28 offices worldwide will now provide fully qualified, exclusive surveyors serving ships classed with DNV and GL.

DNV and GL have for a number of years cooperated through joint exclusive stations. To meet the need for global presence of competent surveyors, the two societies have agreed to extend the cooperation by largely replacing both societies present network of agents and non-exclusive surveyors.

There are various reasons for expanding the existing arrangement. DNV and GL will now be in a better position to offer clients quality service where and when a shipping company needs assistance. Following the Erika accident in December 1999 a series of quality-enhancing steps were taken by class, such as requiring the attendance of two exclusive surveyors on major surveys of ageing vessels. In addition, the leading classification societies have agreed that from 1st July 2001 only exclusive surveyors shall be employed on all surveys to be carried out on behalf of flag states. This is in line with an EU requirement expected to enter into force in 2002.

The designated surveyors will have completed a training programme to learn the procedures and routines of both classification societies. In addition to improved services, the new cooperation will result in less need to fly qualified surveyors to specific stations, which will improve cost efficiency.

The 28 joint offices are located in Aden, Beirut, Brisbane, Cairns, Cartagena, Casablanca, Chittagong, Dublin, Falmouth, Ghana, Guayaquil, Haifa, Havana, Hobart, Koper, Lima, Luxembourg, Manama, Melbourne, Norfolk, Panama, Port Harcourt, Safat, San Francisco, San Juan, Seattle, St.Johns and Valletta.