- Latest addition in end-to-end integrated digital platform for classification
- Electronic certificates issued in lieu of paper certificates following agreement with both the flag administration and the ship manager
- Once issued, BV e-certificates are sent by email to the recipients agreed with the ship manager and uploaded to both the VeriSTAR Info website and the My VeriSTAR mobile application
- Solution based on leading technology and practice, aligned with IMO guidelines and reviewed with flag states
Paris-La Défense, France, February 28, 2018 – Bureau Veritas is now issuing both classification and statutory e-certificates following successful pilots with ship owners and flag states. Bureau Veritas digital certificates may now be issued on behalf of 52 flag states, representing 72% of the Bureau Veritas classed fleet.
E-certificates make life simpler for masters, ship owners and their staff as the related paperwork is time-consuming and can be expensive. E-certificates, delivered by email or accessible via the My VeriSTAR mobile application and the VeriSTAR Info desktop portal, reduce the administrative burden both on-board and ashore.
Patrick Le-Dily, Vice-President, Legal Compliance & Regulatory Management, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore commented, ‘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.’
Confidence and security are vital. Bureau Veritas implemented the electronic signature feature of the new digital certificates working with Cert Europe, electronic signature experts. Cert Europe is certified in accordance with applicable technical requirements and specifications for class and statutory certification and supports digital certification for the Bureau Veritas Group. In 2017, Bureau Veritas issued more than 50,000 e-certificates for different services including the inspection of shipping containers.
‘We continue to digitize the class business,’ commented Laurent Hentges, Vice-President, Operational Excellence and Information Systems.
‘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.’
‘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.’
Bureau Veritas e-certificates provide significant benefits for all stakeholders, providing:
- Reductions in administrative time and costs
- Secured accuracy
- Elimination of either the loss of or damage to original certificates – and the related risk of delay
- Reduced opportunities for fraud – no modification is possible without invalidating a signature
- Quicker and easier management of certification, with secure storage and easy sharing of documents among stakeholders
Bureau Veritas e-certificates display the usual content and layout of class and statutory documents and they incorporate an electronic signature. Every time a Bureau Veritas surveyor goes on-board a vessel a new version of the e-certificate is issued to reflect either the endorsement or the renewal of the required certification. Endorsement, managed via e-certification, requires that no document now will need to be manually signed and stamped.
Certificate authenticity and validity can be verified via a secure online web portal using a QR code, URL or search via the certificate’s unique tracking number.
Bureau Veritas e-certificates 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.
About Bureau Veritas
Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has more than 74,000 employees in around 1,400 offices and laboratories located all across the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility. Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and belongs to the Next 20 index.
Compartment A, ISIN code FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI.
Corporate website www.bureauveritas.com/marine-and-offshore
Marine client portal www.veristar.com
