Koichi Fujiwara News

The International Association of Classification Societies has named Lloyd’s Register CEO Nick Brown as its Incoming Council Chair.Brown will take up the role on July 1 this year, marking the first time that the IACS Chair has been chosen by the Association’s Members and not by rotation, a move that follows governance changes announced in December last year. As part of those changes, Brown’s term of office will run until December 31, 2023.“I am honored to have been named Chair of the International Association of Classification Societies,” Brown said.

Hiroaki Sakashita has been appointed as President & CEO as well as a Representative Director of classification society ClassNK, effective March 18, 2020. Current Senior Executive Vice Presidents Tetsuya Kinoshita, Junichiro Iida, and Dr. Toshiyuki Shigemi will continue in their present roles on the team, joined by Hirofumi Takano and Taira Narisawa as Executive Vice President.Koichi Fujiwara has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors, leaving the post of Representative Director, President & CEO.

The Liberian Registry opened a full-service office in Imabari, Japan, as part of the continued expansion of its presence in Asia.Led by Eiji Okazaki, President of the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR) Japan, the Imabari office is comprised of key staff trained to handle ship registrations and technical issues locally. He has been leading the Tokyo office since 2017, and has helped develop the office to now being one of Liberia’s major and most active locations.The office-warming party was held on October 3…

Tokyo-based Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, or ClassNK as it is more commonly known, is one of the world's leading classification societies with 9,104 ships representing 250 million gt under register, as of June 2018. We spoke with Koichi Fujiwara, Chairman, ClassNK, earlier this year in Tokyo for his overview of the market today, and the path forward on technological trends.While Koichi Fujiwara, like many of his colleagues, sees challenging times in the maritime market, he does note that conditions are improving…

ClassNK hosted an anniversary party on July to commemorate 50 years of its Singapore Office, established in 1967 to broaden the classification society’s service network in Southeast Asia. Held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the evening commenced with an opening address by Chairman and President of ClassNK, Koichi Fujiwara. Among guests in attendance, the Ambassador of Japan to Singapore, His Excellency Kenji Shinoda gave an honorary address followed by a congratulatory address by Assistant Chief Executive of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Tan Beng Tee.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Junichiro Ikeda) today announced that its group’s core dry-cargo ship management company, MOL Ship Management Co., Ltd. (MOLSHIP; President: Toshikazu Inaoka; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) has jointly developed with maritime software developer Spectral Technologies, Inc. (President and CEO: Kjell B. Sundberg; Headquarters: Manila, Republic of the Philippines) a new onboard management software program called “WRH5” used to manage crews’ work and rest hours. MOLSHIP will introduce “WRH5” on its managed vessels. In addition, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK; Chairman and President: Koichi Fujiwara; Headquarters:Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) issued a statement of fact that “WRH5”’s support functions are in conformity with international labor regulations.

ClassNK is dedicated to ensuring the safety of life and property at sea, and the prevention of pollution of the marine environment. Bolstered by a workforce of more than 1800 engineers, surveyors and maritime professionals, ClassNK focuses on delivering the highest quality classification services while maintaining its totally independent third party, non-profit status. With more than 230 million gross tons on register, ClassNK is one of the world’s largest classification societies, helping to secure the safety of about 20% of the world’s ocean-going commercial vessels.

ClassNK has appointed the Global Technology Assessment Center (GTAC) of TÜV Rheinland Japan as a certified laboratory at a ceremony held at GTAC in Yokohama. The appointment is in accordance with a worldwide partnership agreement signed in September 2015 that aims to see the two parties expand testing and certification services portfolio and better serve clients. ClassNK and TÜV Rheinland will share knowledge and experience to provide clients with more convenient equipment testing and certification services.

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News visited Koichi Fujiwara, the newly installed Chairman and President of ClassNK, in his Tokyo headquarters for his insights on the global maritime market at large as well as the future direction and mandate of class. With the global maritime market in the grips of a collective slump, the likes of which have not been seen since the energy crisis and resulting economic malaise of the mid 1970s, Koichi Fujiwara takes the mantle of leadership at ClassNK, one of the world’s largest and most influential classification societies.

Current Executive Vice President Koichi Fujiwara has been appointed as Chairman and President as well as a Representative Director of classification society ClassNK, effective March 7, 2016. Current Executive Vice Presidents Yasushi Nakamura and Tetsuya Kinoshita will continue in their present roles on the team, joined by Junichiro Iida as Managing Director. Noboru Ueda has stepped down as Representative Director, Chairman and President. Current Executive Vice President Tetsushi Agata has been appointed as an Executive Auditor as part of the Society’s aim to strengthen its auditing system.

The United States Maritime Resource Center (USMRC) in Middletown, Rhode Island and ClassNK have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) laying out a framework for future technical cooperation to carry out joint research and development activities for the maritime industry. This will mark the first time a major ship classification society has teamed with a prominent marine operations simulation center engaged in specialized training and research in North America.

First company to receive ISO50001 certification from Nihon Kaiji Kyokai. MOL Ship Management Co., Ltd. (MOLSHIP), a core ship management company in the corporate group headed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), has announced acquisition of certifications from Nihon Kaiji Kyokai (NK; Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda), for Energy Management Systems (ISO50001*1) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO14001*2). NK Executive Vice President Koichi Fujiwara presented the certificates to MOLSHIP President Furukawa in July 29 ceremony at NK headquarters.

