Nippon Kaiji Kyokai

Japanese ship classification society

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Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK)

Native name	日本海事協会
Company type	Non profitable organization
Industry	Classification society
Founded	1899
Headquarters	Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Website	Nippon Kaiji Kyokai

Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (一般財団法人日本海事協会, Ippan-zaidan-hōjin Nippon Kaiji Kyōkai), also know by it s brand name ClassNK, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization ship classification society. ClassNK is one of the seven founding members of the International Association of Classification Societies, otherwise known as IACS.

Background

As of December 2007,^[update] ClassNK had classified 6,793 ships with a total of 152.22 million gross tons, representing about 20% of the world merchant fleet currently under class. Although based in Japan, its surveyors work at shipbuilding and repair yards and ports around the world, examining ships wherever they are needed. On November 15, 1999, it celebrated its 100th anniversary. On May 28, 2012, ClassNK officially announced that its register had surpassed the 200 million gross ton mark, making it the world's first class society in history with more than 200 million gross tons on its register.^[1]^[2]

Activities

Service offered by ClassNK include ship classification surveys, statutory surveys, and certification on behalf of Flag States based on international conventions, codes, national statutes, and its own rules and regulations. The organization also provides assessment and certification services for the safety management systems of ship management companies and the quality systems of ship builders and related manufacturers, acting as an independent third party. In addition, it offers appraisal, consulting, and supervisory services for both marine and non-marine related projects.

Ship classification related services

Approval of service providers, manufacturers and manufacturing methods
Inspection of materials, equipment and similar products
Survey and registration of ship installations, machinery and appliances of new ships
Survey and registration of ships and offshore structures during construction
Survey and inspection of ships, offshore structures and related installations in service
Testing and inspection of material and other types of testing machines

Statutory services

Activities concerned with the certification of freight containers
Appraisal of grain loading
Assignment of freeboard
Assignment of load limits for cargo handling appliances
Audit and certification of safety management systems based on the ISM Code
Statutory survey and certification services based on SOLAS, ILLC, MARPOL and other international conventions and codes on behalf of flag state administrations

Assessment and registration services

Assessment and registration of environmental management systems based on the ISO14001 standards
Assessment and registration of quality systems based on the ISO9000 series of quality standards

Technical services

Appraisal and certification of ships and offshore structures
Commissioned testing, research and computer analysis services
Inspection and certification of non-marine machinery and equipment
Technical consulting regarding ships and offshore structures
Tonnage measurement and certification services

References

^ "ClassNK passed the 200 million-gt mark". Ship&Offshore. DVV Media Group. June 13, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
^ "Koichi Fujiwara Takes Over as Head of ClassNK". Maritime Executive. March 7, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2024.