BV strengthens bulker share

Close co-operation with Chinese design companies and shipyards has helped Bureau Veritas (BV) strengthen still further its dominating position in the booming international bulk carrier market. In the period from January to July this year, more than 45% of all Handymax ships ordered worldwide were to BV class and, of the 271 newbuilding bulk carriers on BV’s books in July, no fewer than 230 were building at Chinese yards. This is clear testimony to the leading role enjoyed in this sector both by BV and by China.

BV has established a successful relationship with leading Chinese shipyards and designers, with whom it has worked closely on orders for large numbers of bulk carriers building under the Common Structural Rules, in the development of which BV has played a leading role. At the end of October 2007, BV new orders in China this year had reached 898 ships totaling 11m gt, bringing the total Chinese BV order book to 1,064 ships (13m gt).