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DNV says its Triple-E environmental rating scheme has received positive feedback from the shipping industry after one year of pilot projects with a selection of shipowners.

Introduced at NorShipping, Oslo in June 2009, the DNV Triple-E (Environmental and Energy Efficiency) rating scheme is used to set targets, monitor improvements and document success across a range of performance benchmarks.

The tool was originally introduced to shipowners and Seaspan Ship Management, one of the world’s leading containership owners, has been among the pilot users.

“Being involved in this project proves to our charterers, investors and the public that we are being proactive about protecting the environment and managing fuel consumption,” said Peter Curtis, Vice President and responsible for the overall operations and commercial management of the vessels at Seaspan.

“Seaspan sees the DNV Triple-E as a good way to support our efforts in reducing our impact on the environment and at the same time preparing ourselves for the uncertainty of upcoming regulations. The DNV Triple-E will enable Seaspan to determine the energy efficiency and environmental status of our ships. We will measure our energy consumption and take steps to manage and reduce it, thereby improving the overall efficiency of our entire fleet,” Curtis added.

“Experience over the past year has highlighted the advantages of the DNV Triple-E scheme. It is based upon sound environmental management practices, fuel efficient operations, energy efficient ship design and verifiable monitoring systems and the documentation meets these needs too,” said Per Holmvang, DNV’s Environmental Programme Director who is in charge of developing this tool.

Tor Svensen, the president of DNV commented: “When I introduced the tool a year ago, I was convinced that there was a need for it. Documentation of fact is what is needed to measure the improvements we are searching for. In a world, and particularly a shipping world, where the carbon footprint is becoming more and more important to the end user, tools like Triple-E brings these facts to the table.”