Tag: ClassNK

012 edition of the 'Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships ClassNK has announced the release of the 2012 edition of the 'Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships'.ClassNK says it continuously reviews, updates, and amends its technical rules and guidance as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the safety of life and property at sea, and to protect the marine environment. This year's edition of the rules and guidance contains a number of amendments made in 2011, reflecting its latest research results, damage investigations and analysis of actual cases, amendments to statutory rules and regulations, and requests from the maritime industry. These amendments include the following:New requirements for container ships New rules for methods to fix attachments to the corners of cargo hatchesNew requirements for Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm Systems (BNWAS)New requirements for work-shipsSource: ClassNK

Approval of NYK Line and Semih Sohtorik ClassNK is part of a voluntary SEEMP certification programme Japanese classification society ClassNK has issued its first certification for Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plans (SEEMP). They are for Japanese shipowner NYK Line and Turkish ship management company Semih Sohtorik Management & Agency Inc (SSMA).ClassNK notes that new amendments to Annex VI of the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) related to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from ships were adopted at the 62nd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in July 2011. The amendments require both new and existing ships with a gross tonnage of 400 tons or greater engaged on international voyages to retain a SEEMP onboard on or after 1 January 2013.In order to assist shipowners and managers comply with the new requirements, ClassNK has begun offering a voluntary SEEMP certification programme, and the certification of NYK Line and SSMA is part of that.ClassNK says in statement that, as part of the certification process, it carried out a thorough examination of both company's SEEMPs and verified that the contents and procedures for improving the energy efficiency of their ships included in their plans were in accordance ...

ClassNK -TEC 0899 ClassNK issues Technical Information TEC-0899 regarding Fall Preventer Devices (FPDs) for the UK Flagged vessels as follows:The UK Government has notified ClassNK of the special requirement for fall preventer devices (FPDs) for lifeboats on board UK flagged vessels (MGN 445 (M+F)).The UK Government strongly urges that all UK vessels fitted with lifeboat on-load release systems (LRRS) should be equipped with FPDs in accordance with MSC.1/Circ.1327 pending the evaluation of the systems for compliance with the requirements of the revised LSA Code.For more information, click here.Source: ClassNK

ClassNK - TEC 0897 ClassNK issues Technical Information TEC - 0897 regarding MPA Instruction to prevent PSC detention for Singapore Ships as follows:Please note that, on 15 February 2012, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) issued Preventive action against PSC ship detention at a foreign port and especially at Australian ports as per the message from MPA with Ref. No.FSC5.02. Please see the attachment for details.MPA's main requirements are as follows:1. For all the Singaporean ships under your management, execution of Thorough Inspection (including ISM matters) by Company's shore personnel or Ship's senior officers and rectification of deficiency/ non conformity.In case where any serious deficiency/ non-conformity which can not be rectified immediately is found, reporting to MPA, ClassNK and PSC at calling port,2. Prior to the entry into Australian port, submission of Master's Declaration to MPA, on completion of thorough inspection and no serious deficiency/ non conformity which is not rectified or reported.For more information, click here.Source: ClassNK

Expected to be widely used in shipbuilding ClassNK announced yesterday that it had issued an approval for a friction stir welding (FSW) method using a floating bobbin tool to IHI Corporation. The approval certifies that this new method complies with ClassNK's Guidelines on Friction Stir Welding. IHI is considering applying this welding method to the aluminum sections of LNG carriers and/or FLNGs cargo tanks such as the IHI-SPB tank, which had been independently developed by IHI group at its Aichi Works.FSW is currently becoming a popular method used in the fields of railcar, automobile and airplane construction, thanks to its superiority to arc welding in a number of aspects. Key advantages of FSW are that it does not produce arc and fume at the time of welding and provides relative control over welding deformation. Its application is now limited to low melting point materials such as aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy because of the friction heat generated in the welding process. However, it is expected to be widely used in shipbuilding in relation to the construction of aluminum alloy structures.Furthermore, this welding method is equipped with a solution to one of the common defects in FSW. Generally, a rod-like tool ...

