COVID-19 Information

Committing to provide essential service to all our clients continuously, ClassNK has given first priority to preventing the further spread of infection as well as ensuring the safety of concerned parties in accordance with the instructions and recommendations by respective national/regional administrations. Though our service may be interrupted due to restrictions, we ask for your kind understanding and cooperation.

Actions for surveys/audits responding to the spread of COVID-19

(Updated on 27 Mar. 2020)
In response to the spread of COVID-19, ClassNK has been making every effort to provide support to all those who may miss due dates for surveys/audits due to force majeure. Specifically, we are offering applicable alternative measures such as the application of remote surveys and postponement of surveys etc., subject to approval of the flag state administration.

Related ClassNK Technical Information (TEC-1203)

[For inquiries relating to class & statutory surveys]

Head Office Survey Department
Email : svd@classnk.or.jp
Tel. : +81-3-5226-2027

[For inquiries relating to ISM/ISPS/MLC audits & inspections]

Head Office Ship Management Systems Department
Email : smd@classnk.or.jp
Tel. : +81-3-5226-2173

Guidance issued by IMO on GBS application concerning unforeseen delays in the delivery of bulk carriers and oil tankers

(Updated on 10 Apr. 2020)
GBS (Goal-based standard), as stipulated in SOLAS II-1/3-10, is applied to oil tankers and bulk carriers of more than 150m in length delivered on or after 1 July 2020. Design and construction of these ships shall comply with rules deemed as compliant with GBS.
Due to the spread of COVID-19, concerns were raised that unforeseen delays in the delivery affected by COVID-19 for non-GBS vessels scheduled to be delivered before 1 July 2020 might cause unintentional application of GBS to those vessels. To address the concerns, an IMO Circular has been issued so that the flag state administration may accept as the ship delivered before the application date of GBS on a case-by-case basis, bearing in mind such circumstances.

Circular Letter No.4204/Add.7

For any inquiries relating to IMO in general, please contact the following department. Regarding the matter on specific ship, please contact the nearest ClassNK office or Survey Dept. as above.

Head Office External Affairs Department
Email : xad@classnk.or.jp
Tel. : +81-3-5226-2038

Information on circulars issued by Flag states responding to the spread of COVID-19

The circulars issued by Flag state administrations are posted as follows. These circulars includes information and instructions in case where surveys/audits in accordance with Conventions such as SOLAS, Load Line, MARPOL, and ISM,/ISPS/MLC cannot be carried out by their due dates because of the impact of COVID-19. Although we strive to publish the latest information to the best of our ability, information will also be updated by flag state administrations as necessary, so please also make sure to refer to their websites.

(Updated on 14 Apr 2023)

