Classnk News

ClassNK has released ‘Guidelines for Cyber resilience of ships’, which expound new IACS Unified Requirements (UR) to support the consideration of measures to ensure the cybersecurity of ships.IACS has established UR E26 for ships and UR E27 for on-board systems and equipment as URs setting minimum requirements for cyber resilience, which is the capability to reduce the occurrence and mitigate the effects of cyber incidents due to cyber-attacks or other threats. The URs have been applied to new ships contracted for construction on or after July 1…

ITOCHU Corporation, ClassNK, Nihon Shipyard and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a joint study for the design and safety specifications of ammonia-fueled ships which are under development by ITOCHU and partners.The MoU is based on the premise that 200,000 deadweight ton class bulk carriers will be built by Nihon Shipyard with an ammonia dual-fueled engine by applying alternative design approval process in accordance…

ClassNK has granted its Innovation endorsement for products and solutions to a Ship IoT Application ‘i-MITEC’, developed by MIURA.‘i-MITEC’ uses a cloud-based environment to provide a range of services, collecting and storing operation data from equipment such as marine boilers and ballast water management systems that are fitted with communication functionality.The stored data can be used in combination with analysis by MIURA field engineers to provide suggestions for effective operational methods such as preventing trouble.

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a design concept of the hydrogen-fueled engine compatible oil tanker with electric propulsion system.The 5,000KL oil tanker design has been developed by Uyeno Transtech, Yanmar Power Technology, and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding.This is the world’s first AiP certification for the design of an oil tanker using liquefied hydrogen as a fuel.The ship was designed as part of the ‘Development of Large-scale Hydrogen-fueled Domestic Tanker…

Consort Bunkers Pte. Ltd., ClassNK, Yanmar Asia (Singapore) Corporation Pte Ltd, and Taiko Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to accelerate towards introduction of more bunkering ships capable of handling alternative fuels.Singapore-based Consort Bunkers placed an order with COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry (Guandong) Co.,Ltd. to construct four 7,999 DWT IMO Type 2 tankers, ready for biofuel and methanol bunkering. Incorporating their previous orders, a total of 13 biofuel/methanol bunkering tankers totaling over 90,000 DWT will join Consort’s fleet. ClassNK has been providing surveys and audits, Yanmar Asia has been providing main engines and generator engines…

ClassNK has granted its first software security certifications to ship management solution 'MACK', developed by SVM Solutions and Technologies Pte. Ltd. (Solverminds).'MACK' is a comprehensive digital ship management solution that support a data-driven decision-making system. ClassNK has verified the development process and function of 'MACK Web Application', 'MACK Audit Mobile Application', and 'MACK Notification Mobile Application' based on the guidelines. Upon confirming they comply with the prescribed requirements, ClassNK issued certificates for these three applications.

ClassNK has released the Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels (Edition 3.0). In addition to safety requirements for ships using methanol, ethanol, LPG, and ammonia as fuel, this edition newly adds requirements related to hydrogen-fueled ships, providing guidance for the design of alternative-fueled ships.The guidelines describe safety requirements for alternative-fueled ships including requirements for installation, controls, safety devices, etc., thus aiming to minimize the risks to ships…

ClassNK has partnered with StormGeo for seamless sharing and verification of emission data.The collaboration marks a ilestone for the companies, establishing the sharing and verification of emission data, to meet the requirements of their shared clients. Shipping companies that use StormGeo’s s-Insight platform will be able to share their validated emissions data to ClassNK MRV Portal* via API, for a seamless verification process.This process enables shipping companies to maximize their reporting accuracy and accelerate their decarbonization strategy, according to regulations.

ClassNK is one of the world’s leading maritime classification societies with more than 9,200 ships totaling more than 273 million gross tons under class at the end of 2023, and a global service network of more than 120 survey offices. Last month while in Tokyo we had the opportunity to sit with Hiroaki Sakashita, President & CEO, ClassNK, a marine industry veteran for his insights on the trends driving ship classification today and in the future.Hiroaki Sakashita took the helm at ClassNK at one of the most historically significant times in history…

Long-term initiatives led by classification societies are building the foundation for future fuels uptake.About this time last year, ABS CEO Chris Wiernicki said: “When you look at where we are and the steepness of the curve ahead, the biggest risk is the unintended safety consequences of change.” Class, he says, is built for the intersection between technology, safety and regulations and must be prepared.Work is underway. China Classification Society (CCS), for example, has released…

Swiss marine power company WinGD has secured an order for its X‑DF‑A ammonia-fueled engines for what will be the world’s first ammonia dual-fuel Aframax tankers.Two vessels ordered by Singapore based ship owner and operator AET, a petroleum arm of Malaysia’s MISC Group, will be built at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry with six-cylinder X62DF-A engines, the newest addition to WinGD’s clean-fuel engine portfolio.AET recently entered into time charter party (TCP) contract with Petronas'…

