Bureau Veritas digital certificates may now be issued on behalf of 52 flag states, representing 72% of the BV-classed fleet, the classification society said in a press release. In 2017, BV issued more than 50,000 e-certificates for different services including the inspection of shipping containers.
E-certificates simplify administrative work, and can be delivered by email or made accessible via the My VeriSTAR mobile application and the VeriSTAR Info desktop portal, reducing the administrative burden both on-board and ashore.
Patrick Le-Dily, vp Legal Compliance & Regulatory Management, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore said: “With a significant number of flag states providing their support to this project we now expect to see the rapid development of e-certification. The pace of that development should increase as more flag states come on board.”
Emphasising confidence and security, BV has worked with electronic signature experts Cert Europe on the electronic signature feature of the new digital certificates, as well as made sure they have been developed in compliance with IMO guidelines FAL 5/Circ.39/Rev 2, which invites flag state administrations to ensure adequate national legislation is in place for the use and acceptance of electronic certificates.
“We continue to digitize the class business,” said operational excellence and information systems vp Laurent Hentges. “Our e-certification capability now provides the industry with the opportunity to benefit from further digital efficiency – reducing administration, reducing costs and improving accuracy with peace of mind, under-written by a secured solution,” he added.
Hentges also noted: “Bureau Veritas solutions are scalable, to anticipate possible technology developments. For example e-certificates data could be moved from Bureau Veritas system into a blockchain, where the maritime data could be shared and made directly transparent to the involved stakeholders.”
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