 | |
| 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) is a ship classification society.
"ClassNK," also known by its brand name is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works on a range of services involving ships and preventing marine pollution. The Society's expert technical staff performs surveys to ensure that the rules it has developed are applied to both new and existing ships, ensuring their safety. These rules cover hull structures, safety equipment, cargo handling gear, engines, machinery, electrical and electronic systems, among other things.
As of December 2007, the Society had 6,793 ships with a total of 152.22 million gross tons under its class, representing about 20% of the world merchant fleet currently under class. Although based in Japan, ClassNK has worldwide representation through its network of exclusive surveyor offices. Its surveyors work at shipbuilding and repair yards and ports around the world, examining ships wherever they are needed. On November 15, 1999, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai 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.
Main Activities of ClassNK
ClassNK offers a wide range of services, including ship classification surveys, statutory surveys, and certification on behalf of Flag States based on international conventions, codes, national statutes, and ClassNK's 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, ClassNK 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
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
ClassNK is one of the seven founding members of the International Association of Classification Societies, otherwise known as IACS.