ClassNK News

ClassNK granted its ‘AFVC(FD)(EV)’ notation to ‘POSITIVE CHALLENGER’, a car carrier operated by EASTERN CAR LINER, LTD. and managed by ECL Shipmanagement Limited, for vessels equipped with additional firefighting measures for transporting electric vehicles (EVs).  Shipping companies are implementing various measures to address EV fires, which raise concerns due to difficulties in extinguishing and the risk of re-ignition. Characteristics of EV fires To support th...

In late April this year, the OCCS system installed on Evergreen's neopanamax container vessel successfully captured CO2 from its exhaust gas emissions. The captured CO2 was offloaded to a shore facility and was recycled. ClassNK confirmed an amount of the offloaded CO2, and deducted the amount from the ship's annual CO2 emissions in CII assessment under the direction of the Flag Administration of the Panama Maritime Authority. This series of initiatives anticipates practical operations that ma...

ClassNK has updated its report ‘ClassNK Alternative Fuels Insight’ initially released in May 2024, to Version 2.0. This update includes the latest information on alternative fuel ships, including orders and deliveries, demand outlook, and cost simulations for ammonia-fueled ships. It supports customers’ future fuel options and investments. Given the wide range of alternative fuels available for ships, it is necessary to consider not only technical evaluations but also to under...

ClassNK published estimated leak frequencies of ammonia fuel from onboard components for ammonia-fuelled ships, usable for risk assessment. The estimated leak frequencies were added as an appendix of 'Part C of Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels (Edition 3.0)'. Ammonia for ships Ammonia, which does not emit CO2 when burned, is expected to be utilised as an alternative fuel for ships, and various studies and developments are currently underway toward the practical application of ammo...

ClassNK granted its ‘AFVC (Additional Fire-Fighting measures for Vehicle Carrier)’ notations to ‘CERULEAN ACE,’ an LNG-fuelled car carrier operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and managed by MOL Ship Management Co., Ltd., for vessels equipped with additional firefighting measures for transporting electric vehicles (EVs). It is the first vessel in the ClassNK registry to receive the ‘AFVC’ notations, and it marks the world's first case of a shipping company's...

The world’s first accreditation for “Machinery Room Safety for Ammonia” (MRS) will be granted by ClassNK for the ammonia-fueled medium gas carrier (AFMGC) currently being developed by a consortium that includes Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. (NSY). MRS is Class notation demonstrating a ship is equipped with excellent ammonia safety measures for the machinery room. MRS also confirms the vessel meets the highest safety measures under the guideli...

Aiming to establish minimum requirements for the cyber-resilience of newbuild vessels and their connected systems, IACS unified requirements (URs) E26 and E27 provide a new benchmark for shipping’s response to its growing exposure to cyber-attacks. Officially in force from 1 July 2024 and broadly welcomed by industry, the new URs represent another step forward in strengthening Maritime's resilience to the evolving cyber threat. However, according to a thought-provoking discussion recently...

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for the membrane-type LNG carrier installed with the 'Wind Challenger', a hard sail wind propulsion system. The ship is jointly developed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd. This marks the world's first AiP for an LNG carrier equipped with a Wind-Assisted Propulsion System (WAPS). As a solution for responding to environmental regulations and fuel cost reduction, the implementation of wind-assisted propulsion systems is in pro...

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a design concept of the ammonia fuel bunkering boom, which is jointly developed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and TB Global Technologies Ltd. This is the world’s first AiP certification for the design of a bunkering boom for ammonia fuel. Ammonia fuel utilisation As ammonia fuel utilisation is expected in shipping for decarbonisation, bunkering vessels that supply fuel to ships and related equipment will play an essenti...

ClassNK has released a new feature related to FuelEU Maritime for its GHG Emissions Management Tool, ‘ClassNK ZETA (Zero Emission Transition Accelerator)’. Additionally, it has vastly improved usability and enhanced ease of use. ClassNK ZETA tool ClassNK ZETA is a tool for visualising GHG emissions / CII ratings of ships and supporting the management of EU-ETS and is used for over 5,500 ships. Users can use the following features in the newly released FuelEU Maritime feature, whi...

