Det Norske Veritas or DNV is a classification society organized as a foundation, with the objective of "Safeguarding life, property, and the environment". The organization's history goes back to 1864, when the foundation was established in Norway to inspect and evaluate the technical condition of Norwegian merchant vessels. DNV describes itself as a provider of services for managing risk.
Together with Lloyd's Register and American Bureau of Shipping, DNV is one of the three major companies in the classification society business. DNV has its headquarters in Høvik, Bærum, just outside Oslo, Norway. It has 300 offices in 100 countries, with 8,400 employees. Important industries where the company operates include ship transport, energy, aviation, automotive, finance, food, heath care and information technology. It also conducts research in several fields where it operates.