Two voluntary frameworks released today by a BIMCO-chaired industry working group give shipowners and operators a common way to share vessel operational and emissions data, so the same information no longer has to be mapped, entered and checked several times over.
Emissions reporting has become a repetitive exercise for many. The same fuel and operational data is passed to charterers, verifiers, software providers and authorities in different formats, each needing its own mapping and checks. The Tripartite Joint Industry Working Group (JIWG), chaired by BIMCO, has now released version 1.0 of the Operational Vessel Data (OVD) and Vessel Emissions Reporting (VER) frameworks to tackle that problem.
The Tripartite is a forum bringing together shipowners and operators, shipbuilders and classification societies. Both frameworks are voluntary. They create no new reporting obligations, but offer a common approach that companies may adopt to make their data exchange more efficient and consistent.
What it means for you
- Operational and fuel-consumption data can be captured once and reused for regulatory reporting, verification and commercial purposes
- Common data elements, names, units and structures mean that ships, shipping companies, software providers and verification bodies can interpret the same information in the same way
- The OVD does not prescribe how data is collected onboard, which software is used or where data is stored, so existing set-ups can remain in place
- Commercial emissions reporting, such as charter-party performance, ETS cost allocation and FuelEU pooling, can be exchanged in a standard format that includes its verification status
- Adoption is voluntary: companies can now consider how the formats fit within their existing systems and processes.
Two frameworks, one data flow
The OVD provides a structured format for exchanging operational vessel and fuel-consumption data. It defines common data elements, names, units and structures so that different systems and organisations read the information consistently.
The VER builds on this by providing standardised formats for emissions reporting where commercial practices and needs vary considerably. It gives the industry a common way to exchange emissions information, including its verification status, for reporting periods defined by the user.
In practical terms, the OVD is the underlying operational data layer and the VER is the structured output for emissions information. Together they support the industry's objective of capturing data only once and reusing it for all relevant reporting and verification.
Why this matters now
The need for accurate and trusted emissions data has grown with the IMO Data Collection System (IMO DCS) and the EU Monitoring, Reporting and Verification system (EU MRV). Although the two regimes serve different purposes, differing datasets and system formats can lead to inconsistencies, repeated data mapping and manual work along the reporting chain. The JIWG has therefore aimed for a common approach that lets data move between systems regardless of the technology or service provider used.
The work builds on earlier efforts by BIMCO and IACS to add emissions-reporting data elements to the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business. Where the Compendium provides common definitions and formats, OVD and VER add a practical framework for exchanging the data between industry systems. The OVD builds on a framework first developed by DNV, while the VER builds on an initial draft prepared by ClassNK; both were developed further through the JIWG.
“The maritime industry does not need more ways of exchanging the same information. It needs a common approach that allows data to move efficiently between organisations and systems. OVD and VER are an important step in that direction, reducing duplication and creating a stronger foundation for efficient and interoperable reporting.” - Jeppe Skovbakke Juhl, BIMCO Chief Naval Architectand chair of the JIWG
Uptake has already begun among classification societies. Bureau Veritas has adopted OVD for emissions data collection, and RINA is taking practical steps to adopt OVD within its emissions reporting processes.
What happens next
Version 1.0 is a baseline for practical use and further development. Experience from real-world implementation will show where definitions, guidance, tools or data structures need refining, and the JIWG will gather that experience alongside the findings from the industry consultation to set priorities for the next version.
The group will also assess options for moving OVD and VER to independent and broadly representative governance, with clear ownership, open participation, transparent decision-making and predictable change management. No final governance model has yet been selected, and the JIWG will continue to oversee the work in the meantime. An update will be presented at the Tripartite meeting in Tokyo on 28 October 2026.
The JIWG brings together BIMCO (chair), INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, the IACS Safe Digital Transformation Panel, ClassNK, DNV, Bureau Veritas, RINA, Lloyd’s Register, ABS, Korean Register, the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and other participating organisations.
