Bureau Veritas sets up Deepwater Technology Research Centre in Singapore with support from MPA's Maritime Cluster Fund

Bureau Veritas (BV) will be unveiling its Deepwater Technology Research Centre (DTRC) in Singapore. The Centre aims to provide advanced technical solutions and innovations to BV clients in the Asia-Pacific region, which will reinforce the level and quality of its real-time support. The setup of the DTRC will be supported by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's (MPA) Maritime Cluster Fund (MCF).

The DTRC is the first BV Technology Research Centre in the Asia-Pacific region and will benefit from the enhancement to the MCF, which was expanded in June 2013 to cover the setting up of R&D and Test Centres, critical components in developing a maritime knowledge hub, in Singapore.

Mr Matthieu de Tugny, BV's Vice-President for Marine & Offshore, South Asia Zone said, "Singapore was chosen as the site for the DTRC because of its strategic geographical location and its current position as a leading hub for the building and conversion of offshore units. It was also deemed to be the ideal choice because it is very well served by quality institutions and higher education establishments, and because it has world-class infrastructural links and a well-established and widely respected R&D strategy. Research and development is essential to the success of Bureau Veritas. Our technical innovations anticipate our clients' future needs and maintain BV's leading position in the ever-growing international market place.

"The aim of the DTRC is to reinforce scientific and technical co-operation with local universities and industry. Working with Singaporean universities and local industry leaders, Bureau Veritas is keen to generate joint work projects and perform research and development activities based on high-level technical innovation. It is intended to disseminate knowledge and technical knowhow, to set up an R&D forum to share knowledge and generate joint industry projects, and to establish a forum which will constitute a working platform for technical personnel to meet, discuss and identify critical issues, to propose appropriate technical solutions and to share technical knowledge."

Mr Lam Yi Young, MPA's Chief Executive said, "MPA is happy to support BV in the setup of its Deepwater Technology Research Centre in Singapore. Since the expansion of the MCF scheme, this is the second R&D test centre to open in Singapore. We are encouraged by the positive response and we encourage interested companies to come forward with their proposals. The setup of R&D and Test Centres will develop Singapore's capabilities in the field of maritime R&D and technology."

The DTRC will be headed by Dr Xiaobo Chen, who graduated from Tsinghua University (China) and received his Ph.D in Hydrodynamics from ECN (France). Dr Chen has been working in Bureau Veritas since 1991 successively as Research Engineer, Head of hydrodynamic & mooring section and Director of International R&D Cooperation.

The Centre will provide a platform for the technologically innovative resolution of issues by highly skilled personnel. Using BV's state-of-the-art software tools, the DTRC will be conducting applied research in the key R&D areas of hydrodynamics, hydro-structures, mooring and riser systems, computational fluid dynamics, and renewable energy.

BV expects that over S$7 million will be invested over a five-year period in up to 10 R&D projects and is in discussions with local stakeholders on possible collaborations.
 
Jointly issued by Bureau Veritas and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

About Bureau Veritas (BV)

Bureau Veritas is a world leader in conformity assessment and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has 59,000 employees in around 1,330 offices and laboratories located in 140 countries. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.
 
About the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996, with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre (IMC), and to advance and safeguard Singapore's strategic maritime interests. MPA is the driving force behind Singapore's port and maritime development, taking on the roles of Port Authority, Port Regulator, Port Planner, IMC Champion, and National Maritime Representative. MPA partners the industry and other agencies to enhance safety, security and environmental protection in our port waters, facilitate port operations and growth, expand the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and promote maritime R&D and manpower development.