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a design concept of the ammonia fuel bunkering boom, which is jointly developed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and TB Global Technologies Ltd. This is the world’s first AiP certification for the design of a bunkering boom for ammonia fuel. As ammonia fuel utilisation is expected in shipping for decarbonisation, bunkering vessels that supply fuel to ships and related equipment will play an essential role in the supply chain...

ClassNK has carried out third-party verification for self-aggregated social data of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and its group companies, and issued an assurance statement. In an era where proactive corporate actions are required to realise a sustainable society, disclosure of non-financial information, such as environmental data and social data is increasing in importance as a corporate ESG performance indicator. Disclosure of ESG information ClassNK is providing support towards the realisatio...

ClassNK has released ‘Guidelines for Cyber resilience of ships’. The guidelines expound new IACS Unified Requirements (UR) to support the consideration of measures to ensure the cyber security of ships. IACS has established UR E26 for ships and UR E27 for on-board systems and equipment as URs setting minimum requirements for cyber resilience, which is the capability to reduce the occurrence and mitigate the effects of cyber incidents due to cyber-attacks or other threats. The URs ha...

ITOCHU Corporation, ClassNK, Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd., and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding a joint study for the design and safety specifications of ammonia-fuelled ships which are under development by ITOCHU and partners. Ammonia is advancing as a viable marine fuel solution for the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. The discussion for a specification of ammonia-fuelled ship with governmental body related to their op...

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to a Ship IoT Application “i-MITEC” by MIURA CO., LTD. 'i-MITEC' uses a cloud-based environment to provide a range of services, collecting and storing operation data from equipment, such as marine boilers and ballast water management systems that are fitted with communication functionality.  The stored data can be used in combination with analysis by MIURA field engineers to provide suggestions for ef...

On July 5th, ClassNK received report from Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine and IMEX that improper rewriting of data concerning fuel consumption rate had been conducted during the shop trial of marine engines manufactured by them. According to these companies, 950 engines from Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine and 414 engines from IMEX had improper rewriting, and about 60% of these engines had been installed to vessels under ClassNK registry. Data concerning fuel consumption rate This inappropriate condu...

ClassNK has issued its first type of approval certificate under new IACS cyber resilience measures. The new certificates have been issued to the following products: Applicants Products Rosemount Tank Radar AB(an Emerson company) Rosemount CMS System Kongsberg Maritime AS K-Chief & K-Safe Kongsberg Maritime AS AutoChief 600& K-Steering Unified Requirements (UR) IACS has established two Unified Requirements (UR), UR E26 for ships and UR E27 for on-board s...

ClassNK has released its annual report on Port State Control. The report is prepared to enhance awareness of the present state of PSC and improve future onboard maintenance and inspections as well as Safety Management Systems. Statistics and data analysis The report includes statistics and data analysis on ships detained by PSC, as well as typical defective photos. In 2023, 419 PSC detentions were reported for 398 ships classed by ClassNK. ‘Fire safety deficiencies’ such as &lsquo...

Consort Bunkers Pte. Ltd., ClassNK, Yanmar Asia (Singapore) Corporation Pte Ltd, and Taiko Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to accelerate towards introduction of more bunkering ships capable of handling alternative fuels. Biofuel/methanol bunkering tankers Singapore-based Consort Bunkers placed an order with COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry (Guandong) Co., Ltd. to construct four 7,999 DWT IMO Type 2 tankers, ready for biofuel and methanol bunkering. Incorpor...

ClassNK has granted its first software security certifications to ship management solution - 'MACK', developed by SVM Solutions and Technologies Pte. Ltd. (Solverminds). ClassNK has summarised its basic approach to ensuring onboard cyber security for ships in the 'ClassNK Cyber Security Approach'. Furthermore, to support the '5. Development of shipboard products with reduced cyber risks' referred to in this approach, ClassNK has issued the 'Guidelines for Software Security'. ClassNK issues the...

