Classnk News

The leader of Shipbuilding Industry in Sri Lanka Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) has successfully secured a contract with Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) of Japan to build two vessels; Pilot Station Vessel and Buoy Tender Vessel, for General Company for Port of Iraq (GCPI). TTC and GCPI signed the Prime Contract on 27th April 2018 in Dubai. Subsequent to the signing of the Prime Contract, TTC signed the Sub Contract Agreement with CDPLC as TTC’s preferred Shipyard for the construction of these vessels on 2nd May 2018 in Japan.

Drones increasingly take on the dirty, dangerous jobs in maritime. For insight, we spoke with David Knukkel, Founder & CEO, RIMS BVFor our readers not aware, please discuss the size and scope of RIMS BV.RIMS is  a global service provider to help revolutionize maintenance strategies with smart drones and robotic inspections. We offer expertise, as well as the market inspection of enclosed spaces with your drone, (and we have) a lot of experience with inspection of different assets (such as ships…

The marine software developer looks to accelerate growth with new backing from global technology firm.Marine operations software company Helm Operations has been acquired by Toronto-based Volaris Group Inc. (“Volaris”). Volaris specializes in strengthening and growing technology companies and is a leader in the marine software space. Founded in 1999, Helm Operations is widely known as a developer of marine operations software for the workboat market. Following an acquisition by ClassNK in 2014…

Leading classification society ClassNK has released its annual report on Port State Control. The report aims to assist ship operators and management companies in maintaining compliant operations by providing information about ships detained by PSC as well as deficiencies that were found on board from many port states in 2017. In line with the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, PSC inspections ensure that vessels departing the port meet international standards and have proved to be highly effective in eliminating substandard ships that are in operation.

In cooperation with its strategic partners Furukawa Battery and Teramoto Iron Works, Eco Marine Power (EMP) has announced the release of two UB-50-12 hybrid battery packs for ship, offshore and land-based renewable energy projects. These safe, reliable and recyclable battery packs will be available in 2.4kWh and 3.6kWh configurations. Multiple battery packs can be installed together to provide the amount of energy storage needed from small scale installations to larger energy storage projects.

Classification society ClassNK has released its Guidelines for Liquefied Gas Carrier Structures – Independent Prismatic Tanks (Second Edition), which specify the technical requirements specifically related to the structural strength assessments of liquefied gas carriers by using direct calculation.The two components of the Guidelines include the Guidelines for Direct Strength Analysis, and the Guidelines for Fatigue Strength Assessment. The newly released Second Edition contains…

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…

RIMS (Robotics In Maintenance Strategies) continues in their quest in the practical integration of drone technology in the world maritime surveying with yet another class society approval for the use of Remote Inspection Techniques (drones) during surveys of enclosed spaces, this time from ClassNK.Over the past 12 months RIMS have successfully secured class approvals from multiple societies; Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s Register, ABS, RINA, KRS and now ClassNK.The certification for the use of Remote Inspection Techniques (drones) during surveys of enclosed spaces…

There are thousands of vessels worldwide that still need to be fitted with ballast water management systems (BWMS), and regulatory deadlines are only drawing nearer.Owners and operators who have yet to bring their ships into compliance are better to do so earlier rather than later. This is the advice of classification society ClassNK, who analyzed the retrofitting status of its registered ships and confirmed that installation deadlines based on the Ballast Water Management Convention…

Classification society ClassNK has released its Guidelines for Vehicles Carrier Structures, specifying the technical requirements specifically related to the structural strength assessments of vehicles carriers by using direct calculation.Vehicles carriers are designed with a minimum number of transverse bulkheads and partial bulkheads in order to increase cargo handling efficiency as well as to permit more vehicles to be loaded on board; this, however, means that the structures of such ships are fairly susceptible to racking deformation.

A ClassNK executive who played a major part in the fourfold increase in the society’s German market share has returned to the Hamburg office as General Manager.Akizumi Miura has returned for his second posting to ClassNK’s survey office in Hamburg, with a brief to further reinforce and continue building the society’s presence in the key German market.During his first posting, between 2011 and 2016, Miura was a pivotal member of the team overseeing the Japanese classification society’s market share in Germany quadruple…

Classification society ClassNK has released ClassNK MRV Portal (IMO DCS), a software service for the reporting, monitoring and verification of shipping CO2 emissions in line with the IMO DCS regulations that will come into effect in 2019.The implementation of fuel consumption data reporting regulations has been ongoing in an effort to reduce GHG emissions and the EU-MRV (European Union - Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) regulations for ships operating in the EU area began in 2018. The upcoming IMO DCS regulations require all globally operating ships over 5,000GT to collect fuel consumption data and create an annual fuel consumption…

