DNV Software started a new product development unit in Shanghai, China in April this year; we will gradually build it up throughout 2009. The unit is divided into Software Solutions and Software Products. This comes in addition to the centres in Norway and the UK.

DNV Software officially established a Greater China presence already in March 2005; we currently serve the maritime, offshore and process industries in the region through our main brand products – Nauticus, Sesam and Safeti.

From left, Jo Øvstaas, head of DNV Software Products China, with software developer Peter Pan, Stian Nilsen Barkbu, head of DNV Software Products, Qi Feng Wang, software developer, and Torgeir Vada, process owner.

The new Shanghai unit’s first employees came on board in March and April; we plan to increase the staff to approximately ten developers in 2009. The main intention is to use local talent and transfer knowledge from our development centre in Norway.

“In 2009–2010 we will primarily focus on software for hydrodynamics and marine propulsion systems,” says Jo Øvstaas, head of DNV Software Products China. “We see great potential for recruiting locally, as the number of students graduating from hydrodynamic or machinery studies in China is significant.”

Development of our software package for propulsion machinery, Nauticus Machinery, will be fully transferred to the new unit in Shanghai. Software support will still be handled by the regional support hubs in Oslo, Houston, Shanghai and Pusan. By building up a new developer group for marine propulsion systems, we plan to speed the release frequency for our main products Nauticus Shaft Alignment and Nauticus Torsional Vibration.

Development of our software for hydrodynamics will be a joint effort between the centres in Oslo and Shanghai. This will significantly increase our development capacity for hydrodynamic analysis tools and support our ambition to remain the leading provider of such tools. This year we will implement new features in Wasim, and also be involved in a DNV descriptive study for next-generation hydrodynamic software.

Although the new development unit will provide products for the global market, we will be aware of pportunities due to the strategic position of Shanghai in the maritime, offshore and process markets.