Classnk News

ClassNK has released Guidelines for Ships Using Low-Flashpoint Fuels (Methyl/Ethyl Alcohol / LPG).As the maritime industry is increasingly under regulatory mandate to reduce emissions, alternatives to diesel have been a focal point in recent years. These alternative fuels have lower flashpoints compared to traditional fuels, therefore particular attention needs to be given to ensuring adequate safety precautions when using low-flashpoint fuels in order to decrease the potential risk of fire and explosions that may arise as a result of fuel leakage onboard the ship.

Classification society ClassNK has released its Guidelines for Software Security which target software developers, system integrators and more.As part of its Cyber Security Series, ClassNK regularly releases guidelines and standards that outline cyber security measures based on the recently-released ClassNK Cyber Security Approach outlining the group’s basic approach to ensuring onboard cyber security for ships.The new guidelines, released as the third and latest part of the series, aim to assist with risk management focused on software used on board vessels.

Finnish maritime software provider NAPA has become the first service provider for ClassNK-owned Ship Data Centre’s Internet of Ships Open Platform (ShipDC IoS-OP).NAPA will provide ship performance analytics and voyage optimisation capabilities for the universal platform developed to share vessel operational data between stakeholders.The aim of the ShipDC IoS-OP is to create a new, digital maritime cluster by securely minimizing the costs of data ownership and portability for owners and operators…

The Japanese Shipping Company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) have jointly developed a new fuel-oil additive for low-sulphur compliant fuel-oil that meets SOx emission requirements.Yunic 800VLS (patent pending) is Japan’s first additive for very low sulfur fuel oil, or VLSFO. The additive improves safety by helping to avoid troubles that may be caused by certain contents of VLSFO.A global sulfur cap will enter into force on January 1, 2020, and one way ships can meet the requirement is by using VLSFO (sulfur content below 0.5%).

Korean Register (KR), its Chairman, management and entire staff offers sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the seafarers who tragically lost their lives due to the sinking of Stellar Daisy. KR reaffirms its commitment to investigating the causes of the sinking, sharing its knowledge and implementing any changes necessary to avoid a similar loss in the future. The factsStellar Daisy was a 266,141 dwt Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC) owned by Polaris Shipping and flagged with the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI).

Classification Society ClassNK has released its Cyber Security Management System for Ships.As part of the ClassNK Cyber Security Series, ClassNK regularly releases guidelines and standards that outline cyber security measures based on the recently-released ClassNK Cyber Security Approach that outlines ClassNK’s basic approach to ensuring onboard cyber security for ships.The Cyber Security Management System for Ships provides guidance on ensuring, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving the cyber security management system of companies and ships with the goal of safe navigation.

Classification society ClassNK has released the ClassNK Cyber Security Approach which outlines its basic approach to ensuring onboard cyber security for ships. It was released alongside its Guidelines for Designing Cyber Security Onboard Ships for newbuilding designs as the first part of the ClassNK Cyber Security Series which incorporates requirements for taking onboard cyber security measures.Response to cyber threats is an urgent matter for the entire maritime industry. The…

Effective March 12, 2019, Mr. Hiroaki Sakashita has been appointed as Senior Executive Vice President as well as Executive Director of ClassNK.Sakashita began his career at Japan’s Ministry of Transport (now Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) in 1980. During his period at the government he has played vital roles in maritime administration including regulatory oversight and industry development. He assumed the position of Director-General of the Maritime Bureau in 2015…

Japan's largest oil and gas exploration and production company INPEX Corporation has installed ClassNK-NAPA GREEN for monitoring operations on three of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.NAPA said that Inpex awarded a deal to the company for the provision of a solution for monitoring and follow-up of ship operations on two LNG carriers built to service the Ichthys project and one LNG carrier for Shell’s Prelude FLNG project.With the core motivation of accurately verifying the technical performance of these highly complex carriers…

ClassNK released the latest version of its design support software PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) Ver.6.0.0, developed in response to the IACS Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers (CSR BC & OT). The new version incorporates the latest rule amendments to CSR BC & OT including amendments based on feedback from the industry.In addition, PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) includes:-- Enhanced calculation report function found in the prescriptive calculation software makes it possible to create reports for multiple sectional data all at once.

As the shipping industry is pushed to dramatically reduced greenhouse gas emissions courtesy of mandate from the International Maritime Organization, a pair of Japanese companies have embarked on a study of efficient shipboard power generation.Kobe Steel, Ltd. will conduct joint research with Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. on a binary cycle power generation system currently under development. The binary cycle power generation system was installed on the coal carrier Corona Youthful.

Leading Classification Society ClassNK granted an Approval in Principle (AIP) based on its Rule Part GF which adopts IGF Code (regulation for ships using low-flashpoint fuels) to Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) for their project on the concept design of an LNG-fuelled 207K DWT bulk carrier.Speaking on the occasion, ClassNK Corporate Officer and Director of Technical Solution Department Hayato Suga said “The maritime industry has been setting its sights on LNG as an energy source for ships as it is an environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil fuels.

