seatec - Finnish marine technology review 1/2005 | Page 48

DET NORSKE VERITAS, LONGEXPERIENCE, NEW ACHIEVEMENTS With 140 years of successful operations DNV has developed into one of the leading international classification societies and a major player in the field of risk management. DNV’s prime resource, its employees, consists of 6000 persons of 80 nationalities, half of them with academic degrees, working in about 100 countries. Already 50 years ago DNV started investing in systematic R&D which has brought DNV to the forefront in many areas and helped DNV develop its services and find solutions to solve customer problems. 2004 marked the passage of 100 million GRT classified by DNV and brought more than 20 % of all newbuildings ordered world wide to DNV. In Finland DNV has long traditions and a well established position and today DNV has the lion’s share of the ships being constructed at the three major yards. Many of them like the newly delivered‘“Birka Paradise” have additional class notations like CLEAN DESIGN and COMFORT and the highest ice class. World’s largest LNG carriers to be classed by DNV New York-based, Overseas Shipholding Group, one of the premier energy transportation companies in the world, together with its partner Qatar Gas Transport Company, has recently signed a contract for the largest LNG carriers on order to date.Two of these 216 000 m3 vessels will be constructed at Hyundai Heavy Industries and two at Samsung Heavy Industries – all four will be built to DNV class. ll the vessels will incorporate pioneering features–– two slow speed engines, twin screws and reliquefaction plant. The GTT Mark III cargo containment design will be applied for these vessels. The vessels are scheduled for delivery between last quarter of 2007 and first quarter of 2008.They are part of Qatar’s planned LNG shipbuilding program which ultimately could comprise over 50 LNG carriers. Many of these will deliver Qatar LNG to the UK and US, and also Europe and Asia. A 46 SEATEC 2005 In 1962 DNV invented the double corrugated membrane cargo containment system which was patented and later developed further by the French. The double corrugated membrane is today used as primary gas barrier in the Mark III system. In its continuing efforts to serve and support the LNG industry, DNV recently accepted an invitation to become an associate member of The Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO). The of the membership of SIGTTO to DNV compliments the increasing association DNV has with many of the major LNG players throughout the world. At the same time, the membership enables DNV to make the experience gained from considerable investment in research and development available to a wider audience for the benefit of the LNG industry. www.dnv.com