Information on circulars

Flag state Circular No. Title Link issue date
Antigua and Barbuda Circular 2020-001(Rev.2) Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) PDF 2021/3/30
Bahamas Technical Alert 22-01 v1.0 COVID-19 PDF 2022/1/7
Barbados Bulletin 323 COVID-19: GUIDANCE PDF 2020/3/19
Bulletin 323 Addendum COVID-19: DISPENSATION REQUESTS PDF 2020/3/30
Bulletin 329 COVID-19 update PDF 2020/7/20
Belgium Circular 2020/002 Ver.1.6 Operational measures concerning certification related to Covid-19 PDF 2021/12/8
Belize Merchant Marine Notice MMN-20-003r1 BELIZE (IMMARBE) Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Temporary Measures PDF 2020/6/5
Bermuda BERMUDA MERCHANT SHIPPING GUIDANCE NOTICE 2020-01 Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Outbreak on Bermuda-Registered Ships PDF 2020/3/17
Brazil PORTARIA No.85/DPC DIRETORIA DE PORTOS E COSTAS PDF 2020/3/19
PORTARIA No.215/DPC DIRETORIA DE PORTOS E COSTAS PDF 2020/6/30
Brunei Shipping Notice BC/09/2020 International Maritime Organization (IMO) Covid-19 Guidance for Flag States Regarding Surveys and Renewals of Certificates During The Covid-19 Pandemic PDF 2020/6/16
Cayman Islands Guidance Note 02/2020 Rev.5 IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON OPERATION OF CAYMAN ISLANDS REGISTERED SHIPS PDF 2021/1/7
Guidance Note 05/2020 (Rev.1) OFFICIAL LOG BOOKS & IMO RECORD BOOKS (COVID-19) PDF 2020/4/10
Comoros Circular Ref.No.21/01855/COME4 CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – GUIDANCE RELATING TO THE POSTPONEMENT/EXTENSION OF STATUTORY CERTIFICATION & SERVICES PDF 2021/1/4
Cook Islands Circular 227/2020 COVID-19 – Extension of mandatory surveys, audits, inspections and validity of statutory certificates. PDF 2020/3/19
Circular 228/2020 COVID-19 – Format of documentation on board Cook Islands’ Vessels PDF 2020/3/25
Curacao Notice to Shipping 10 NTS 10-2020 MAC COVID-19 Contingency plan and guidelines PDF 2020/3/31
Notice to Shipping 21 NTS 21-2021 MAC COVID-19 Contingency plan and guidelines PDF 2021/12/21
Cyprus Circular No.06/2020 Special arrangement by the Shipping Debuty Ministry for the provision of services during the COVID-19 outbreak PDF 2020/3/17
Circular No. 20/2022 Urgent Provisional Measures for the operation of Cyprus ships during the Covid-19 outbreak PDF 2022/5/2
Denmark Case 2020009936 COVID-19 - Additional instructions for Recognised Organisations acting on behalf of the Danish Maritime Authority PDF 2020/9/16
Dominica CD-MSC 01-20 Rev01 ADVISORY ON THE 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PDF 2020/3/3
CD-MSC 02-20 Rev01 Guidance to Assist with Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Ship Operations PDF 2020/3/16
Georgia No.17/CIRC/FSI Measures taken by Georgia regarding COVID-19 Pandemic PDF 2020/4/7
No. 28/CIRC/FSI Flag State Inspection and Survey on behalf of MTA in the period of COVID-19 Pandemic PDF 2020/10/23
Greece Circular INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION RELATED MEASURES TAKEN BY THE HELLENIC MARITIME ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO COVID-19- ISSUES PDF 2020/4/1
Honduras Ciruclar DGMM No. 008-2020 - PDF 2020/3/25
Hong Kong - <Dedicated webpage> Special Arrangements by the Hong Kong Marine Department under COVID-19 Pandemic Situation URL -
- Special arrangement under COVID-19 pandemic procedures for extending statutory certificate beyond 3 months PDF 2020/7/3
India DGS Order No.13 of 2020 Extension to the validity of Seafarer's Certificates and Ship's Statutory Certificates, periodical Surveys & Audits in view of COVlD-19 pandemic. PDF 2020/5/21
DGS Order No.17 of 2020 Extension of validity of Seafarer's Certificate and Ship's Statutory Certificates, Periodical Surveys and Audits in view of COVID-19 pandemic PDF 2020/6/29
DGS Order No. 23 of 2021 Conduct of Ships Statutory Surveys, Inspections and Audits for the purpose of issuance of Certificates, endorsements of Certificates and extension of validity of Certificates during COVID-19 Pandemic - reg. PDF 2021/5/14
Ireland Marine Notice No.15 of 2020 Amended 07/09/2021 Temporary Contingency Planning for the Surveying and Certification of Irish Registered Ships – COVID-19 PDF 2021/9/7
Isle of Man Technical Advisory Notice 002-20 (Rev.7) COVID-19 Advice to Ship Operators PDF 2021/10/15
Italy Circular Letter No.4231/Add.1 Measures to Address Covid-19 PDF 2020/4/2
