ClassNK said that it will commence operation of the world’s first comprehensive electronic certificate service for classification and statutory certificates, starting from 15 June 2017. The service, ClassNK e-Certificate, will first be made available to Liberian-flagged vessels on the ClassNK register exclusively.
ClassNK e-Certificate is developed under a project aimed 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. The system also includes an online function to determine the validity of certificates and that they have not been falsified or tampered with.
In cooperation with the Liberian Registry and shipping companies, ClassNK began trials on the system in October 2016. In April 2017, the Liberian Registry confirmed that ClassNK e-Certificate met the requirements of the IMO Guidelines, and granted ClassNK authorization as the first Recognized Organization to issue electronic certificates to Liberian-flagged vessels on its behalf.
Speaking on the occasion, Tetsuya Hayashi, Director of ClassNK’s Survey Operations Division said: “We plan to expand the availability of this innovative service to even more vessels on our register in the near future in order to meet the growing needs of the industry.”
