COVID-19: Value of remote surveys

This remote nature can help customers continue to operate and deliver without disruptions to class services whilst not compromising the safety of crews and surveyors.

“In these challenging times we are seeing the benefits of the full scope of digitalisation initiatives that we have been building up over the past few years,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, chief executive, DNV GL – Maritime.

“The use of remote surveys has meant that we have been able to limit disruptions to customer operations resulting from travel bans or quarantines involving our surveyors. Ship operators are able to receive immediately updated and verified electronic certificates, which make their business dealing with class, authorities and vendors much more efficient.”

Remote surveys were first rolled out by DNV GL in October of 2018 and more than 15,000 have been completed since. In 2019, for some survey types, up to 25% of all surveys were conducted remotely, with more than one third of customers having used the service at least once.

Customers are able to request remote surveys around the clock, independent of port calls, location, and time zone. Remote surveys are being offered both through DNV GL’s global DATE (Direct Access to Technical Experts) service, delivered through teams from Høvik, Singapore, Hamburg, Houston and Piraeus and via regional offices.