Classification society ClassNK has released Guidelines for Concept Design of Automated Operation/Autonomous Operation of ships, which incorporates basic elements on concept design safety for automated ship operation systems.Maritime industry efforts to develop automated operation systems for merchant ships aim to improve navigation safety, working conditions on board, ship operation and more.As the onboard operations and duties performed by ships’ crews vary widely, step by step…

Classification society ClassNK has released its Guidelines for Liquefied Gas Carrier Structures – Independent Prismatic Tanks.The guidelines, which are available to download for free from ClassNK’s website, specify the technical requirements specifically related to the structural strength assessments of liquefied gas carriers by using direct calculation.The two components of the guidelines include the Guidelines for Direct Strength Analysis, and the Guidelines for Fatigue Strength…

Chelsea Technologies announced that its Sea Sentry wash water monitoring system for ship exhaust gas cleaning systems has been certified by ClassNK, verifying compliance with IMO Annex VI wash water discharge regulations. Accurate monitoring for compliance with environmental regulations is a vital prerogative for the international shipping industry, particularly ahead of the 2020 global sulphur cap. Owners and operators are under increasing scrutiny to not only install costly compliance technologies but also to provide accurate data to demonstrate compliance…

ClassNK released the latest version of its design support software PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) Ver.5.0.0, 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 (Rule Change Notice 1 to CSR 01 JAN 2017 version) including amendments based on feedback from the industry. In addition to the incorporation of the latest rule amendments, various functions were also added or improved for the PrimeShip-HULL(HCSR) prescriptive calculation software and direct strength assessment software.

ClassNK has just released the latest version of its design support software PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) Ver.5.0.0, 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 (Rule Change Notice 1 to CSR 01 JAN 2017 version) including amendments based on feedback from the industry. In addition to the incorporation of the latest rule amendments, various functions were also added or improved for the PrimeShip-HULL(HCSR) prescriptive calculation software and direct strength assessment software. The calculation report function found in the prescriptive calculation software is now turned a stand-alone system…

Cassification society ClassNK has released its Guidelines for Direct Load Analysis and Strength Assessment of hull structure. These guidelines incorporate the load and structural consistent analysis structural evaluation method. As vessels being constructed today continue increasing in size, structural strength assessments during the design stage are essential in helping ensure the safety and integrity of hull structures even in the harshest conditions of the ocean. Direct strength calculations in structural strength assessments of hulls are one of the class requirements included in both ClassNK’s “Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships” and the International Association of Classification Societies’ “Common Structural Rules” (IACS CSR).

Leading classification society ClassNK has released its Guidelines for Direct Load Analysis and Strength Assessment of hull structure. These guidelines incorporate the load and structural consistent analysis structural evaluation method. As vessels being constructed today continue increasing in size, structural strength assessments during the design stage are essential in helping ensure the safety and integrity of hull structures even in the harshest conditions of the ocean. Direct…

As part of its continued focus on bringing renewable energy solutions to shipping, Eco Marine Power (EMP) has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Star Bulk S.A. (Star Bulk) covering a joint study project focused on the feasibility of using EMP’s technologies on existing and new bulk carriers. The joint study between Star Bulk and EMP will cover engineering issues related to how various equipment including solar panels, batteries and other devices can be installed on existing and new ships.

Ballast water treatment systems manufacturer Coldharbour Marine said it has engaged Japanese classification society ClassNK to assist in the process of obtaining Japanese type approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The approval is a requirement for all foreign companies in the marine sector seeking to sell their products to customers in Japan. The type approval process, as required by Japan’s Ship Safety Law and the Marine Pollution Prevention Law…

Because drone-related technologies are improving at an extremely rapid pace, application in diverse fields is increasingly expected. In the maritime industry as well, efforts aimed at utilization in the field of inspections and surveys are being carried out. At the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), discussions on the use of Remote Inspection Techniques (RIT) including drones in class surveys are already underway, and IACS Rec. 42 (Guidelines for Use of Remote Inspection Technics for Surveys) was revised in June of 2016.

Countdown to Subchapter M: Last-minute tips for choosing the USCG or TPO/TSMS option ...Subchapter M will finally be implemented in the tugboat and towing industry in only a few short months. It has taken over ten years to arrive, but the build-up and in some cases, hysteria, can only be compared to the Y2K scare at the end of 1999. During that period, the world said Y2K would cause computer crashes, commerce to end and daily life to come to a crashing halt.Now, fast forward almost twenty years and enter Subchapter M.