A maritime industry working group chaired by BIMCO has released version 1.0 of two complementary frameworks for exchanging vessel operating data and emissions information, Hellenic Shipping News reported. The Operational Vessel Data (OVD) and Vessel Emissions Reporting (VER) frameworks are voluntary and introduce no additional reporting duties. They are intended to reduce duplication when information moves between ships, shipping companies, software providers, verifiers and other authorised users.
The Joint Industry Working Group operates under the Tripartite forum, which brings together shipowners and operators, shipbuilders and classification societies. Its work responds to the use of differing reporting systems and formats that can require the same information to be repeatedly entered, mapped and checked. According to the report, the IMO Data Collection System and the EU Monitoring, Reporting and Verification system have increased demand for reliable maritime emissions information, while differences between datasets can add manual work and inconsistencies.
OVD sets out shared data elements, terminology, units and structures for exchanging vessel operating and fuel-consumption information. It leaves organisations free to choose their onboard collection methods, software and storage arrangements. VER provides standardised emissions outputs, including verification status, for reporting periods chosen by users. Its potential applications include charter-party performance, Emissions Trading Schemes cost allocation, FuelEU pooling and other commercial arrangements. Together, the frameworks aim to enable information collected once to serve multiple reporting and verification purposes.
The initiative builds on BIMCO and International Association of Classification Societies work to incorporate emissions-reporting data into the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business. OVD originated in a DNV framework, while VER developed from a ClassNK draft, with both subsequently shaped through industry collaboration. Hellenic Shipping News reported that Bureau Veritas has already adopted OVD for emissions data collection, while RINA is taking steps to introduce it into its reporting processes.
Implementation experience will guide further changes to definitions, guidance, tools and data structures. The working group will also examine options for independent, broadly representative governance, with an emphasis on open participation and transparent decisions. No final governance model has been chosen, and the group will retain oversight until a suitable successor structure is ready.