Organizations

Nippon Kaiji Kyokai is a non-profit foundation (Zaidan Houjin) incorporated in accordance with Article 34 of the Japanese Civil Code as an organization serving the public interest concerned with ship classification and maritime safety. The organization consists of a Board of Directors, an Administrative Council, and a Technical Committee.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the chief decision-making organ of the Society. The members of the Board of Directors are selected from among representatives of shipowners, shipbuilders, engine manufacturers, underwriters, maritime organizations, and others associated with maritime affairs. This diverse selection of experts from industry is the source of the integrity of the character of the Society as a ship classification society engaged in a range of activities aimed at promoting the safety of life and property at sea and the protection of the marine environment from a fair and balanced perspective as an unbiased, third-party organization in the maritime industry. The Board of Directors deliberates and sets policy on classification and survey related matters; the enactment, alteration, abolition, and reorganization of the rules and related guidances concerning ship classification and survey activities and requirements; the assessment and registration of quality management systems and environmental management systems of other organizations; business plans and various budget related matters; the selection of Councilors; recommendations concerning members of the Technical Committee and other committees; and other matters of importance to the Society. In addition, the Board of Directors also elects a Chairman and President, up to two vice presidents, and up to four Managing Directors from among the Directors. The Directors so elected serve as full-time members of the Executive Board of Directors and are entrusted with the management of the daily functioning and operation of the Society.

Chairman and President Noboru Ueda
Executive Vice President Hiroshige Kitada
Executive Vice President Toshitomo Matsui
Managing Director Shosuke Kakubari
Managing Director Koichi Fujiwara
Managing Director Takuya Yoneya
Managing Director Yasushi Nakamura

Auditors

Auditors review and audit the assets and accounts as well as the conduct of the business activities of the Society.

The Administrative Council

The Administrative Council consists of representatives of shipowners, shipbuilders, manufacturers of machinery and equipment, underwriters, various other entities concerned with maritime affairs, and others with an interest and insights into the Society who have been nominated by the Board of Directors and appointed by the Chairman and President as Councilors of the Society. The Administrative Council deliberates on the election of Officers of the Society (both Directors and Auditors), the disposal of the endowment fund of the Society, revisions to the Act of Endowment, activity reports, and financial statements of the activities of the Society, and advises the Chairman and President on these and other items of importance to the operation of the Society.

Classification Committee

The Classification Committee consists of Officers of the Society or representatives designated by Officers of the Society from among shipowners, shipbuilders, engine manufacturers, underwriters, and other marine related organizations and approved by the Board of Directors. The Committee is entrusted by the Board of Directors to meet once a month to deliberate and decide on matters concerned with the registration of class and the survey of ships.

Technical Committee

The Technical Committee consists of technical experts and other persons of learning and experience from industry and academia recommended by the Board of Directors. The Technical Committee deliberates on technical matters raised by the Chairman and President seeking advice on such matters or on proposals put forward by members of the Technical Committee. Whenever the Society seeks to enact, alter, abolish, or reorganize any of the technical rules concerned with the classification and survey of ships, such changes to the technical rules are first taken up and considered by the Technical Committee beforehand. In addition, special expert sub-committees may be established by the Technical Committee when deemed necessary to examine specific technical issues in greater detail.

Quality Committee

The Quality Committee consists of a total of seven members, with one representative selected by the Board of Directors from each field of shipowners, shipbuilders, engine manufacturers, test and inspection, underwriters, academic experts, and QualityNK as the certifying and registering organization. The Committee is entrusted by the Board of Directors to meet once a month to deliberate and decide on various matters concerned with the audit and registration of quality management systems and environmental management systems based on the ISO 9001 and 14001 standards, as well as on the enactment, alteration and abolition of various regulations and procedures related to these services. The Committee also considers matters concerning the audit and registration of occupational health and safety management systems based on the OHSAS 18001 specification.

The Head Office of the Society is located in Tokyo and in Chiba, Japan. The Society also has an extensive network of offices established at major ports both in Japan and around the world. A detailed chart of the organizational structure of ClassNK can be found here.

A map of how to get to the Tokyo head office can be found here.