A BIMCO-chaired industry working group has released two complementary frameworks intended to make vessel operational and emissions information easier to exchange between maritime organisations. Hellenic Shipping News reports that version 1.0 of the Operational Vessel Data (OVD) and Vessel Emissions Reporting (VER) frameworks establishes voluntary formats rather than introducing additional reporting requirements.
The Joint Industry Working Group operates under Tripartite, which brings together shipowners and operators, shipbuilders and classification societies. Its work addresses differences between reporting systems that can require participants to repeatedly enter, map and check identical information. The frameworks build on earlier BIMCO and International Association of Classification Societies work to incorporate emissions-reporting data into the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business.
OVD sets out shared names, units and structures for exchanging vessel operational and fuel-consumption information. It leaves organisations free to choose onboard collection methods, software and storage arrangements. VER supplies standardised emissions-reporting formats for commercial uses, including charter-party performance, Emission Trading Schemes cost allocation and FuelEU pooling. It also allows users to exchange verification status for reporting periods they define. Together, the formats are intended to make operational data reusable across reporting and verification activities.
According to the report, the IMO Data Collection System and the EU Monitoring, Reporting and Verification system have increased demand for reliable emissions information, while differing datasets and formats can generate inconsistencies and manual work. OVD originated in a DNV framework, while VER developed from a ClassNK draft. Bureau Veritas said it had already adopted OVD for emissions data collection; RINA said it was taking steps to incorporate it into its reporting processes.
Practical implementation will inform subsequent changes to definitions, guidance, tools and data structures. The working group will also consider transferring the frameworks to independent governance with broad industry representation, transparent decisions and predictable procedures for revisions. No final governance arrangement has been chosen, and the group will retain oversight while alternatives are assessed and until a suitable successor structure is ready.