International classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) has put in place a completely new IT-based certification and ship status system. It is aimed at reducing the workload of shipowners and operators and simplifying access to ship information and status.
The new Certificate of Classification contains only the key identity of the ship and notation information. It is printed on recycled paper embossed with a logo to prevent fraudulent copies. All the other information which used to be attached as annexes is now updated electronically and can be accessed by owners and by charterers and port authorities if given access by the owner.
Ship Status Online
Authorised users can go to https://www.veristar.com[veristar.com] and print off what they need on Ship Status. It can be tailored to be as detailed or a simple as they require. The new Ship Status is made up of a number of sections (ship particulars, owner/manager information, cargo and ballast capacities, class and statutory status, planned inspection items, 1-year survey planner, continuous and/or PMS lists, regulatory information, BV contacts) and the shipowner may decide to print each of these sections separately according to the information needed. The section Class and Statutory Status contains all certificates, which is what most authorities and charterers need, surveys, audits, recommendations, non-conformities and memoranda. The owner can print this section completely or only the to-do list, and in that case the owner may choose items due in 1, 2 or 3 months.
Planning Maintenance
At the same time the ship status has been enhanced, which will help with planning maintenance and surveys. There is a graphical presentation of all surveys, audits, recommendations, non-conformities and planned maintenance and continuous survey items due in the next 12 months. The new system also allows the ship’s staff to update the central record via VeriSTAR Info when planned maintenance items have to be done by a specific date. The item is then verified by a BV surveyor on the next ship visit.
Picture: example of a 1-year survey planner
