Background
The public sector is a significant purchaser of maritime services, and from January 2024, the government mandates a minimum 30% environmental weighting in all public procurements. Procurement of maritime services related to seabed surveys is part of this initiative. These procurements are performed by public agencies such as the Norwegian Mapping Authority, the Norwegian Coastal Administration, and the Norwegian Offshore Directorate (formerly the Norwegian Oil Directorate), as well as private players like Equinor and state-owned companies such as Statnett.
The surveys are used in connection with projects related to offshore wind power, cables, oil and gas, pipelines, navigation, deep sea minerals, marine management, and more. Providers of these services depend on clear and predictable climate and environmental requirements from their clients in tender processes, allowing them the predictability needed to invest in new green ships and equipment.
Pilot study objectives
This pilot aims to develop unified green criteria for the procurement of maritime services related to seabed surveys and to coordinate these criteria among stakeholders to enhance predictability and efficiency. Particularly, this means:
- Establishing procurement criteria for the Norwegian Mapping Authority
- Developing a common standard/guide for procurement criteria
Such criteria can also serve as a basis for the application of green procurement criteria in other segments of maritime offshore services, and even in entirely different segments such as aerial mapping.
Final goal of the pilot
To reduce emissions from all maritime services related to seabed surveys.
Status
The pilot has commenced on May 31 2024 at DNV in Høvik. Interested partners are still welcome to express their interest in participating in the pilot.