Technology Qualification: Facilitating maritime innovation

Several completely novel technologies have emerged in shipping in recent years, increasing the energy efficiency of vessels or facilitating the use of alternative fuels. However, due to their novelty, many of these innovations operate beyond the confines of established regulatory frameworks. This creates uncertainty that can negatively impact the innovation process.  

“Many shipowners are currently evaluating the adoption of novel technologies at different stages of readiness. However, this introduces inherent risks concerning the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures and fosters uncertainty with respect to investment decisions,” says Carl Erik Høy-Petersen, Business Development Leader, Maritime Advisory at DNV.

The need for a different approach to support new technologies

These uncertainties have created a need for assurance in the development of novel technologies. With the Technology Qualification process, DNV Maritime Advisory provides clients with high-end consultancy throughout the innovation process, independent from its Class services. 

“Technology is often far ahead of regulation in the maritime sector, so we need alternative approaches to ensure safe implementation of innovative technologies. This inspired Technology Qualification as a methodology and process at DNV,” says Johan Iseskär, Principal Engineer, Maritime Advisory at DNV. “With this we have been able to qualify a variety of maritime technologies, such as fuel cells in cruise ships, propulsion systems waste treatment systems, and the introduction of new ship fuels, among others.” 

How does DNV’s Technology Qualification process work?

Technology Qualification (TQ) provides evidence that technology will function within specified limits with an acceptable level of confidence. In practical terms, this means that companies wanting to develop novel concepts will engage with DNV from the early stages of their innovation process to gain an independent evaluation of their technology.

DNV experts work closely with clients in developing a deeper understanding of their technology, focusing on several different perspectives, such as safety, efficiency, operability and profitability. The results provide the clients with insights into how their technology can fail at any stage of its journey, supporting them in establishing a more robust development, manufacturing, testing and commissioning plan. Identification of technical, compliance, safety or performance issues at the earliest possible point in the development process helps minimize cost and time of rework. This way the TQ process helps reduce the cost of qualifying new technologies and reduces time to market. 

Iterative approach for social and economic realities

At the core of the TQ process is an iterative, systematic approach, which deals with each stage of the technological journey. This starts with an initial qualification basis, working through technology assessment and threat assessment (HAZID, FMECA), all the way through to qualification plan, qualification execution and performance assessment. If the technology is deemed to be below the required standards, practical recommendations will be made, usually resulting in alterations.  

“As a main principle, we engage in close dialogue with our clients, leveraging their knowledge and expertise alongside that of our subject matter experts at DNV. Together, we systematically address challenges and uncertainties and identify inherent hazards in each technology,” says Iseskär. “This provides us with a high-level risk assessment, not only covering safety-related matters but also looking at other important aspects like efficiency, maintainability, profitability, public opinion and environmental aspects. The holistic approach prepares the technology for social and economic realities.”

Candela P-12 developed with the TQ process

Advantages of hydrofoil technology

Hydrofoil technology – where a foil lifts the vessel up from the water as it gathers speed – has a range of benefits. “The key advantage is that the hydrofoil system reduces energy consumption by more than 90% compared to conventional diesel vessels, if one calculates savings from energy converted from battery/diesel to propulsion,” explains Kratz. “This in turn enables long range and high speed on battery power only – a first in the industry – and halves operational costs.”

Low wake generation perfect for urban environment

Hydrofoil technology is also ideal for operation in busy urban environments, where vessels often face added restrictions. 

“One of the key advantages of this technology is that it has low wake generation,” continues Kratz. “This makes it exempt from speed limits in cities like Stockholm, which increases its attraction as a passenger ferry.” 

Early partnership with DNV in TQ process

“Candela consulted DNV at an early stage of the development,” says Kristoffer Uulas, Senior Consultant, Maritime Advisory at DNV. “They had questions about safety and compliance but also about how to navigate the approval process for a new technology that doesn’t fit any of the currently existing rules.” 

This early engagement with DNV experts provided Candela with the confidence that their concept was fundamentally sound, smoothing the path of further technological progress and development. “We moved from the general concept of the foiling technology through to HAZID challenges and uncertainties,” says Uulas. “This provided a solid basis for the qualification and further development of the technology.”

The identification of potential hazards and pitfalls throughout the TQ process often led to alterations to the originally planned technological pathway. Mitigation of potential risks and failure modes was ensured by executing the qualification plans, providing evidence through analyses and tests, and adding control measures in design, manufacturing installation, commissioning operation and maintenance.  

“Doing this has made the P-12 safe, robust, and prepared to deal with any challenges that it might face in the future,” says Iseskär. 

“There have been a lot of changes and iterations to the design along the way and DNV has been a vital part in helping Candela navigate this map, providing evidence through the qualification plan,” adds Kratz.

Greater levels of safety and redundancy with TQ process

Clearly understanding the risk picture has helped the Swedish innovators to adjust the technology to achieve a higher level of safety and redundancy, beyond the initial plans. 

“Rather that merely aiming for compliance, Candela chose throughout the process to have more redundancy and more safety functionality than required. This has increased the vessel’s reliability, minimizing the risk of safety incidents or technical failures in the future,” explains Iseskär.

TQ process provides basis for future safety and operability

As the successful launch of the Candela P-12 prototypes in 2023 has shown, close cooperation with DNV through the TQ process provides a sound basis to assure future safety performance and operability, increasing the likelihood of vessels reaching full development stage, while also improving their future economic prospects. 

“Introducing a totally new type of vessel, which is significantly more sustainable than anything that has come before, has been a complex process,” concludes Kratz. “Drawing on DNV’s experience and expertise through the TQ process and partnering with some of the foremost experts in marine safety has been invaluable to its development.”

View image copyright information