International certification body and classification society DNV GL has entered into a bilateral framework agreement for cooperation with the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS).
DNV GL’s Maritime CEO Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen and Konstantin Palnikov, Director General of RS, signed the cooperation agreement between both class societies at the RS head office in St. Petersburg.
During their meeting, the representatives discussed prospective areas of further cooperation that would enable them to effectively complement each other, as well as cooperation aimed at improving technical standards for the safety of gas-fuelled ships.
Priority cooperation areas include ensuring compliance of ships with the requirements of the Polar Code, rendering of relevant expert assistance to stakeholders, and developing interpretations of the Code’s provisions building on RS and DNV GL’s experience.
“The new framework document sets out the general procedure for delegating authority in cases where one society performs surveys of ships classed by the other, and lays down general terms and conditions for cooperation in the area of dual classification of newbuildings and ships in service, surveys of materials and equipment for ships,” DNV GL said.
There are some 20 ships in dual RS–DNV GL class currently, according to DNV GL.