Two voluntary industry frameworks could reduce duplicate data handling and improve the exchange of vessel operations and emissions information across the maritime sector, according to the BIMCO-chaired Tripartite Joint Industry Working Group.
The group announced the release of version 1.0 of its Operational Vessel Data (OVD) and Vessel Emissions Reporting (VER) frameworks on October 27.
The working group said the frameworks address a common reporting challenge: different systems and data formats often require shipping companies, software providers and verification bodies to repeatedly enter, convert and check the same information.
The frameworks do not introduce new reporting obligations, the group said, but provide common formats that organisations can adopt within their existing systems.
According to the group, OVD standardises the exchange of operational vessel and fuel consumption data through common definitions, units and structures. It does not prescribe how information must be collected on board, which software must be used or where data must be stored.
VER provides standardised formats for exchanging emissions information and its verification status. The group identified potential uses including charter party performance reporting, emissions trading scheme cost allocation and FuelEU pooling arrangements.
Together, the frameworks intend to allow data to be captured once and reused across reporting, verification and other processes.
“The maritime industry does not need more ways of exchanging the same information. It needs a common approach that allows data to move efficiently between organisations and systems,” said Jeppe Skovbakke Juhl, BIMCO’s Chief Naval Architect: Regulatory Affairs and Chair of the working group.
The group said differing datasets and system formats add manual work across the reporting chain as companies respond to requirements such as the International Maritime Organization’s Data Collection System and the European Union’s Monitoring, Reporting and Verification system.
Bureau Veritas Smartship Manager Vincent Joly said the company has already adopted OVD for emissions data collection. RINA’s Marine Digital and Class Solutions Operations Director, Michela Schenone, said it is taking steps to adopt OVD within its emissions reporting processes.
The working group said both frameworks and supporting material are available through BIMCO. It will use implementation experience to guide further development and assess options for independent governance. No final governance model has been selected yet.
