DNV GL: Standardisation to Drive Shipping’s Digital Transformation

Standardisation can enable the effective collection, storage, exchange, analysis and use of data, while contributing to improved data quality and sensor reliability in the maritime industry, a new paper by classification society DNV GL shows.

The position paper sets out the importance of standardisation in enabling the growth of digital applications in the maritime industry.

Whether for operational optimization, model calibration for digital twins, design optimization or other applications, the maritime industry is exploring the opportunities offered by digital technologies. The first demonstration and pilot projects are already well underway and the industry is asking what is needed to transform these into fully scalable products. The answer could be a greater emphasis on standardisation.

“Standards are used in many industries to advance efficiency, safety and environmental performance,” Pierre Sames, Group Technology and Research Director, DNV GL, said.

“With the rise of the Internet of Things in shipping, we believe that many stakeholders can benefit from developing a standardisation strategy to take advantage of a more digital maritime industry,” Sames added.

DNV GL’s new position paper discusses the need for standardisation in six key areas: Ship data models, sensor naming and referencing, maritime taxonomies and code books, sensor metadata, shipboard data recorder, as well as sensor quality and reliability. However, as future technologies develop, there may be a need for new standards to support other applications, such as model-based simulations and autonomous ships.

“Standards are a key factor in removing barriers and enabling the growth of digital applications in the maritime industry and we hope this study will inspire others to invest in the development and adoption of standardisation,” Sames concluded.