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has launched a white paper urging maritime organisations to strengthen their cyber defences - as the industry continues to adopt connected technologies for digitalisation, decarbonisation, and crew welfare. The whitepaper explores the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS)’ new unified requirements (URs) for cyber security. Compiled in collaboration with pioneering classification society and IACS member ClassNK, IACS Unified Requi...

FuelEU Maritime, an EU regulation aimed at promoting the decarbonisation of fuels used on board ships, has entered into force and will apply to all ships above 5,000 gross tonnages calling at EU ports from January 1, 2025. FAQs on the FuelEU maritime In this 'FAQs on the FuelEU Maritime (2nd Edition)', the explanation regarding the responsible entities under the regulation and the necessary regulatory compliance timeline for shipping companies have been added, and the contents have been update...

Japanese maritime experts have announced the successful completion of the early phases of a cross-industry project aimed at creating a secure data-sharing framework between shipyards and ship owners to advance the use of digital twins throughout a ship’s lifecycle. The project, which aims to enable the use of a vessel’s unique design data to optimise efficiency and safety at sea, as well as the sharing of operational data to inform new designs, brings together ship owners - NYK Grou...

ClassNK has released the report – ‘ClassNK Alternative Fuels Insight’, which summarises the characteristics and latest trends of alternative fuels to support their customers’ future fuel selection. Amidst the pressing need for society-wide reduction of GHG emissions, regulations aimed at further promoting GHG emission reductions in international shipping are being introduced. This heralds the arrival of an era where GHG emissions from ships will incur costs. Adoption of...

ClassNK has released a new tool, ‘WACDAS (WAve Climate Data Aggregation for Ships)’, for calculating the route correction factors essential for ensuring the safety of container lashing and support container stacking optimisation. Responding to rapid increases in the size of container ships and advances in lashing technology, ClassNK released ‘Guidelines for Container Stowage and Securing Arrangements (Edition 3.0)’ last year to enhance the safety and efficiency of marine...

ClassNK has commenced joint research with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to establish an evaluation method for the compatibility of ship materials with liquefied oxygen (LOX). The aim is to contribute to suppressing fire accidents on ships handling liquefied hydrogen, where LOX could be generated, and to reasonable material selection. Liquefied hydrogen carriers To construct a supply chain for hydrogen, which is expected to be a clean energy source in a decarbonised society, th...

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsements for Products & Solutions to an internet payment facility – ‘V.Pay’, an AI maritime camera surveillance solution – ‘V.Sight’, and a wearable AR smart-glass solution ‘V.Sion’, developed by iO3 Pte Ltd. ClassNK verified functions of ‘V.Pay’ ClassNK has verified the functions of ‘V.Pay’, 1. Crew internet payment facility with user-friendly portal, 2. Flexible Wi-Fi plans, 3....

ClassNK has verified the methane slip reduction effect of the methane slip reduction system, jointly developed by Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. (Yanmar PT), and issued a Statement of Fact (SOF). A concept of the methane oxidation catalyst system was designed by Hitachi Zosen and Yanmar PT as part of a project that was adopted by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) as 'Development of...

ClassNK has awarded an approval in principle (AiP) for a methanol fuel supply system developed by Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Methanol is considered one of the promising alternative fuels for decarbonisation, and a significant reduction in GHG emissions on a lifecycle basis is expected by using green methanol, such as sustainable biomass-derived bio methanol and e-methanol synthesised from CO2 and renewable energy-derived hydrogen. Safe use of methanol On the other hand, methanol po...

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co, Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has acquired Approval in Principle (AiP) from the Japanese classification society - ClassNK for an ammonia fuel supply system (AFSS) for the ‘X-DF-A’, a large, low-speed 2-stroke ammonia-fuelled engine under development by WinGD, a Swiss designer and licensor of large marine engines. The AiP presentation ceremony took place at ‘Sea Japan 2024’ international maritime exhibition and confer...