DNV GL unveils infection prevention certification

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime, has announced the launch of new infection prevention certification for the maritime industry during a virtual press conference.

Designed in close collaboration with DNV GL Healthcare, the assurance provided by the new Certificate for Infection Prevention – Maritime (CIP-M) has already attracted its first customer. Genting Cruise Lines intends to certify its expedition vessel, Explorer Dream, which operates under the group’s Dream Cruises Brand.

With almost all cruise vessels currently laid up, Ørbeck-Nilssen said that CIP-M is likely to appeal initially to cruise operators keen to provide reassurance to their customers, but the certification is also likely to attract other shipping companies involved in passenger transport including RoRo and RoPax operators, and conventional ferry companies. The offshore sector and ship operators generally could also be interested in the certification, he said, which has been drawn up in collaboration with DNV GL’s Cruise Center in Miami and the classification society’s Business Assurance division.

Luca Crisciotti, CEO of DNV GL – Business Assurance, also spoke at the press conference. "The ability to demonstrate trusted infection risk prevention and mitigation is a must to win back trust from consumers," he said. "Building organisational vigilance against infection risk today requires a level previously common to hospitals only."