After four years of absence, Japan’s ClassNK is going back to Iran. The classification society expects a new agreement to[ds_preview] be finalized shortly and explains its step with the growing demand. Since the establishment of its Dubai office in 1977, ClassNK has been supporting the maritime industry across the Middle East through a variety of services. As this regional market continues to grow in importance as a trading hub and through offshore developments, ClassNK has expanded its service network in the region in response to a growing number of regional and international clients. As of today, eleven offices have been opened in Dubai, Muharraq (Bahrain), Casablanca, Alexandria, Jeddah, Kuwait, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat and Tehran.
ClassNK re-established its Tehran office in June in light of the recent change in circumstances and expanding growth of the region and »in response to requests«, having originally opened the office in December 2009, before its closure in 2012. As part of its plan to further strengthen its operations in the area, an agreement with Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO), the Iranian maritime administration, which is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, will enable ClassNK to perform statutory surveys and certifications on Iranian-flagged vessels in cooperation with Port & Flag State Control officers.
»ClassNK value its clients’ voice first and foremost and, just as it is doing in other regions throughout the world, it is strengthening its commitment to delivering the technical services required by them«, the classification society states. Even under the new executive team with Koichi Fujiwara as the new Chairman and President, ClassNK’s mission would remain the same as before: safety at sea and the protection of marine environment around the globe.
ClassNK’s history stretches some 117
years and its register would boast over 240mill. GT or roughly 20% of the world’s merchant fleet. Fujiwara took the helm as Chairman and President in March 2016 and »is applying the extensive knowledge and expertise he has gained over four decades in the maritime industry to ensure the continued success and longevity of ClassNK«, it was said