ClassNK updates these guidelines- proposes appropriate stability and hull strength criteria ClassNK has released a new revised edition of its "Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Nickel Ore" which was first released in May 2011 in response to major marine casualties caused by a loss of stability as a result of the liquefaction of nickel ore. This first edition summarized operational precautions and recommendations from past findings for the prevention of such liquefaction.However, ClassNK decided to update these guidelines to provide an even greater level of support to the maritime community. Under the provisions of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, vessels can carry cargoes subject to liquefaction even if the moisture content is in excess of the transportable moisture limit (TML), as long as the ship is "specially constructed or fitted to carry the cargo, and if evidence of approval by the Administration is stored on board the ship (Ref. 7.3.1.1*1 and 7.3.2.2*2 of IMSBC Code)". And yet, no special international criteria or standards have ever been established to govern this approval.With this in mind, ClassNK has proposed appropriate stability and hull strength criteria, and incorporated them into "Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Nickel Ore ". ...

Leading Class Society Aims to address Safety Measures for use of Natural Gas as Ship Fuel As regulations curbing atmospheric pollution and greenhouse gas emissions grow stricter amid stronger calls for a greener shipping industry, attention is turning to the potential of natural gas as a cleaner alternative to liquid fuel oil.Liquefied natural gas is widely used on vessels designed to transport the commodity and has started to be introduced on other types of ships. Around 30 vessels, including many Norwegian ferries and offshore support ships in theNorth Sea, are powered by LNG with takeup of the fuel expected to increase in the near future.The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed the International Code of Safety for ships using gases or other low flash-point fuels (IGF Code) to govern safety aspects of the application of natural gas for propulsion and auxiliary purposes.In these new ClassNK guidelines, requirements for the design of natural gas fuelled ships have been specified based on the current draft of the IGF Code. The guidelines provide comprehensive information on key design features including bunkering, hull structure, fire safety, and explosion prevention measures."One of our most important missions as a classification society is to help ensure the ...

ClassNK - TEC 0893 The Norwegian Government has notified ClassNK of the special requirement for fall preventer devices (FPDs) for lifeboats on board Norwegian flagged vessels as follows.The Norwegian Government requires the Fall Preventer Devices (FPDs) which comply with MSC.1/Circ.1327 for all Norwegian Flagged vessels, until such time as the lifeboat release and the retrieval systems (LRRS) have undergone the necessary design review and performance test, and have been either confirmed compliant with the relevant requirements of the revised LSA Code or replaced with compliant devices.Quote of Instruction to Class (dated 19 January 2012)Until existing types of on-load release and retrieval systems for lifeboats are verified to be in compliance with the LSA code as amended by Res. MSC.320(89), or replaced with compliant on-load release and retrieval systems for lifeboats, on all ships such systems should upon confirmation by the lifeboat/davit, manufacturer be fitted with FPDs. If the lifeboat or davit manufacturer is no longer available, the advice of a qualified independent service provider be sought.Source: ClassNK

ClassNK - TEC 0889 ClassNK issues TEC-0889 regarding Notice of Carriage of the solid bulk cargoes which is not listed in IMSBC Code from the Singapore GovernmentThe Singapore Government has noticed (MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE SHIPPING CIRCULAR TO SHIPOWNERS NO.22 OF 2011) of the carriage of IRON ORE FINES which is not listed in IMSBC Code and the cargo may liquefy.For more information, click here.Source: ClassNK

Class NK also issues MLC Certification ClassNK announced yesterday that it had issued generic training course approval to an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) course offered by K Line Maritime Academy (Philippine) (KLMA (Phili)), a group company of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. The approval, which certifies that this course complies with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards and the leading classification society's new Standard for Maritime Education & Training, is the first of its kind issued by ClassNK in the Philippines.ClassNK also issued certification for seafarer recruitment and placement service providers in line with the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006) to another member of the "K" LINE Group, Manila-based manning company Ventis Maritime Corporation (VMC). The approval confirms the company's conformance with the standards set forth in Regulation 1.4 (Recruitment and Placement) of the MLC 2006 which was adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2006 to help ensure the safety and protect the rights of seafarers. New requirements for the installation of ECDIS systems are due to be phased in from July of this year. Under these requirements, it will become mandatory for vessels to use ECDIS as their primary means of navigation. In line with ...