1687 – 1864 Origin
What was the basic reason for DNV's foundation?
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Events in the shipping world leading up to the foundation of DNV in 1864:
1687: Norwegian Law enforced ship insurance.
1828: Bureau Veritas was founded in Belgium. However, Lloyds was the first classification society, established in UK in 1790.
1864: Det Norske Veritas was founded 14 June 1864, because Norwegian insurance companies wanted an alternative to Bureau Veritas.
Facts and figures during the first year
The budget for the first year covered the cost of:
•one director
•one assistant
•eight surveyors
After only one year of operation, 1100 wooden ships were classified. Initially, the insurance companies' "rules" of 1853 were used.
1864 - Establishment
Why was Det Norske Veritas established?
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1864 - DNV was established due to
• Ship-owners needed insurance to reduce their risk.
• Underwriters (ship assurance) needed someone to establish standards for ships.
• Underwriters needed someone to ensure that the standards were met.
All ships were to be recorded in an annually updated ship register for common publication.
1867 - Rules Wooden Ships
Were DNV rules for wooden ships stricter than those of Lloyds and Bureau Veritas?
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1867 - saw the height of development of wooden ships. It also saw the Publication of DNV's first set of rules
• The first DNV rules were applicable to wooden ships up to 500 t.
• These rules were stricter than those of Lloyds and Bureau Veritas.
• Table dimensions were included for oak and pine.
• The periodicity for the classification was 9 years for oak and 7 years for pine.
• The rules had cargo restrictions.
1871 - Rules Iron Ships
What is the Plimsoll Line which is also called the Plimsoll Mark?
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1871- The DNV Rules for Iron Ships were issued:
• Classification according to the rules was voluntary. It was assumed that iron ships could endure any cargo!
• In 1871 having a loadline mark was also voluntary. A load line on the hull of a cargo ship indicates the maximum depth to which the ship can be safely loaded. Two years later, Samuel Plimsoll gave his speech "Our Seamen" - An Appeal, in the British Houses of Parliament. The Parliament, in the Merchant Shipping Act of 1875, provided for the marking of all cargo ships.
• The Plimsoll Line/Mark
The marking of the load line was called
the Plimsoll line, or Plimsoll Mark. It
became an internationally agreed
reference line marking, after the British
government started requiring all ships
visiting its ports to have the mark.
1953 - Rules Steel Ships
What was the theoretical basis for the rules?
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1953 - The DNV Rules for Steel Ships were issued, including formulae
Rules for Steel Ships
• The theoretical basis for the rules consisted of mathematical formulae based on the accumulated research and experience with regards to the strength of steel.
• Formulae were included for dimensioning of shaft and machinery components, hull scantlings (i.e., the dimensions of ship frames, girders, plating, etc.)
• 100%-welded hulls were accepted. Riveting was the preceding method for joining steel plating together. The rivets were very hot when inserted, pressing the plates together when the temperature dropped. The riveter had to do his job quickly to achieve this.
• The rules were widely used as a design standard.
1966 – Technical
Development
Rapid development in ship technology - how did DNV handle this challenge?
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1966
Advanced methods for strength calculations and active Classification.
Complex structures
• Rapid development in ship technology required more advanced methods of strength calculations.
• For complex calculations, large computers replaced the slide rule. The slide rule was an analogue-computing device. However, before the advent of the PC, simpler calculations were still performed by the rule.
Active classification
• Contribute to the technical development and incorporate this in the rules.
• Participate during design-phase to incorporate safety in the basic design.
1970-2003:
Oil & Gas
Which events led to the establishment of Technology Services?
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Discovery of oil
DNV’s history in the oil and gas industry began with the discovery of oil off the coast of Norway (Ekofisk field). We have played a key role in the development of the system of safety control. This spans from being appointed to do control work for the Norwegian authorities, to shaping the risk assessment methodology within the oil and gas industry.