ClassNK and TÜV Rheinland have concluded a worldwide partnership agreement for cybersecurity services.ClassNK is a classification society which carries out surveys to help ensure the safety of vessels and marine structures, and has many achievements involving the certification of ship equipment. TÜV Rheinland is a leader in testing, inspection and certification services providing digital services for safety, cybersecurity and privacy. Earlier, ClassNK and TÜV Rheinland built a…

Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) has taken delivery of a coal carrier equipped with a binary cycle power-generation system that utilizes engine exhaust heat.The new coal carrier Pirika Mosiri Maru that NYK will own and operate to transport coal for Hokkaido Electric Power(HEPCO), was delivered yesterday (January 23) at Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Saikai city, Nagasaki prefecture, and a delivery ceremony was held on the same day.The event was attended by Akihiko Mayumi…

Innovative Electric Tanker design from Japan coming to local waterways by 2020The global push to dramatically reduce emissions from the world’s fleet of ships continues to drive innovation across the sector, including the introduction of a new Pure Electric Tanker concept released today from Japan. With ClassNK in place to make technical advice on the ship design and electric propulsion package, Asahi Tanker Co. Ltd. and its partner Exeno-Yamamizu Corporation Tokyo jointly developed the new domestic shipping tanker design which incorporates “zero emission electric propulsion.”Dubbed e5…

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Japanese telecom giant MTI have reached an agreement to participate in a long-term demonstration of tidal energy being sponsored by MAKO Energy and Sentosa Development Corporation, which will provide the demonstration site.The demonstration will start next spring in a first-time attempt to commercialize tidal energy in Singapore.MAKO Energy is the Singapore-based subsidiary of Elemental Energy Technologies, a tidal turbine developer that has interest and expertise in the area of renewable energy solutions, particularly tidal power and its applications.

The Japanese global transport company Ocean Network Express (ONE) has been awarded the International Organization for Standard ization (ISO) 14001:2015 certification by ClassNK.The international containers shipping company headquartered in Singapore said in a press release that the certificate delivering ceremony held on 5th November 2018 at ONE (Marina One East Tower, Singapore).This internationally-recognised certification demonstrates that ONE’s Environmental Management System has met the global best practices and the company’s commitment to reduce its impact on the environment…

The near-shore and inland workboat fleet is at the leading edge for autonomous vessel developmentWhile the advent of autonomous workboats are not exactly mainstream, you better believe that in the not-too-distant future they will be a reality on waterways in and around the U.S. Today there remain more questions than answers, particularly on the legal, logistics and insurance side of the coin. But the technology is evolving at record pace, providing many in the industry with mixed emotions. Excitement. Controversy. Curiosity. Skepticism.

Classification society ClassNK has announced that it released amendments to its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships on October 25, 2018.ClassNK is constantly revising its Rules and Guidance in order to reflect the latest results from relevant research and development projects, feedback from damage investigations, requests from industry as well as changes made to relevant international conventions, IACS unified requirements (UR), national regulations…

In another significant move towards commercial release of the EnergySail, Eco Marine Power (EMP) announced that it has begun collaboration with ClassNK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai) to confirm design requirements and issues related to sea trials.According to a press release from the renewable energy tech company, the goal is to pave the way to the full commercial production of the EnergySail and thus complete the preparation of technologies required for the release of EMP’s Aquarius Marine…

ClassNK Archive Center (NKAC) has stored the first Ship Construction Files (SCF) complying with IMO Global Based Standards (GBS) for the NACKS-built 311,000 DWT VLCC delivered on October 26, 2018, managed by MOL Tankship Management (Asia) Pte. Ltd.To encourage design transparency and help ensure safety throughout the life of vessels, SOLAS regulation II-1/3-10 entered into force in 2012, requiring SCF complying with IMO GBS to be provided by shipyards on a new ship’s delivery and kept on board and/or ashore.

Leading classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, also known by the brand name 'ClassNK', has opened a new exclusive survey office in Reggio Calabria, Italy with operations beginning 5 December, 2018.Reggio Calabria, located in Southwest Italy, faces the Strait of Messina which crosses through the Italian Peninsula and Sicily. In recent years, the number of surveys and audits required in the southern part of Italy and Malta has been increasing.Through the opening of its latest office…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that it participated in a demonstration test of ship class survey using aerial drones to inspect an MOL-operated coal carrier in service, along with Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), Hitachi Systems, and Mitsui Co.According to MOL, the demonstration test included a simulated ship inspection inside the cargo hold and ballast tank (which holds water used to balance the ship when it is not carrying cargo), using video shot from an aerial drone.The test verified the effectiveness of using drones to monitor rust…