Tag Archives: DNV GL

MAREX: IN THE KNOW Podcast 20 – DNV GL on Class in the COVID-19 Era

Business News, Shipping & Offshore

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things about the way that shipping does business, but safety of life at sea is still paramount. DNV GL, the world’s leading class society, has been working to keep the shipping industry safe since 1864; its core activities remain the same, but it has adapted its working methods to the new reality of lockdowns, limited travel and social distancing. DNV GL was an early adopter of remote survey services and remote advisory centers, and these established systems allow its technical experts to support vessels and offshore assets around the world – without the challenges of travel in the coronavirus era. 

To learn more about these developments and the state of the industry, MAREX editor-in-chief Tony Munoz recently spoke with Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL Maritime. For the details, listen to their conversation here. 

MAREX: BV, DNV GL Launch Infection-Prevention Certifications for Cruise Ships

Airline / Travel, Business News, Shipping & Offshore

Two leading class societies are helping the passenger vessel sector restore operations by rolling out new certifications for infection prevention measures.

Class has played a key role in certifying safety since the Age of Sail, and many class societies have diversified into certification for shoreside sectors as well – like healthcare and hospitality. Both DNV GL and Bureau Veritas have public health-related experience from their work for clients on shore, and both have introduced shipboard infection-prevention certifications that unify that knowledge with their maritime expertise.

Read entire article HERE.

Hellenic Shipping: DNV GL’s remote surveys surge with 15,000 completed since launch

Business News, Shipping & Offshore, ,

DNV GL introduced remote surveys in October 2018. More than 15,000 surveys have been completed remotely since then.
The impact of the global COVID-19 crisis has reinforced the value of DNV GL’s industry first remote survey services. With some 15,000 surveys and inspections undertaken since the launch in October 2018, customers have benefited from greater flexibility and efficiency through the continued digitalization and integration of DNV GL’s class services.

At DNV GL it is vital our customers continue to operate and deliver without disruptions to class services, and at the same time it is essential not to compromise the safety of crews and surveyors. While our offices, surveyors and experts remain to be in operation, remote surveys have provided the flexibility customers need, with global round the clock coverage, and improved efficiency through reduced travel times and increased availability.

Read entire article HERE.

Riviera: New venture fund to help DNV GL prepare for the future

Business News, Energy

DNV GL has created a venture fund, DNV GL Ventures, which will build a portfolio of between 15-20 start-ups in the next four years, taking up an equity stake of up to 20% in the companies.

DNV GL chief digital transformation officer Klas Bendrik said the challenges of the coming decade mean “operating like it is business as usual is not an option.”

“We have entered a decade of transformation where the pace of the energy transition will be set and digital technologies underpinning industry 4.0 will mature from experimentation into large-scale application,” adding “The launch of DNV GL Ventures is an acknowledgment that even a company of experts like ours must look beyond its own four walls to stay relevant.

Read entire article HERE.

The Explorer: Enormous potential in floating solar

Energy, ,

Floating solar is on the rise. With Norway’s extensive experience and history from the maritime, offshore and energy industries, the country is well equipped to lead technological development in this segment.

The world’s demand for electricity will double by 2050. At the same time, the share of fossil energy in the energy mix must be reduced. According to the classification society DNV GL, 70 per cent of electricity demand will have to be covered by solar and wind power if we are to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement.

“At present, solar energy only covers a small percentage of this demand. There is enormous potential here, and it is important to me that Norway participates in this growth,” says Inger Strand.

Read entire article HERE.

Norwegian Companies Fuel Growth in the American Heartland

AmCham News, Membership Guide, , , , , ,

Norwegian Companies Fuel Growth in the American Heartland

This article originally appeared in the 2019-2020 AmCham Membership Guide. 

Offering a combination of low living costs, business-friendly policies, top-notch universities, and a talented, highly innovative population, the American Heartland, a region comprised of states such as Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio, has become an increasingly popular place to invest for a growing number of Norwegian companies.

One such company is DNV GL. The Oslo-based provider of risk management and quality assurance services to the maritime, oil and gas, healthcare, and power and renewables industries employs 145 people in two of Ohio’s largest cities, Cincinnati and Columbus.

“For us, access to talented professionals and good communications in a cost-effective environment are important factors in deciding where to establish our specialized laboratories. Columbus is attractive given the presence of The Ohio State University (OSU), which produces many excellent engineers and scientists with a desire to continue working in the local area after graduation,” notes Steven Sawhill, Director of US Government and Public Affairs for DNV GL.

