ClassNK has expanded the scope of the electronic certificate service for classification and statutory certificates, to include the flag states of Panama, Singapore, and the Marshall Islands, starting from 15 September 2017.
The service, ClassNK e-Certificate, currently available to Liberian-flagged vessels, will be available to ClassNK-registered vessels from a total of four flag states, accounting for approximately 60% of vessels on the ClassNK register.
ClassNK e-Certificate aims at reducing the workload on board and at shore by minimizing potential clerical errors and time-loss associated with paper burden. Based on the standards stipulated in IMO’s Guidelines for the use of electronic certificates, released in April 2016, the system enables secure transmission of certificates from ship to shore and vice versa. Most importantly, the system includes an online function to determine the validity of certificates and that they have not been falsified or tampered with.
ClassNK e-Certificate became the world’s first electronic certificate service for classification and statutory certificates, after the Liberian Registry granted ClassNK authorization as the first Recognized Organization to issue electronic certificates to Liberian-flagged vessels on its behalf. Following growing interest from the industry, the use of ClassNK e-Certificate was approved by the flag states of Panama, Singapore, and the Marshall Islands.