Lloyd's Register (LR) is set to assume leadership of The Open Class 3D Exchange (OCX) Consortium, marking a significant milestone in the initiative's journey towards broader industry adoption. As of January 2026, LR's Nathan Lindop will take over as both Chair and Coordinator of the Consortium, succeeding DNV's Ole Christian Astrup who has held the position since its formation in 2019. This planned rotation comes as the OCX standard moves from its early development phase to a more widespread adoption by shipyards, designers, and technology providers.
The OCX consortium has grown to 40 members, solidifying its position at the forefront of efforts to streamline data exchange and improve collaboration across the ship design and classification process. By adopting the OCX standard, these companies aim to reduce duplication, cut manual re-work, and support a more integrated digital workflow between yards, designers, and class associations. This shift towards digital transformation is expected to bring numerous benefits, including increased efficiency and reduced costs for the industry as a whole.
The OCX 3D model-based class approval standard enables seamless exchange of geometry and metadata between various design and classification software, replacing traditional 2D structure drawings for classification. This change will not only save time for shipyards but also enable class associations to respond faster to designers' needs. With Lindop at the helm, the Consortium is poised to bring renewed focus on strengthening implementation and widening uptake of the standard as more companies pursue digital transformation strategies.
As Coordinator, he will guide the Consortium's technical direction as it develops new capabilities and expands its scope. The OCX initiative has made significant progress in recent years, with a growing number of members and a increasing presence in the industry. However, there is still much work to be done to fully realize the potential of this standard.
With Lindop's leadership, the Consortium is well-positioned to achieve its goals and drive meaningful change in the ship design and classification process. The OCX consortium's efforts are closely aligned with the broader industry trend towards digitalization, and it will be interesting to see how the initiative continues to evolve and adapt to changing market conditions.
The OCX Consortium's leadership transition is a significant step forward for the industry, as it brings together expertise from leading organizations like Lloyd's Register. With Nathan Lindop at the helm, the Consortium will be well-positioned to drive adoption of the standard and deliver tangible benefits to its members.
