The maritime industry's journey towards decarbonisation depends on many things, and the ability to collect, share and use reliable vessel data is one of the most important.
That's why GTT Marine welcomes the release of version 1.0 of the Operational Vessel Data (OVD) and Vessel Emissions Reporting (VER) frameworks, developed by the Tripartite Joint Industry Working Group (JIWG).
Chaired by BIMCO, the group brings together representatives from INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, the IACS Safe Digital Transformation Panel, ClassNK, DNV, Bureau Veritas, the RINA classification society, Lloyd's Register, ABS, Korean Register and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), alongside other industry participants.
Building on initial work by DNV on OVD and ClassNK on VER, the two voluntary frameworks establish common formats for exchanging operational vessel data, fuel-consumption information and verified emissions reporting results.
OVD standardises how operational data is structured and exchanged, while VER provides a consistent approach to sharing emissions information for commercial and regulatory purposes. Together, they address longstanding challenges caused by data fragmentation across different systems, formats and reporting processes.
Standardisation without sacrificing flexibility
Shipping companies operate vessels equipped with systems from multiple manufacturers, often across mixed fleets with different levels of digital maturity. Collecting information from these environments is challenging enough without having to repeatedly convert and reconcile data for different applications.
An important part of the solution lies in combining technology-agnostic data collection with greater standardisation in how information is exchanged.
This is an approach familiar to GTT Marine through our longstanding experience in vessel data acquisition. Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs) have provided a foundation for capturing information from different navigation and safety systems for decades, while the development of the Vessel Remote Server (VRS) extended the possibilities for aggregating high-frequency operational data and transmitting it securely to shore.
The VRS also illustrates the importance of flexibility. It is not dependent on a Voyage Data Recorder / by Danelec and can work alongside equipment from other manufacturers or collect data directly from onboard sensors and systems. This reflects a wider industry need for solutions that accommodate different vessel configurations without restricting how the resulting data can be used.
The OVD and VER frameworks complement this approach. They do not prescribe how data must be collected, but instead seek to establish a common language through which different systems can communicate.
Connecting emissions reporting with better decisions
The value of standardisation is particularly clear when it comes to fuel consumption and emissions reporting. With IMO DCS, EU MRV, EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime placing growing demands on shipping companies, accurate and consistent data has become essential not only for regulatory compliance but also for commercial decision-making.
Solutions such as GTT Marine's Emissions Compliance Module already help streamline the transfer of emissions information to classification societies and verification providers. But reporting is only part of the equation. Across the industry, the integration of onboard data acquisition with vessel performance analytics, voyage optimisation and emissions management is creating opportunities to use the same underlying information for multiple purposes.
For example, fuel-consumption data collected for compliance can also help operators understand vessel efficiency, assess the impact of speed and routing decisions, and identify opportunities to reduce emissions.
This relationship between data integration and decision-making was highlighted in GTT Marine's recent research with Thetius, The Great Integration. The report found that shipping's digital challenge is increasingly about connecting existing systems and turning available information into better decisions, rather than simply collecting more data.
Common data formats can help make those connections easier, allowing information to move between systems with less duplication and manual intervention.
Better data for a lower-carbon future
Ultimately, the importance of OVD and VER extends beyond simplifying reporting. Reliable fuel-consumption and emissions data helps operators understand how their vessels perform, identify inefficiencies and evaluate the impact of operational changes. It also provides the transparency needed to manage regulatory obligations and associated commercial risks.
Standardisation alone will not reduce emissions. Data quality, verification and the ability to act on information remain essential. But by making trusted data easier to exchange and reuse, these frameworks can strengthen the foundations for more effective decarbonisation.
Their success will depend on widespread adoption and continued collaboration between shipowners, technology providers, classification societies and other industry stakeholders.
GTT Marine welcomes this industry-led initiative and the progress it represents towards a more connected, transparent and efficient maritime sector. Shipping needs different technologies to work together, turning reliable operational data into better decisions that keep vessels moving efficiently while reducing their carbon footprint.
