Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, also known as ClassNK, has introduced a new notation for ships that meet the standards described in the Society’s just recently published Environmental Guideline.
With awareness of the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) becoming ever greater, more measures are being taken to prevent air and marine pollution, global warming, and the destruction of ecosystems. Such measures go beyond the minimum requirements set forth in international conventions and standards to include more advanced technologies as well as stricter criteria.
As a means of evaluating these efforts especially as they effect shipboard operations, ClassNK has developed criteria for evaluating ships that have introduced environmental measures in areas where requirements based on international conventions or standards do not yet exist or have not yet been made mandatory. In conjunction with this, the Society began issuing Certificates of Environmental Awareness in June 2008.
In order to make the above evaluation process easier to understand and implement, relevant requirements have been amended so that evaluations of environmental measures adopted onboard are indicated as a notation affixed to ship classification characters. In addition, the evaluation criteria have been revised and published as “Environmental Guideline”.
This Guideline sets forth requirements for environmental measures which are considered to be desirable with respect to current conditions onboard that exceed minimum statutory requirements. Compliance with these enhanced requirements is indicated by affixing the notation “Environmental Awareness” to ship classification characters. To evaluate the advanced characteristics of ships taking further environmental measures, various additional features are also described and indicated as marks added to the notation.
In order to acquire the Environmental Awareness notation, it is necessary to carry out an initial audit as required in Guidelines for Environmental Awareness. Parties interested in obtaining the Environmental Awareness notation are invited to contact the nearest ClassNK service site for further details.
The Environmental Guideline can be downloaded from the ClassNK website at: http://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/Rules_Guidance/Guidelines/EnvironmentalGuideline_e.pdf