Welcome to the VOF
The Vessel Operators Forum (VOF) is a platform for ship owners, operators, designers, yards, suppliers, R&D-institutes and regulatory agencies and class societies to exchange experience on operational aspects of ships and to discuss the common need for new technology for future ship operations.
Our Story
The VOF was officially launched on November 21, 2007 in Gothenburg at the occasion of the progress meetings of the Lashing@Sea JIP and the Service Performance Analysis (SPA) JIP, hosted by Stena. The Forum is organised by MARIN and hosted by one of its members. Forum meetings are combined with progress meetings of relevant JIPs initiated and supported by vessel operators. Meetings are organised every 6 months.
New VOF Chairman
A new chairman was appointed due to the retirement of Henk van den Boom, who established the VOF in 2007. His legacy will be continued by Patrick Hooijmans, Team leader of the Transport and Shipping team. The VOF continues its valuable research into better ships from both a safety and economic point of view, the focus of ongoing JIPs WiSP3 and Tripping.
Expanding Beyond FPSOs
Mission: To support vessel operators with adequate R&D and maritime technology development in a joint effort with all stakeholders.
Vision: The VOF will be a platform for ideas where technical issues can be identified, commonality gauged, and JIPs initiated where independently supported. Proposed JIPs can be presented to the right people across all involved organisations at one time.
Our Strategy
Focus on performance, structural and energy saving issues. Meet regularly and move the venue around the world to share the burden of travel. Present on topical issues, mix with information sharing and field trips to local areas of technical interest. Invite organisations proposing JIPs to speak. Include the right organisations, designers, owners, fabricators, regulatory agencies, operators, and class societies. Maintain liaison with related technical organisations.