Japan - 新型コロナウイルス感染症を受けた国土交通省海事局の措置
本ページ下記「日本籍船舶の証書及び検査・審査に対する措置について」もあわせてご覧ください。
PDF 2020/4/8
Kiribati Marine Circular 52/2020 COVID-19 Business Continuity PDF 2020/3/31
Marine Circular 53/2020 (Ver.1) Extension of Statutory Certificates, Surveys, Audits & Inspections due to COVID-19 PDF 2022/7/21
Kuwait KSN/MTD Circ.1/2020 Marine Transport Department guidance relating ships/seafarers certificate - extraordinary measures resulting (COVID-19) pandemic PDF 2020/4/1
KSN-MTD Circ.1/2020 (Add.1) Marine Transport Department guidance relating Ships/Seafarers Certifications – Extraordinary measures resulting (COVID-19) pandemic PDF 2020/7/5
KSN-MTD Circ.1/2020 (Add.2) Marine Transport Department guidance relating Ships/Seafarers Certifications – Extraordinary measures resulting (COVID-19) pandemic PDF 2020/8/10
Liberia Marine Advisory 07/2020-2 Guidance to Assist with Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Ship Operations PDF 2020/4/8
Marine Advisory 11/2020-2 Implementation of IMO Circular Letter No.4204/Add.1: COVID-19 – Implementation and enforcement of relevant IMO instruments PDF 2020/4/22
Marine Advisory 17/2020 Guidance on Exception of Goal Based Standard (GBS) Requirements for Newly Constructed Vessels suffering delays due to COVID-19 PDF 2020/4/30
Libya Circular No. 04/2020 Libyan Ports & Maritime Transport Authority Circular No. 04/2020 Regarding Interim Policy on Extension/Postponement of surveys/audits and inspections due to the outbreaks of COVID-19 PDF 2020/4/1
Luxembourg CAM 002/2020 updated version 17 November 2020 Extraordinary measures related to crew documents and ship certificates in relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic PDF 2020/11/17
Malta Merchant Shipping Notice 158 EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES RESULTING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PDF 2020/3/17
Marshall Islands MARINE SAFETY ADVISORY No. 25-20 HANDLING ISM, ISPS, AND MLC, 2006 DUE TO THE EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCE OF COVID-19 PDF 2020/7/2
Marine Notice No. 1-004-3 Modifications to Instrument Recordation, Acknowledgement, and Other Requirements Pursuant to the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Act, §§103-106, §108, and §203(h), in Response to the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic PDF 2020/7
Marine Guideline No.1-04-1 Guidelines on Modifications to Instrument Recordation, Acknowledgement, and Other Requirements Pursuant to the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Act, §§103-106, §108, and §203(h) in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic PDF 2020/7
Mauritius MERCHANT SHIPPING NOTICE Ref: 18 of 2020 Vessels and seafarer’s certificates during the Covid-19 Pandemic PDF 2020/6/18
Myanmar Marine Instruction (10/2021) Extending the validity of the certificates of Myanmar registered vessels trading in international voyages and near coastal voyages during the COVID-19 pandemic PDF 2021/11/3
Marine Guidance (2/2021) Extending the validity of the certificates of Myanmar registered vessels trading in international voyage due to the outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus PDF 2021/2/26
Marine Guidance (3/2021) Guiding principles for the further extension of the validity of certificate beyond its statutory maximum during the COVID-19 pandemic PDF 2021/2/26
The Netherlands - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Contingency Plan and Guidelines Revision 12 PDF 2022/11/17
Norway - Technical Note Regarding extension of statutory inspections and issuance/endorsement of statutory certificates due to COVID-19 PDF 2020/3/12
Instructions to Class 2-2020 rev.5 COVID-19 - Extension of certificates and vessel instructions PDF 2022/6/15
Instructions to Class 3-2020 COVID-19 - Verification of safety management systems (ISM) by means of remote audits PDF 2020/3/26
Instructions to Class 6-2020 rev.3 Further extensions of statutory surveys and completion of renewal surveys by means of alternative methods due to COVID-19 PDF 2022/6/15
Oman Maritime Circular No.6/Add.1 COVID-19 pandemic - Relaxation measures for ship's statutory survey and certification services PDF 2020/7/6
Palau Marine Circular 187.1 Rev.03/2020 HANDLING THE VALIDITY OF SHIP CERTIFICATES DUE TO COVID-19 PDF 2020/4
Panama Merchant Marine Notice MMN-07/2020 COVID-19 Request for Postponement- Extension of Statutory Certification & Services PDF 2020/8
