Geir Axel Oftedahl, heading Jotun’s strategical business development Marine, was the project manager of the ISO 19030 working group.
Geir Axel Oftedahl: We were discussing, with different stakeholders, the importance and potential of improving the hull performance of the world fleet. We agreed with IMO that ISO would be a good place to create such a standard. I was appointed as the project manager and we had a big working group with 53 members. It was one of the biggest working groups for such standard developments.
What were the intentions of the standardisation?
Oftedahl: They were to create transparency, objectivity and trust, one could say, meaning that it is clear how certain conclusions were made.
How do you see the effects of the ISO standard on the industry now, three years after the release?
Oftedahl: I think the ISO 19030 has three major effects. First: Awareness: The most important fact to me is that it has created an awareness of the importance of hull and propeller performance in the industry. There is a huge improvement potential. Second: Reference. The standard is a common reference that everyone can refer to. One can calculate according to the ISO, calculate according to an own method and explain why certain deviations occur. Third: No personal judgement. The ISO 19030 standard has its limitations, but what it is doing better than any other methodology is that it lifts judgement from the person who does the analysis.
Would you say that ISO 19030 helped companies like yours to promote premium paints?
Oftedahl: I would not take the starting point there. The ISO standard puts the fingers on ourselves. Now we are confident that when we have a high-quality product, then we have the data and methodology to verify that it works. This, of course, helps us to demonstrate the differences of a bad and a good solution. Furthermore, the ISO 19030 standard created more awareness of the importance of the choice of paint. It is a strategically important decision for a shipping company and should be treated like that.
Do you personally think that it is time to review the ISO 19030?
Oftedahl: I personally think that it is a good time to review the ISO standard, as the analysis technologies in this area have moved forward. A lot of good ideas and approaches have been presented for example at the HullPIC events. So, I definitely see a substantive point for reviewing the ISO standard.
Would your company take a leading role in the update process again?
Oftedahl: I am not sure whether we should. There was quite a big group of people who have worked with it, so I see several people or organisations that could lead the review process, but it is not my task to decide this.
