Paillette Palaiologou, Vice President for the Hellenic Black Sea & Adriatic Zone, Bureau Veritas
COVID-19 UPDATE – Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
Protecting our people and your people Bureau Veritas is managing the consequences of the global coronavirus outbreak, protecting health and helping ensure global business continuity
Safety is our absolute priority. The health of our teams, of our teams’ families and of our clients is our top priority. At Bureau Veritas, we have implemented a coordinated approach at global and local levels. Globally we have in place clear guidance for our people and all their interactions prioritizing health, safety and welfare. Measures have been established to ensure that Marine & Offshore surveys and delivery of services can continue, and that requirements for certificate continuity can be addressed to minimize the chance of operational disruption. If either physical or remote surveys are impossible short-term certificate extensions will be available.
Our extensive network of offices will be able to address any questions related to global survey and service delivery. Please check our Directory.
The following measures are in place:
Strict adherence to applicable government and health authority instructions and guidelines
Requirements to follow mandatory and self-isolation requirements
Travel restrictions
Quarantine protocols
Remote working for our people whenever possible
Use of protective equipment, including masks, gloves, soap, hand-sanitizers and temperature monitors
Strict adherence to and support of site security access controls – as well as site health and safety measures
Ensuring our global network is educated in updated coronavirus prevention measures – we are in constant contact with our people to address any concerns and questions
Remote working and Bureau Veritas remote surveys
Remote working, remote surveys and service delivery are enabling business continuity as a response to managing the crisis. Remote verification is enabling testing to occur with remotely located BV, client and stakeholder teams providing complete confidence to all involved. Bureau Veritas has developed proven tools required for remote operations and these are in use for effective service delivery. [See below]
Further measures / next steps – limiting disruption and maintaining certificate validity Further measures and additional hygiene and preventive controls may need to be deployed as the virus continues to spread. BV is following the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) and working with flag administrations to help ensure certificate validity. Thanks to e-certification capabilities BV is able to issue certificates without physical interaction further limiting the risks of spreading the virus. Instructions and guidelines to all our people are managed by our Group crisis team.
We will keep all our stakeholders informed as the situation continues to develop and will be doing our best to keep our people, your people and society safe – as we have been doing since 1828. Further COVID-19 updates will be posted on our Marine & Offshore website https://marine-offshore.bureauveritas.com/
The practical application of BV’s remote survey capability
The ability to witness or direct the testing and certification on camera is connecting BV expertise with local teams and suppliers and clients to provide guidance, direction and accurate decision making.
An example was the survey in early February of an engine test conducted jointly between Paris and a facility in China with multiple stakeholders also witnessing the test process. A BV machinery expert located in Paris, the BV network office in Germany and an equipment maker in Europe were able to witness testing in a facility in China where BV surveyors were present.
Using real time video communication tools, any stakeholders unable to travel due to COVID-19 restrictions were able to be virtually present and to witness and contribute to confirming an important test procedure.
Laurent Leblanc, BV’s Senior Vice-President, Technical & Operations: ‘This capability is really just starting to make an impact for our clients and stakeholders but we are well advanced in developing the necessary evolution to our rules, our procedures and connecting the remote survey technology with our digital platforms and tools.’
‘Remote service delivery will become a part of everyday life for us.’
‘The capability does not replace our surveyors but allows speed of access and connectivity between teams and stakeholders to enable decisions to be made quickly and with confidence.’
Commenting, Shanghai based Claude Maillot Senior Vice-President, Marine & Offshore, for BV in North Asia, said, ‘This is a real and practical solution – available right now as well as being a key capability for the future of classification. This remote survey capability allows us to provide remote service delivery to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.’
Paillette Palaiologou,
Vice President for the Hellenic Black Sea & Adriatic Zone, Bureau Veritas
