Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) and Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore (BVS) have signed a cooperation agreement with PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP to advance innovative solutions for expedition vessels, focusing on maritime decarbonisation through PONANT’s Swap2Zero initiative.
The partnership combines the technical, regulatory and operational expertise of the three organisations to support next-generation vessel development.
Collaboration areas include regulatory guidance, technical studies, advanced modelling, risk analysis, certification and classification pathways, and broader industry engagement on decarbonisation solutions.
At the heart of the agreement is the Swap2Zero project, a transoceanic passenger vessel concept designed for near-zero operational emissions.
The initiative integrates multiple advanced technologies to enable more sustainable maritime operations.
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Bureau Veritas will provide classification, certification, regulatory assessment and rule development expertise, while BVS contributes modelling, technical studies and risk analysis.
Together with PONANT’s operational experience, the parties aim to derisk the integration of new technologies, streamline approvals, and facilitate future deployment.
David Barrow, SVP for Western Europe and Americas at Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, said: “This cooperation agreement with PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP reflects our shared ambition to accelerate the decarbonisation of the maritime sector.
“By combining PONANT’s innovation leadership with Bureau Veritas’ expertise in classification, safety, risk and technical advisory services, we aim to help advance practical and scalable solutions for the next generation of lower-carbon expedition vessels.”
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Mathieu Petiteau, Newbuilding and R&D Director at PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP, added: “This cooperation agreement embodies our commitment and our joint efforts to decarbonise the maritime sector, through the upskilling of our teams on new technologies and new energies, by advancing in the deployment and integration of innovative technologies on board ships, while controlling risks and offering real case studies for the application of new regulations.”
The agreement reflects a wider push across the maritime sector to develop decarbonisation solutions, combining shipowner expertise, technical advisory, and classification knowledge to accelerate the adoption of low-emission technologies.
