ClassNK Executive Hayato Suga recently broadened his responsibilities, following his appointment as Director of the Society’s Plan Approval and Technical Division. His new area of responsibility sees Mr. Suga taking charge of the ClassNK Division focused on vessel design plan approvals and associated technical support, although it is often invited to play a wide-ranging, independent third party advisory role.
The new Divisional Director sees efficient and reliable plan approval as his priority, and sees feedback from customers as a vital part of improving ClassNK’s level of service.
However, he adds:
“Another important objective is to continue making technical contributions to the industry. I suppose you could say the challenge is the creating of new value for the industry, while maintaining our rigorous standards.”
Exemplary was the support ClassNK gave to developing the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-built Sayaendo LNG carrier class of ship, he says, which includes its LNG tanks under one continuous cover.
These 155,000m3 capacity vessels retain the reliable configuration and sloshing resistance of spherical tanks while integrating the continuous tank cover to improve the carrier’s overall structural efficiency.
“Integrating the cover in the hull reinforces the ship’s overall structural strength while reducing weight,” says Mr. Suga. “The aerodynamic cover also substantially reduces longitudinal wind forces that create drag on vessels, contributing to reduced fuel consumption during actual operations at sea.”
Other recent value-added projects involving ClassNK have included technical support for a liquid hydrogen carrier and new guidelines for alternative fueled vessels.
“It was also a big coup for us when the first LNG-fueled and methanol-fueled vessels joined our register,” he says.
Mr Suga said that ClassNK provides technical support for alternative-fuel systems for LNG, LPG, methanol and others by assembling teams of experts in the department to handle each type of project.
“Alternative fuels represent a very effective step forward in environmental protection, and I believe use of this technology will increase in the future. However, the pace of its uptake will really depend on the supply of each type of fuel, as well as the economic viability of implementing such a system.”
For the moment, LNG is the only one of the new alternative marine fuels to have seen specific rules enter into force covering its use at sea.
“We will use our technical expertise to contribute to the development of rules for other fuels. Also, we are working to further strengthen our expert risk assessment services.”
As far as gas fuel in general is concerned, there are various studies being carried out on bunkering technologies, with communal facilities also being proposed, but everything is decided on a project-by-project basis.
Mr Suga added that currently the biggest challenge in applying these technologies is uncovering all of the associated risks and getting the approvals, although much the same could have been said about conventional oil-based fuels.
