Newly merged giant DNV GL powers ahead in China

DNV GL Vice-President and Regional Manager for Greater China Torgeir Sterri (Left) and CSSC Huangpu Wenchong's Deputy General Manager Wang Yi (Right) signed an agreement on their 150th vessel which will be classed by DNV GL. CHINA DAILY

As the company made from the merger of Norway's Det Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd, the world's largest risk management company DNV GL will further broaden its China service portfolio especially in the fields of maritime, oil and gas, energy industries and management certification business over the years to come, it said in a statement.

After the merger of the two large classification societies, the new company began operations last September, providing classification and technical assurance along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil and gas as well as energy industries.

The company also provides certification services to customers across a wide range of other industries.

Torgeir Sterri, DNV GL's vice-president, area chair and maritime regional manager for Greater China, said as China is on course to build an inclusive and sustainable industrial system, the merger－which is about growth and driving the world forward to a safer, smarter and greener future－fits well with China's overall sustainable development targets.

"With combined service categories, our customers certainly can benefit from the merger in many ways－a denser network, deepened expertise, expanded services and continuous strong commitment to research and innovation," said Sterri.

Eager to restore their earning ability, capable shipyards in China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces as well as Shanghai have gradually abandoned low-end ships and moved up the value chain.

Sterri said DNV GL's commitment to China will deepen through enhanced services at a time when China is upgrading its shipbuilding industry by developing more complex ship types and offshore segments. Chinese shipyards received 40.8 million deadweight tons in new orders in the first half of 2014, up 78.2 percent year-on-year. It is still the world's top shipbuilding nation in both merchant vessels and the offshore sector, according to Beijing-based China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry.

As current projects range from very large ore carriers to very large crude carriers, large containers, complex ship types and mobile offshore units, Sterri said DNV GL is willing to bring globally developed and accumulated expertise and experience to work with the Chinese shipyards and manufacturers together to ensure quality and safety of the vessels.

In addition, DNV GL works with the Chinese partners through joint development projects and joint industry projects to meet the challenges of today and find solutions that will benefit the industry.

One example is the cooperation of DNV GL and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute on the Green Dolphin bulk carrier concepts. DNV GL and SDARI used their combined and complementary expertise to deliver this green ship concept. The new design has been recognized with 100 orders placed due to its improved efficiency and environmental performance.

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