Tragic events
The development of our risk analysis work has been directly influenced by experience gained from big accidents such as the ”Bravo” blow-out (1977), the tragic capsizing of the ”Alexander Kielland” platform (1980), and the disastrous fire on the British ”Piper Alpha”(1988).
1977 - First set of rules
DNV’s developed the first complete set of rules and standards for permanent offshore platforms in 1977, and these were accepted as the international industrial standard for many years.
Pipeline Constructions
Based on control inspections in the offshore industry, DNV was central in both development and design of Pipeline constructions. Our laboratory has been central in development, repair methods and fatigue evaluation and testing.
The Blue Stream Project
One of the latest DNV projects in the oil & gas industry is The Blue Stream certification project, which was successfully completed in February 2003. The Russian gas giant Gazprom requested DNV’s services in the realisation of Blue Stream gas pipelines over a five year period. The pipelines carry gas from Russia to Turkey, 2,150 metres below the Black Sea.
1984 - 3rd party Classification
and Certification Services
v.s Advisory Services
Why did DNV organise advisory services into a separate unit?
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1984 - Classification and certification vs. advisory body and professional resource base
The presidents address to the Veritas Council - Quoted from the presidents address on 24 May 1984:
'One important consequence of restructuring is that advisory services have been given a position parallel to independent safety and quality assurance activities.'
'To clearly define these two types of services, an organisational distinction has been made between DNV as an independent quality assurance authority on the one hand, and as an advisory body and professional resource base on the other. This distinction, with delineated procedures and performances of services, will also maintain the competence and integrity of the institution as a whole.'
1988 - 2003:
Certification
Which events lead to building up Certification Services from nothing to a billion NOK industry in 15 years?
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Certification history
1988
DNV in The Netherlands and UK received accreditation from Dutch and British accreditation bodies respectively as a Certification Body to certify company's Quality Management Systems. It was the start of a new business in DNV, Accredited Management System Certification, which has grown to a Billion NOK activity in less than 15 years.
1994-1996
Development of the first common instructions and guidelines for certification units in DNV. The first International instructions were issued, the ICPs (International Certification Process). Accredited Environmental Certification started, the beginning of the development of different management system standards that DNV could certify to under national accreditations. EU directives for various products made it mandatory to have the products that entered the market in EU and EEA countries certified by a Notified Body. DNV obtained notification for a wide range of products.
1998
First contract for Verification and Certification of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions obtained, the start of DNV Climate Change Services.
1999
DNV acquires the Swedish company SAQ and emerges as the market leader for certification services in Sweden. This acquisition also brought to DNV SAQ’s activity for accredited inspection services for plants, products and personnel.
Management system certificates issued by DNV passes the 25000 mark.
2002
Accreditation for verification of CO2 emissions data under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme obtained.
2003
The certificate count passes 45000, we hold more than 80 accreditations from over 20 accreditation bodies world wide. DNV is the third largest Certification Body in the world. Development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Wind Power and Food Safety Services are high on the Certification agenda.
1989-2002:
Consulting
Which events lead to the establishment of the Consulting Services?
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Consulting
1989
First contract as process consultant (assisted a paper and pulp company establishing their quality management system). Our customers developed their own system under our guidance.
1992
DNV buys the US company ILCI's safety management tool. This tool becomes an important element in quantifying risk management measurements for DNV customers.
1995
As part of a "Year2000" analysis, DNV explores the opportunity of starting a Consulting activity. The project does not succeed in formalising such an activity, but consolidates important content, business models and experiences.
2000
A pilot for testing business risk as a management consulting concept for DNV was initiated in Germany, Benelux, UK and Norway. The pilot was successfully completed in 2001 and represents learning opportunities for DNV in the consulting area. A business risk pilot project connected to using DNV as a Consulting area is successfully performed.
2002
Consulting was introduced in the DNV strategy 2002-2006 and DNV Consulting is established as a business area.