Seaspan partners with DNV GL for EU-MRV verification

(HOUSTON) — Seaspan Corp. has enlisted help from DNV GL as a partner for EU monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of its entire fleet.

EU-MRV regulation aims to quantify and reduce CO2 emissions from shipping while creating a new method for benchmarking. Due to the global nature of the maritime business, most vessels will trade in European waters. To prepare, shipowners with a global operation must act by January 2018.

“We have all the data necessary for verification in our fleet performance system; the fully digital approach of DNV GL allows for our existing data streams to connect directly into DNV GL’s MRV engine to be managed automatically,” said Ian Robinson, projects and technology director at Seaspan. “This approach improves efficiency and performance, while technology does the heavy lifting of reporting.”

Maintaining high levels of data quality is a key challenge and essential throughout the verification process. Connecting quality data delivers accurate results without a lot of added manpower. To ensure this happens, DNV GL continuously monitors the flow of information with the new ECO Insight data quality module, which Seaspan is subscribed to. This module checks incoming data from vessels and allows for immediate corrective action, if needed. The module also supports the incoming IMO-DCS scheme, which comes into force one-year after the EU-MRV scheme.

“We are very pleased with the opportunity to partner with Seaspan. Their vision for the future and willingness to adapt to a modern verification approach is highly regarded,” said Nick Roper, DNV GL’s vice president of business development, Region Americas. “Seaspan’s addition of 109 vessels to the existing fleet of several thousand vessels in the DNV GL EU-MRV verification platform is a clear sign of the digital transformation that is taking shape globally in the maritime industry. It is exciting to witness this while partnering with such dynamic companies, and to lead in digitalization.”

The EU-MRV regulation entered into force on July 1, 2015. It requires shipowners and operators to monitor, report and verify CO2 emissions annually for vessels larger than 5,000 gross tonnage (GT) calling at any EU and EFTA (Norway and Iceland) port. Data collection takes place on a per voyage basis starting Jan. 1, 2018. The aggregated ship emission and efficiency data will be published by the European Commission by June 30, 2019, and annually thereafter.

DNV GL supports compliance through a digital, data-driven, approach to verification. The creation of monitoring plans, which are due Aug. 31, 2017, are supported by the MRV Plan Generator app. This app is available and part of DNV GL’s customer portal – My DNV GL.

Verification of annual emission reports are done digitally by connecting a customer’s data collection to through a simple and standard interface.

For more information, visit www.dnvgl.com.

By Professional Mariner Staff