With the advancement of digitalization and intelligentization for ships and offshore installations, massive volumes of data have been accumulated progressively. Data-related equipment and systems are playing an increasingly vital role in decision-making control, operational management and other processes. To standardize the technical framework, indicators, identifiers, models and other elements throughout the generation, transmission and application of data, and raise the standardization level of industrial data, China Classification Society (CCS) has compiled the Guidelines for Verification of Digital Systems of Ships and Offshore Installations. Following the implementation of the guideline, CCS has revised it this year on the basis of practical experience gained from the 2021 edition, taking full account of feedback and suggestions from the industry.

This guideline consists of nine chapters, whose key contents are outlined below:

Chapter 1 General

This chapter specifies the scope of application of the guideline, eligible optional class notations, and general requirements applicable to data activities and digital systems, covering system reliability, system integrity, change management, cybersecurity, data quality and data security, together with referenced documents and terminology adopted herein.

Chapter 2 Data Identification

It sets forth optional notations obtainable upon compliance with data identification requirements. Data identification covers both physical entities and virtual objects. This chapter elaborates on the formulation methodologies, fundamental principles and applicable standards for developing data identifiers.

Chapter 3 Data Infrastructure

Data infrastructure encompasses data acquisition, data transmission and data storage. For ships and offshore installations, where data infrastructure enables ship-shore data exchange during the collection, transmission and storage of data pertaining to hull structures, mechanical & electrical equipment and navigational equipment, the optional notation DATA-INF may be assigned upon satisfactory survey and verification.

Key technical requirements are specified as follows:

① Functions and performance of data acquisition infrastructure, data interface protocols, transmission protocols and data exchange formats;

② Design and deployment of communication links;

③ Data storage, backup and recovery.

Chapter 4 Data Integration

This chapter defines the hierarchical classification of data integration, as well as mandatory requirements for data calibration, sharing, fusion and distribution:

• Data calibration: requirements concerning data quality, clock synchronization, etc.;
• Data sharing: provisions on sharing catalogues, storage modes and data access methods;
• Grading indicators for data fusion;
• Data distribution: specifications governing data discovery, extraction, transmission formats and interfaces.

Chapter 5 Data Implementation

In accordance with the implementation maturity of digital systems, four tiers are defined: principle approval of digital systems, digital system integration, digital system operation, and equivalent approval of digital systems. Survey requirements for each tier are stipulated respectively. In addition, survey requirements for the preparation process of digital systems are prescribed as the fundamental prerequisites for all four implementation tiers.

Chapter 6 Models

It specifies model classification, verification metrics for different model categories, model benchmarks and model verification rules.

Chapter 7 Data Application

In light of the current implementation status of digital systems, data application capability is classified into four tiers, with corresponding requirements formulated for each tier:

• Monitoring: requirements on monitoring coverage, monitoring performance and compliance of data storage;
• Diagnostics: specifications for diagnostic performance characteristics, diagnostic approaches and data playback capability;
• Prediction: provisions for predictive performance characteristics and key focus areas;
• Decision-making: requirements on decision-making capability characteristics, system self-learning, human-machine interaction and other functions.

Where the digital systems installed on ships and offshore installations are capable of delivering data application functions corresponding to a specific tier, the relevant optional notation DATA-APP may be granted.

Chapter 8 Verification Methods

This chapter details survey and verification approaches for digital systems, as well as the assessment rules governing such verification methodologies, including the formulation of digital system verification methods and the procedures for auditing these verification methods.

Chapter 9 Survey and Verification

It stipulates the general requirements to be satisfied by digital systems, documentation to be submitted, and provisions for phased verification and overall system verification of digital systems.