Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has topped 8,000 ships in its classed fleet, which now totals over 60m gt. With the delivery of the high speed passenger ferry Superstar from Fincantieri to its owners Tallink in April 2008, the BV classed fleet reached more than 60.2 m gt and 8,000 ships.
The continuing strong fleet growth follows excellent financial results reported in April, with the BV group posting a turnover of Euro2.067bn, up 12 per cent on 2006, and adjusted net profit up 19 per cent. Both figures reflected guidance given before a successful IPO in October 2007, and the forecast for group growth in 2008 is 15 per cent overall.
However the Marine Division outperformed the rest of the group in 2007 and continues to grow strongly, not only in the classed fleet but in a wide range of services to owners.
Bernard Anne, managing director of Bureau Veritas’ marine division, writes in the BV Marine Business Review 2007-2008, “We have experienced strong growth during 2007 across the group, and the Marine Division put in a very strong performance. It is very much at the heart of the global BV group, leading by example. Our cutting edge research into very large containerships, fatigue and hydrodynamics in offshore structures, into ice navigation and into all aspects of gas carriage ensures that we are at the forefront of technology. At the same time close co-operation with Chinese and other design companies and heavy investment in training of surveyors and plan approval staff mean that we can meet market demand for CSR compliant ships quickly and ensure that modern, robust vessels are available to meet demand. This year will bring new challenges, in regulation, in getting cleaner, and in helping technical development of emerging shipyards in Asia. Bureau Veritas will be focusing its world leading resources on all three areas and we expect another successful year.”
The Marine Business Review 2007- 2008 details the activities of BV’s marine division in all its sectors and highlights some key clients.
The Bureau Veritas classed fleet has experienced rapid growth since 2004, rising from 41m gt in 2004 to 60.2m gt in April 2008. The number of classed ships grew from 6,650 ships at the beginning of 2004 to 8,015 ships classed in April 2008 Strong growth continues as so far this year
305 ships totalling more than 2,700,000 gt have joined the register, against 215 ships totalling 0.8mgt and with an average age of 18.9 years leaving BV class.
The breakdown of ships newly classed in April shows 63 new constructions delivered totalling more than 730,000 gt and 22 ships classed after construction totalling 270,000 gt transferring to BV. The average age of the ships classed after construction which joined BV in April 2008 is 7.03 years, which together with the new constructions delivered, reduces the average age of the whole BV classed fleet to 15.6 years.
Among the new constructions delivered in April 2008, highlights include four liquefied gas carriers, two of them over 100,000 gt, three passenger ships, one of them over 90,000 gt, three bulk carriers, one of them over 90,000 gt, three container ships and fifteen mid-size tankers.
