Athens: Navies world-wide are evolving in the way they are thinking about their safety and inspection regimes.

Over the past two years, DNV has won several naval contracts for class-related and advisory services. The latest is a major contract to provide classification and technical support to the Royal Swedish Navy.

Traditionally, navies have carried out the maintenance, inspection and certification of their vessels themselves. In addition, naval and government-owned vessels are exempt from national and international legislation.

These have been the main challenges when it comes to paving the way for class among the naval vessel owners. However, long-term efforts by DNV and others have put class in a new position. Now, navies have established or are in the process of establishing their internal flag authorities. The result is that civilian standards have become more accepted, and NATO and PfP (Partnership for Peace) countries are currently developing an overarching goal based on the Naval Ship Code, a “naval SOLAS”.

DNV to class the Royal Swedish Navy
DNV has signed an extensive frame agreement with the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV), covering both classification and technical support for existing surface vessels and future planned newbuildings. The frame agreement covers more than 30 vessels.

FMV has utilised DNV rules as part of its own regulations and as a benchmark and guidance for technical decisions for a number of years. The expansion into using the DNV class concept is viewed as a way of improving the Royal Swedish Navy’s quality and safety regime. DNV has previously won a similar contract in Denmark. Naval vessels in Australia, the UK, Portugal and the Netherlands, among others, are now also to be found in DNV’s classification portfolio.

DNV at the forefront
Tor Svensen, DNV’s COO, says: ”DNV has been at the forefront among class societies in assisting navies and naval yards to comprehend the benefits of a common technical standard for naval vessels. Since the mid-nineties, DNV has been a driving force and standard setter when it comes to class and class-related services for the naval sector.”