Wartsila and DNV GL have teamed up to collaborate on promoting and accelerating digital transformation in the marine sector.

The technology group Wartsila and classification society DNV GL signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to explore the potential use of digital technologies, collaborative data sharing, and standardisation to enhance existing products and services, and to develop new ones.

“The marine industry stands to benefit enormously from our rapidly expanding and unprecedented capabilities in collecting, compiling, processing, analysing, and distributing data digitally. Wartsila is committed to leading this digital transformation that will undoubtedly lead to greater efficiencies, better safety, and sustainability,” said Roger Holm, president of Wartsila Marine.

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Among the focus areas will be collaboration on digital technologies and big data in classification and the requirements for their use. The project will examine the application of these technologies in areas such as autonomous ships, advanced remote services, new bridge technologies, and data sharing. Cyber security will be another area of cooperation.

Knut Orbeck-Nilssen, ceo of DNV GL – Maritime, commented: ”Working together with Wartsila, we can identify and minimise the barriers to data sharing, provide innovative class and assurance services, and find ways to capitalise on the new possibilities this opens up for shipping.”

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Andrea Morgante, vice president of strategy and business development at Wartsila Marine, added that the collaboration will also enable the innovations needed for the marine sector to achieve the decarbonisation goals set out by the IMO.

The IMO’s target is to cut absolute greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% from 2008 levels by the year 2050.

Wartsila and DNV GL also pointed out that digital transformation developments can have an immediate and transformative impact on operations and existing business models.