Singapore: DNV Centre of Excellence propels maritime industry towards IMO’s decarbonization goals

DNV was the first classification society to establish the COE in Singapore back in 2021, focused on developing SEA’s maritime digitalization, decarbonization and smart port capabilities. 

The Centre was established at a time when the Singapore government also saw the need for a stronger push to decarbonize the industry. The Centre is focused on not only supporting the maritime industry in Singapore with decarbonization but also around the wider region. DNV experts are based in key maritime hubs around the region to ensure ease of accessibility to classification and advisory services.

Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, Regional Manager South East Asia, Pacific & India, Maritime at DNV said, “Singapore has made great strides to establish itself as a leading maritime city, driven by the government’s rigorous efforts to build a sustainable maritime industry. This is a vision we share at DNV, that of collaboration and innovation. A vision we aim to materialize through the Maritime Decarbonization and Smart Shipping Centre of Excellence (COE) as we accelerate towards a decarbonized future.”

Since its establishment, the Centre has worked on a number of key decarbonization projects for shipowners and the wider shipping value chain and has been commissioned to produce studies and reports to inform decarbonization efforts both in Singapore and around the region.

Focusing on one of its key areas, the Centre is working with various local customers by providing Decarbonization Plan services for existing fleet and new buildings.

Dr. Shahrin Osman, Director of DNV’s COE (Singapore/Asia-Pac), said: “From bespoke decarbonization plans and pioneering feasibility studies to complex projects on alternative fuels, the Centre of Excellence’s vast capabilities leveraging on data-driven insights supported by global experts, are geared towards propelling the maritime industry towards the goals of IMO 2050. We are working closely with industry partners to set the course for progress not only in Singapore but across the regional maritime landscape.”

DNV is currently working with a client to develop a bespoke decarbonization plan including a comprehensive CFD analysis for potential retrofitting, to help them with energy-efficient measures and transition to low carbon operations.

The classification society is also working with Anglo American on a feasibility study on battery electric boat operations at Waterways Watch Society, a non-profit organization supported by Anglo American. Currently, there are six workboats powered by petrol at Waterways Watch Society, used/deployed for educational purposes, including collecting litter around Singapore’s waters. The scope of work includes technical assessment and commercial study on the electrification solutions.

The COE has participated in various Industry projects related to alternative bunker fuels with ITOCHU, port authorities in Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and more. Work is also underway for a study on the Singapore-Norway Green Corridor for Singapore’s Port Activities.

DNV together with Seatrium and other institutions are currently developing a marine and land-based charging infrastructure, interoperable standards, and a marinized Energy Storage System to power harbour crafts in Singapore. Developing a comprehensive electric vessel supply chain will foster growth in the local SME technology and supply chain ecosystem and support the adoption of electric harbour crafts in Singapore in line with MPA’s mandate for harbour craft and pleasure craft sectors to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Studies produced by DNV’s Centre of Excellence:

• GCMD commissioned a study on “Safety and Operational Guidelines for Piloting Ammonia Bunkering in Singapore”. The study analyzed capacity needs and feasible operating concepts, recommending suitable sites for pilots, and identified hazards, key risks and mitigation measures.
• Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) co-sponsored a study on the future of seafarers, to examine the key drivers transforming the maritime industry and their impact on ship management and seafarers.
• A whitepaper titled ‘Indian Coastal Green Shipping Programme’ was commissioned by the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Mumbai. The report provided insights into the opportunities and recommendations on how coastal shipping can reduce India’s carbon emissions and facilitate its transition to green shipping.

Lukasz Luwanski, Regional Business Development Director, South East Asia, Pacific & India, Maritime at DNV said, “We are seeing a growing number of customers in the region wanting to decarbonize their operations, some with ambitions that even surpass that of IMO 2050’s emission targets. By strategically deploying our COE team in Singapore and key hubs across the region, we ensure customers get access to technical experts with intimate knowledge of the local regulatory requirements in their respective markets.”

Besides the projects undertaken thus far, the Centre is also focused on providing several other key services to enable decarbonization in the industry: 

• Sustainability/ESG – ESG and sustainability services are becoming increasingly important in the maritime industry. DNV offers a range of ESG services, including ESG due diligence, ESG framework development, and emissions verification for sustainability reporting and financing. These services are enhanced by a robust data-driven approach, employing intuitive dashboards that provide a holistic view of customers’ data, enabling comprehensive monitoring and measurement. By integrating these tools, maritime companies are able to adeptly comprehend, manage, and capitalise on sustainability-related risks and opportunities, a critical need in today’s global scenario.

• Energy efficiency –  Implementing operational and technical efficiency measures could help shipowners achieve shorter-term compliance with GHG regulations and thereby reduce the need for consumption of more expensive fuels. DNV’s COE team have worked with a number of clients for the optimal utilization of operational measures to achieve compliance along the IMO 2050 trajectory.
  • Hull CFD analysis
  • Ship energy audit
  • COSSMOS (a modelling and optimisation tool to simulate, quantify and compare alternative propulsion, machinery, and fuel system configurations)

• Seafarers training & development– The COE team has jointly developed training standards for alternate fuels in various industry workgroups, guidelines for alternate fuels competency and safety culture studies. In addition, the team offers training courses related to the safety and operations of alternative fuels such as Methanol and Ammonia (coming soon)

• Marine battery and shore power studies – DNV offers several technical services related to marine electrification, such as battery electrification feasibility study and battery-hybrid selector. DNV helps to assess the technical feasibility and economic potential of full and/or hybrid battery electrification for retrofits and newbuilds.

• Carbon Insetting – Carbon insetting is needed for Scope 3 reporting by the clients of shipowners. The usage of biofuel insetting is voluntary and insetting certificates cannot be used for EU ETS reductions. DNV offers a 3-step verification approach encompassing an initial audit as well as transparent regular and transactional verification, where the carbon savings to be retired from shipowners to their specific clients will be verified.

• Performance Verification – DNV provides performance verification through in-service measurements (e.g. fuel consumption assessment) and dedicated trials to quantify the savings from technical or operational measures to reduce emissions and main engine consumption.

Industry collaborations

Increasingly stringent green regulations is expected to put a cost pressure on cargo owners and ship owners.

“A wider collaboration between industry and authorities is the key to make the green shift cost effective and efficient,” said Dr. Shahrin.

“DNV works closely with shipowners, maritime associations and the local authorities to establish new maritime processes, standards and frameworks and explore novel fuel technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of the maritime industry to meet IMO targets.”

In July 2021, the DNV Foundation teamed up with the MPA to launch the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) in Singapore, along with five other founding partners. 

Find out more about DNV’s Maritime Decarbonization and Smart Shipping Centre of Excellence here.

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Photo credit: DNV
Published: 1 February, 2024