Today’s evolving maritime security risks pose all-too-familiar threats to international shipping, and as just one of the many causes of fatigue, they add to the cognitive burden already faced by watchkeepers. But Groke Technologies can boost safety onboard, says co-founder and CEO Juha Rokka.Life at sea is already physically and mentally demanding. Crewing levels are tight, work hours are long and irregular, watchkeepers are required to perform administrative tasks while on the bridge…

ClassNK has released a new tool, WAve Climate Data Aggregation for Ships (WACDAS), for calculating the route correction factors essential for ensuring the safety of container lashing and supporting container stacking optimization.The move follows ClassNK’s release of its Guidelines for Container Stowage and Securing Arrangements (Edition 3.0) last year. WACDAS enables the easy calculation of route correction factors necessary for utilizing the approved lashing software compatible…

Simulation-based training has its whole-of-ship/whole-of-team scenarios, but zooming in, the industry is now working on more specific targets.We have a close relationship with technology, evidenced by, for example, the phones we are estimated to unlock around 50-80 times a day. It has changed us. Half the people surveyed in a 2022 King’s College London study said that they feel like their attention span is shorter than it used to be. They are wrong, though, if they think that the average attention span of adults today is just eight seconds, one second less than goldfish.

Simulation-based training has its whole-of-ship/whole-of-team scenarios, but zooming in, the industry is now working on more specific targets.We have a close relationship with technology, evidenced by, for example, the phones we are estimated to unlock around 50-80 times a day. It has changed us. Half the people surveyed in a 2022 King’s College London study said that they feel like their attention span is shorter than it used to be. They are wrong, though, if they think that the average attention span of adults today is just eight seconds, one second less than goldfish.

Ocean Network Express (ONE) has launched a reduced emissions shipping service ONE LEAF+ which offers customers the opportunity to proactively manage their own emissions and minimize environmental impact across the value chain.ONE LEAF+ offers:• Reduced Carbon Footprint: ONE will deploy regulation-compliant alternative fuels on designated vessels, allowing customers to reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions on their shipments with ONE.• Added Transparency: With ONE LEAF+, customers will…

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsements for Products & Solutions to an internet payment facility V.Pay, an AI maritime camera surveillance solution V.Sight, and a wearable AR smart-glass solution V.Sion, developed by iO3.ClassNK has verified the functions of V.Pay: crew internet payment facility with user-friendly portal, flexible Wi-Fi plans, payment integration, real-time account management and simplified crew internet access.For V.Sight, ClassNK has reviewed: maritime camera surveillance with AI video analytics…

A new report offers safety recommendations for ship owners and port authorities seeking to establish green shipping corridors.As the shipping industry continues to make progress toward its decarbonization goals, a number of green shipping corridors are being being set up as maritime routes that help to enable the use of low- and zero-emission lifecycle fuels such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen, as well as other green technologies. To date, more than 30 green shipping corridors…

ClassNK has granted approval to the basic design drawings of a multi-purpose container carrier developed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) utilizing 3D models.This marks the world's first ocean-going ship to complete the basic design process, including class approval, solely through 3D drawings from the conceptual design to the basic structural design, during the initial stages of ship construction, according to NYK Line and ClassNK.Traditionally, the sharing of design information among shipyards…

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has acquired an approval in principle (AiP) from the Japanese classification society ClassNK for its ammonia fuel supply system (AFSS).The AiP has been issued for the AFSS developed for the X-DF-A, a large, low-speed two-stroke ammonia-fueled engine under development by WinGD, a Swiss designer and licensor of large marine engines.In June 2023 Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and WinGD concluded a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to undertake joint technical studies on an AFSS…

On March 28, NYK received approval for 3D drawing (3D Model-Based Approval) from ClassNK of the basic design of a new multi-purpose container vessel.This is the first time that the entire basic design process, including classification approval, using only 3D drawings, has occurred for an ocean-going vessel, according to NYK and ClassNK.Currently, 2D drawings of the structural design of new ships are commonly shared between shipowners, shipyards, shipping companies and classification societies.

ClassNK has signed a joint R&D agreement with Nihon Shipyard and IMC to ensure the safety and performance evaluation of anti-roll tanks (ART) installed on large containerships.Under the R&D agreement, Nihon Shipyard, IMC, and ClassNK will work together to expand the application of ART to large containerships.Utilizing the obtained data and knowledge, each party will collaborate to ensure the safer application of ART on an actual ship and performance evaluation.AS part of the partnership…

ClassNK has issued a type approval certificate for the lithium-ion storage battery system ORCA Energy, developed by Corvus Energy.Following an application from Corvus Energy, ClassNK carried out an examination of ORCA Energy based on the rule and the ‘Guidance for the Approval and Type Approval of Materials and Equipment for Marine Use’.The guidance applies to tests and inspections of materials and equipment for marine use for which advance approval or type approval by ClassNK is required by the relevant requirements in its rules.Upon confirming it complies with the prescribed requirements…