DNV GL's Steven Sawhill, Director of US Government and Public Affairs

“DNV GL has a special relationship with OSU – the company’s scientists serve as adjunct professors at the university, and OSU graduate students can conduct experiments at DNV GL’s laboratories when they require highly specialized equipment. Columbus is also home to other excellent engineering and research institutes, including the Battelle Memorial Institute, the world’s largest private research and development foundation, providing yet another source for collaboration and interaction,” he concludes.

The company operates its state-of-the-art Materials and Corrosion Technology Center in the Columbus suburb of Dublin. Much of the Center’s work concerns the pipeline and oil & gas industry, but the Center’s wide range of competencies has opened the door for a diverse range of projects, including collaborative efforts with the US Navy, US Airforce, and the US Department of Energy.

Such projects require a high degree of technical competence, and nearly a quarter of the Center’s employees hold PhDs. Many more hold advanced degrees in various engineering and scientific fields, highlighting Ohio’s ability to cultivate the high-skill labor force necessary to support knowledge-intensive industries.

Map of the American Heartland. Photo: Wikipedia

The Columbus skyline as seen from the Scioto River.

Cincinnati, on the other hand, serves as the country headquarters for DNV GL Healthcare North America, which has become the United States’ second-largest hospital accreditation body, working with hospitals to mitigate risk, increase safety, and enhance effectiveness.

DNV GL’s Sawhill touts Cincinnati’s talent pool and central location when discussing the reasons the company chose to headquarter its national healthcare operations in the Queen City.

“Such work requires a broad geographic network of healthcare professionals employed to visit, survey, and work with hospitals across the country. Cincinnati is an excellent hub location for coordinating that sprawling network, as sixty-percent of the nation’s population lives within a one-hour flight or a one-day drive from Cincinnati.”

AmCham member companies with a presence in Ohio according to the 2017 Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington D.C. report Norway Creates Jobs in the United States.

Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The former haven for German immigrants is now one of the largest urban historic districts in the United States.

The contributions of Norwegian companies like DNV GL have not gone unnoticed by state officials in Ohio. In a quote provided to AmCham, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine commended Norwegian companies for their continued investment in Ohio’s economy, encouraging more companies to follow DNV GL’s lead and invest in the Buckeye State.

“Norwegian companies supply hundreds of jobs in Ohio, and we welcome additional investment. We appreciate the contributions of companies like DNV GL and encourage other Norwegian companies to benefit from Ohio’s strong business climate, world-class research institutions, and strategic location. Ohio is not only a great place to do business, it’s also a great place to live. We have abundant natural resources, a great quality of life, and a low cost of living.”

The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. Photo: Wikipedia
Download the 2019-2020 AmCham Membership Guide

MAREX: DNV GL Helps Washington State’s Maritime and Tech Sectors Converge

Business News, Shipping & Offshore, , , ,

Pursuing Washington State’s vision of being a world-class, thriving and sustainable maritime industry by 2050, WA Maritime Blue, in partnership with DNV GL and Impact Washington, hosted the inaugural Blue Forum: Uptown Tech Meets the Working Waterfront. 

Bolstering the Maritime Sector

The Blue Forum: Uptown Tech Meets the Working Waterfront is the first in a series of information sharing and networking events designed to strengthen Washington State’s maritime sector by fostering its connection with other key sectors within the state. This initial forum targeted the state’s robust information and communications technology sector and convened maritime and tech industry leaders and stakeholders in Seattle to examine and discuss the role and opportunity for data, digitalization and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, and the challenges for optimization and decarbonization of the state’s maritime industry. 

The Forum provided a unique opportunity for knowledge transfer on challenges and technology readiness for solutions. It also served to connect stakeholders to explore the potential for collaboration through developing Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) that will break down silos and support the transformation of the state’s maritime industry.

Read entire article HERE.

gCaptain: Contract Signed for First Classed Offshore Wind Vessel in US by DNV GL

Business News, Energy, Shipping & Offshore,

Classification DNV GL on Wednesday announced it has been awarded a contract to class a purpose-built offshore wind vessel built in the United States.

The contract was awarded by WindServe Marine, LLC covering for offshore Crew Transfer Vessel for Ørsted North America. The contract covers the construction of the vessel, which will be the first offshore wind vessel built in the United States to class requirements.

