Safety is a top priority of Det Norske Veritas Foundation (DNV). The independent foundation offers certification, consulting, risk management, research, and IT services to customers in the transportation, oil and gas, healthcare, and food and beverage industries. It operates through a network of some 300 offices in about 100 countries. Among its other distinctions, DNV is a leading ship classification society for the maritime industry and a provider of maritime fuel management and testing services. The foundation is governed by a council made up of employees, customers, and other stakeholders. DNV was established in 1864 to inspect Norwegian merchant vessels.