ClassNK and Transas Marine Limited today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in area of classification of maritime simulators. According to the agreement, ClassNK and Transas will jointly develop new standards, rules, procedures and guidelines related to classification of maritime simulators. New requirements will address the need for improved quality of both traditional and special areas of training, like offshore, LNG, tug and VTS operations. ClassNK Executive Vice President Koichi Fujiwara commented, I believe that ClassNK and Transas cooperation will bring impressive results.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) today announced that its group company MOL Marine Consulting, Ltd. (MOLMC) has acquired certification for its Bridge Resource Management (BRM) training program from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK), effective May 30. MOLMC is the first company in Japan to upgrade its BRM training program to meet all the requirements of the model course 1.22 (five-day course) established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The certification reflects MOLMC’s effort and dedication to developing a world-class BRM training program. MOLMC President Soichi Hiratsuka received the certificate from NK Executive Vice President Koichi Fujiwara on June 2 in a presentation ceremony at NK headquarters.

ClassNK has certified the Type Specific ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) training course provided by Iino Marine Service Busan Co., Ltd., an affiliate of Iino Marine Service Co., Ltd. ClassNK Executive Vice President Koichi Fujiwara presented the certificate to Capt. Shigeru Nemoto, President of Iino Marine Service Co., Ltd. at a special ceremony held at ClassNK’s Head Office on April 24,  2013. While new amendments to STCW convention require Generic ECDIS Training for masters and deck officers onboard ships with ECDIS systems…

Leading class society ClassNK announced that it has certified the Bridge Resource Management (BRM), Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (ECDIS) and Engine-room Resource Management (ERM) training courses offered by the Evergreen Seafarer Training Center (ESTC). The new certification confirms that the training programs meet the requirements of ClassNK standards, IMO model course requirements and the STCW Code. The official certificate was presented to Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan) Ltd.

ClassNK announced that it has certified the type specific ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) training courses provided by the newly established ECDIS training center, Philippines-Japan Maritime Training Management Inc. (PJMTM). ClassNK Executive Vice President Koichi Fujiwara presented the certificates to PJMTM President Eduardo U. Manese during the center’s opening ceremony on 8 November 2012. New amendments to SOLAS requiring ECDIS systems be installed on vessels are being phased-in beginning this year…

ClassNK has, for the first time, held ClassNK PrimeManagement seminars in Europe. The seminars convened in Constanta, Romania, on 24 October and in Split, Croatia, on 26 October 2012. More than 70 participants attended each event. Croatia and Romania are among the leading suppliers of seafarers to the global fleet, providing many officers to Japanese flag LNG vessels and VLCCs. The seminars were held with the full support of the Croatian and Romanian crewing associations and were attended by representatives of local shipping companies, government officials, maritime education and training institute officials, marine consultants and others.

Tokyo - Japanese ship classification society Nippon Ippon Kyokai (ClassNK) has announced the following changes in its Executive Board of Directors, effective March 22, 2012. Executive Vice President Hiroshige Kitada has retired, and two executive officers, Tetsushi Agata and Tetsuya Kinoshita, General Managers of the General Affairs Department and Planning Department, respectively, have been promoted to the position of managing director. The board consists of Noboru Ueda, Chairman and President; Toshitomo Matsui, Executive Vice President; Shosuke Kakubari, Executive Vice President; Koichi Fujiwara, Executive Vice President; Takuya Yoneya, Executive Vice President; Yasushi Nakamura, Executive Vice President; Tetsushi Agata, Managing Director; Tetsuya Kinoshita, Managing Director. Dr.

ClassNK held the first PrimeManagement Seminar in Singapore in February 2011. The event held at the Suntec Singapore exhibition center to showcase its new suite of services of the same name, drew more than 120 attendees from Southeast Asia and Japan. PrimeManagement is ClassNK’s total management certification service package, created to help maritime companies around the world achieve high quality management systems that effectively address the various challenges they face in an ever-changing industry.

ClassNK Issues Certification for ECDIS Training Course Provided by TOKYO KEIKI INC. ClassNK announced today that it had issued type specific training course approval to an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) course offered by Tokyo Keiki Inc. This approval, certifying the compliance of this course with ClassNK’s new Standard for Maritime Education & Training, is the first of its kind to be issued by the Society to an ECDIS manufacturer in Japan. Under amendments to SOLAS regulations the carriage of ECDIS systems is due to become mandatory in less then six months.

ClassNK Issues Certification for ECDIS Training Course and Manning Services Provided by the “K” LINE Group. ClassNK announced today that it had issued generic training course approval to an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) course offered by K Line Maritime Academy (Philippine) (KLMA (Phili)), a group company of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. The approval, which certifies that this course complies with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards and the leading classification society’s new Standard for Maritime Education & Training…

ClassNK issues type Specific Training Course Approval for ECDIS Certification to FURUNO INS Training Center Denmark. ClassNK issued Type Specific Training Course approval on 2 December 2011 for an ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) Training Course offered by FURUNO INS Training Center Denmark. This approval, the first issued by ClassNK in Europe, certifies that the course offered by the center complies with the leading classification society’s new Standard for Maritime Education & Training.