The high-speed aluminum catamaran is a custom design from the U.K.-based BMT Group, who has extensive offshore wind experience and a large portfolio of offshore wind vessels, including 49 CTVs currently operating in Europe. DNV GL says the new state-of-the-art design from BMT will built specifically for U.S. East Coast sea conditions and will be used by Ørsted in their expanding operations in the region.

Read entire article HERE.

DNV GL: Someone has to go first

Business News, Shipping & Offshore, , ,

As the world’s leader in marine battery solutions, Norway is working to become the first country to electrify coastal transportation. And while there is still a long road ahead, Norway has a genuine advantage: A network of stakeholders working together to make it happen.

Increasing public concerns about the environment have led to a growing sense of urgency for Norway’s government and industry to act to slow climate change and improve air quality along its 2,650 km coastline. And with Norwegian domestic shipping contributing about nine per cent of Norway’s total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, 34 per cent of its nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions and 25 per cent of its sulphur oxide (SOX) emissions, shipping has been identified as a key part of the clean air challenge.

Read entire article HERE.

Press Release: DNV GL supports Norwegian transmission operator Statnett in connecting renewable energy to the grid

Business News, Energy, ,

ARNHEM, the Netherlands, 28 March 2019 – DNV GL has been selected by the Norwegian transmission system operator Statnett to provide electrical design services for the development of a new composite high-voltage transmission tower. The project is part of Statnett’s Research and Development programme ‘Lean Line’, which is designed to build power lines in a safer, faster and cheaper way, to enable easier integration of renewable energy from remote locations into the European power grid.

Statnett will be among the first companies in the world to develop composite towers for 420kV high-voltage overhead lines. Traditionally, composite towers have been utilized for systems between 110 and 150 kV systems. As part of the project, DNV GL will provide assistance to Statnett in developing a new electrical design, adhering to specific Norwegian requirements and aspects.

“It is important that the projects we support underpin our R&D programme’s main goal which is to improve energy security by 20%, reduce costs by 20% and reduce construction time by 20%”, says Oddgeir Kaspersen, Program Manager Innovative Technology at Statnett. “To do so, you need technical expertise as the devil can be in the detail. DNV GL’s experience in innovative tower design, specifically electrical design, enables us to create a safe and reliable concept for our composite high-voltage tower.”

Prajeev Rasiah, Executive Vice President, Northern Europe, Middle East and Africa, DNV GL – Energy added: “To realise the full potential of the power generation from renewable sources, optimisation of grid infrastructures is vital. Having worked in electrical design for high-voltage transmission towers for more than 50 years, we are looking forward to supporting Statnett with our knowledge and expertise in this field, to enable the connection and integration of renewable energy into the grid.”

DNV GL’s grid experts focus on the safety and reliability aspects of the transmission tower by developing insulation coordination, earthing/grounding, electrical stress testing and safety design. The new electrical design will be finalized by the end of 2019, and the validation tests are scheduled for 2020. The construction and operation of the pilot phase is scheduled for 2021.

DNV GL’s annual Energy Transition Outlook report forecasts that the rise of wind and solar will drive major expansion of transmission and distribution systems. The report finds that the expansion of the world’s power lines will more than triple by 2050, both in length and capacity. This substantial infrastructure expansion is largely driven by the growth of renewable energy generation, often in remote locations, which needs to be connected to the local, regional, national and international power grid. Renewable energy assets are often based in remote locations. As the sector grows and reliance on renewable energy increases, smarter design of power infrastructure is required to make expansion of the grid safer, faster and more cost-effective. The high-voltage tower project has also been a part of the ‘Best Paths project’, a European consortium that aims to develop novel network technologies to increase the transmission network capacity and flexibility at pan-European level while maintaining system reliability.

About DNV GL
DNV GL is a global quality assurance and risk management company. Driven by our purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, we enable our customers to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. We provide classification, technical assurance, software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas, power and renewables industries. We also provide certification and supply chain services to customers across a wide range of industries. Operating in more than 100 countries, our experts are dedicated to helping customers make the world safer, smarter and greener.

DNV GL in the power and renewables industry
DNV GL delivers world-renowned testing and advisory services to the energy value chain including renewables and energy management. Our expertise spans onshore and offshore wind power, solar, conventional generation, transmission and distribution, smart grids, and sustainable energy use, as well as energy markets and regulations. Our experts support customers around the globe in delivering a safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy supply.

Learn more at www.dnvgl.com/power-renewables.