This was in addition to granting the authorisation to carry out statutory surveys for US-flagged ships in 2011.
ACP was developed as an alternative method for US-flagged vessels to fulfill the regulatory requirements for construction and operation. Under the programme, ClassNK can now carry out a wide range of surveys and inspections on US-flagged vessels on behalf of the USCG.
In accordance with USCG requirements, domestic-flagged vessels are required to undergo on board inspections by the USCG before a Certificate of Inspection (COI) can be issued. Under the ACP, however, the USCG can issue a COI to an NK-classed, US-flagged vessel based upon reports from the class society without the need for duplicate inspections. This eases the financial and regulatory burden on shipowners whilst maintaining existing levels of safety, the class society said.
“Owners of US-flagged ships should be able to choose the classification society that best meets their needs. ClassNK’s timely and high-quality services consistently garner praise from shipowners, yards, designers and operators worldwide. Through the ACP we will continue providing our US clients with best-in-class services and support them in maintaining compliant, competitive operations,” said ClassNK’s regional manager of North and Central America, Stewart Lee.
To be eligible to participate in the ACP, ClassNK satisfactorily performed a delegated function for two years from its first registration of a US-flagged vessel and demonstrated its commitment to continuous quality and vigorous verification of each vessel’s compliance with applicable standards.
In addition, ClassNK has opened a new exclusive survey office in Bahrain with operations commencing on 15th March, 2016.
Bahrain is home to the Middle East’s main shiprepair yard and in addition, Khalifa bin Salman Port (KBSP), which opened in 2009, is becoming a major regional transhipment centre.
Through the opening of the Bahrain office, ClassNK will improve the efficiency of its ship surveys in the Persian Gulf region, the class society said. .