies meet the requirements, but DNV also offers companies the possibility of doing more. Such is the case with the Environmental class. Veerman: ”We can certify a company with a ‘clean’ classification, which, as the manual states, identifies the basic requirements for controlling and limiting operational emission and discharges. Taking a step further would mean going for a ‘clean design classification’. Clean design specifies the design requirements for protection against accidents and for limiting their consequences. A clean design classification shows a company is willing to go the extra mile. Since January 2014 it is possible to add the qualifier ‘clean design tier III’, this would apply to vessel who meet the NOx emission requirements according to MARPOL (MARPOL stands for Maritime Pollution and is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships – ed). You could also distinguish yourself by doing more in the line of ballast water management, sulphur emissions or other notes, depending on your work field within the industry.”

Crystal ball incarnate

”Put simply, we offer what clients require. To be able to do so you must be able to think years ahead. Unfortunately we do not have a crystal ball, although our research and development department does come very close”, Seibicke smiles. ”The R&D department is our strategic department where research is done in close cooperation with the clients. And we invest in the future, not just figuratively – but literally: Five per cent of our annual revenue is granted to the R&D department. Our investment in research and development is our way of giving back to the industry in terms of development. Employees are also invited to propose new ideas for the department. Why do we do this? Our employees work closely with customers worldwide and as such know which important issues are playing on their minds.”

Focus on LNG

LNG is a main focus for DNV GL. Looking at the history of DNV GL, it is easy to see why. The very first vessel to ever run on LNG the Glutra was certified by DNV. The Bit Viking tanker, the first product tanker running on LNG was certified by DNV GL. In 2012 the company presented ‘the future of shipping’ based on the developments DNV GL foresaw for LNG. Veerman: ”When I look back at our prognosis, it has been quite accurate, though we had estimated more vessels to be running on LNG than there are now. This has a lot to do with on the one side the financial investment required, on the other hand there is still a lot of uncertainty about the bunking of LNG. Currently it is not easily available everywhere; this means some companies would rather not take this leap of faith just yet. You do see more classification companies’ class LNG vessels, which shows us that LNG is picking up. There are 50 vessels sailing on LNG with a further 66 in production. Though, for some companies LNG is not the solution to meet future requirements, for them scrubbers are the way to go, and we can also assist them in this. Energy efficiency as a whole is getting more attention, as is our ECO solutions package which offers companies solutions based on energy efficiency and their ships’ design and operations.”

Energy efficiency

”Naturally more is happening than LNG and energy efficiency is a huge part of this”, comments Seibicke. ”Dual fuel vessels, hybrid vessels, there are a great many possibilities. With each step we take, we try to understand what would be necessary to get a positive board room decision from the customer’s side. At DNV GL we help companies decide based on research we do on knowledge, economic feasibility, as well as technical and operational items. Next to that, we also see companies choosing LNG Ready, which means their new vessel will not run on LNG for the time being, but does have the option to do so, which will mean minor adjustments and no full on investment later on.”

Together we can make a difference

So, we now know what DNV GL offers its customers to think smarter, greener and safer. How does the company apply this credo to itself? Veerman laughs: ”Of course, a large part of what we do is offer advice, but within DNV GL you will also find we hold our credo high. There are a great many things we do for the environment, from using a different garbage disposal system to changing the way we print. Moreover, since 2008 we have overhauled our vehicle pool to more energy efficient cars.” DNV GL also has a unique project called ‘We Do’ which was called into life to help DNV GL’s employees reduce their personal environmental footprint. An employee can apply a project of their choosing, be it solar panels, an improved washing machine or, for some countries, a bicycle, based on their application DNV GL will fund the employee up to € 1,000.

When asked what the philosophy behind this programme is, Seibicke says: ”As a company you do your utmost, you offer your customer the utmost and we want our employees to feel connected to our purpose. I believe that together we can make a difference. It simply starts with thinking safer, smarter and greener.”

Rebecca McFedries