Merchant Marine Circular MMC-313 VALIDITY OF COLOR COPIES OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS PDF 2020/4/1
Philippines MARINA ADVISORY No. 2020-25 Extension of statutory certificates issued by MARINA and its Recognized Organizations (ROs) as a temporary contingency measure during the COVID-19 pandemic PDF 2020/4/9
MARINA ADVISORY No. 2020-30 Further Extension of Statutory Certification and Services as a Temporary Contingency Measure during the COVID-19 Pandemic PDF 2020/5/5
MARINA ADVISORY No. 2020-33 Guidelines on the Resumption of Operations of Shipbuilding, Ship Repair, Boatbuilding, Afloat Ship Repair/ Service Contractors, Shipbreaking Entities in Areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) PDF 2020/5/14
MARINA ADVISORY No. 2020-52 Guiding Principles (Step-based Approach) Developed by International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) regarding Surveys and Renewals of Certificates during the COVID-19 Pandemic PDF 2020/7/2
MARINA ADVISORY No. 2020-75 Implementation of the Conduct of Remote Inspection/ Survey/ Audit/ Compliance Monitoring of Company, Ship and Shipyard PDF 2020/10/1
MARINA ADVISORY No. 2020-86 Inclusion of Outbreak Management Plan (OMP) in the Safety Management System PDF 2020/11/26
Portugal - Guidelines for adoption of extraordinary measures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, to all registered owners, registered bareboat charterers, managers and representatives of ships flying the Portuguese flag(REV 1) PDF 2020/3/20
Saudi Arabia Circular No. (03) 2020 Special Measures Concerning the extension of certificates of Saudi Flagged Ships PDF 2020/3/31
Singapore Shipping Circular No. 03 of 2020 Impact of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on Singapore-registered ships PDF 2020/2/26
Port Marine Circular 23 of 2020 COVID-19 (TEMPORARY MEASURES) (CONTROL ORDER) REGULATIONS 2020 PDF 2020/4/16
Sri Lanka MSN04/2020 Amendment to the MSN02/2020-Revised PDF 2020/5/15
St. Kitts and Nevis Maritime Circular No. MC/92/20 MEASURES TAKEN AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 PDF 2020/4/30
St. Vincent and the Grenadines CIRCULAR N° GEN 025 Rev.16 COVID-19, ADVICE FROM MARITIME ADMNISTRATION PDF 2022/12/30
Thailand No.0322/1467 Extension of statutory supervision and issuance/endorsement of statutory certificates due to COVID-19 for international voyage vessels flying Thai Flag PDF 2020/4/2
Türkiye DISTRIBUTION PLACES No.80368960-105.01.02-E.23156 Certification issues PDF 2020/4/6
DISTRIBUTION PLACES No.80368960-105.01.02-E.23518 ( Certification issues ) Measures due to Coronavirus PDF 2020/4/9
DISTRIBUTION PLACES No. 80368960-165.99-E.31822 Survey and Certification Process PDF 2020/6/15
Tuvalu Marine Circular MC-3/2020/1 COVID-19 Business Continuity Notice PDF 2020/3
Marine Circular MC-4/2020/1 (Rev. Jul/2022) MANAGING STATUTORY SURVEYS & CERTIFICATES, ISM, ISPS, MLC 2006 AND FSI DURING COVID-19 PDF 2022/7
UK - CORONAVIRUS Contingency Plan and Guidelines for Seafarers Ver.1 -The MCAs response and Advice to Industry on Areas of Operation which may be affected. PDF 2020/3
USA Marine Safety Information Bulletin 09-20 Vessel Inspections, Exams, and Documentation PDF 2020/3/26
Marine Safety Information Bulletin 14-20 COVID-19: Ballast Water Management (BWM) Extensions PDF 2020/4/9
Vanuatu - COVID-19 PDF 2020/4
Vietnam Ref. No. 11/TB The extension of the ship's existing statutory certificates and the extension or postponement of the surveys, audits or inspections for Vietnamese flagged ships in situations of force majeure due to COVID-19 pandemic PDF 2020/4/9

For any inquiries relating to flag state information in general, please contact the following department. Regarding the matter on specific ship or company, please contact the nearest ClassNK office or Survey Dept./Ship Management System Dept. as above.

Head Office External Affairs Department
Email : xad@classnk.or.jp
Tel. : +81-3-5226-2038

Measures taken towards certificates and inspections of Japanese flag vessels

For extension applications / inquiries concerning certificates and inspections of Japanese flag vessels which expire in the forthcoming months, please contact:

Statutory/Classification surveys and certificates: Survey Department (svd@classnk.or.jp)
ISM/ISPS audits, MLC inspection and certificates: Ship Management Systems Department (smd@classnk.or.jp)