ClassNK Named Top Classification Society at Seatrade Asia Awards

ClassNK was named the best classification society in Asia again Friday night when it received the “Classification Society Award” at the Seatrade Asia Awards held in Hong Kong. Held annually by London-based maritime media company Seatrade Communications, the Seatrade Asia Awards recognize excellence in such fields as innovation, safety, and education in the Asian maritime industry. This marks the second time ClassNK has been named the best classification society at the Seatrade Asia Awards since the event was established in 2008.

This year’s distinguished panel of judges selected ClassNK as the best classification society from a group of four of the top classification societies active in Asia, based on ClassNK’s commitment to innovation and activities in the greater Asian maritime industry over the past year. ClassNK Chairman and President Noboru Ueda accepted the award on behalf of the society. He acknowledged the importance of the award by saying: “It is a great honor to be recognized as the leading classification society by our peers in the Asian maritime community, and we will continue to strive to even to provide better service to the maritime industry both here in Asia and around the world.”

Since its founding in 1899, Tokyo-based ClassNK has grown to become the world’s largest class society, with more than 185 million gross tons on its register, or roughly 20% of the world’s ocean going merchant fleet. In addition to the society’s continued success in the classification sector, which saw ClassNK become the first classification society in history to have more than 180 million gross tons on its register at the beginning of 2011, ClassNK has committed more than 25 million USD to developing new technology to reduce maritime GHG emissions, and has taken a central role in efforts to ensure a greener and safer future for the maritime industry.