ClassNK
Japanese ship classification society (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai), founded 1899 and based in Tokyo.
ClassNK signed a memorandum in August 2026 with Evergreen Marine, Samsung Heavy Industries and Weathernews to verify a crewed navigation trial on a commercial vessel aimed at saving fuel.
Last refreshed: 7 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can a classification society's trial prove autonomous navigation is safe at sea?
Timeline for ClassNK
Mentioned in: Indian Register clears navy USV software
Autonomous Systems: Land & SeaSigned the trial memorandum and agreed to verify results
Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea: ClassNK to verify a fuel-saving sea trialBackground
ClassNK, formally Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, is a non-profit, non-governmental ship classification society founded in 1899 and headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It is one of the founding members of the International Association of Classification Societies and classes about a fifth of the world merchant fleet by tonnage.
In August 2026 it signed a memorandum with Evergreen Marine, Samsung Heavy Industries and Weathernews for a crewed commercial-vessel navigation trial. The agreement describes a test with CREW aboard, not an autonomous voyage, and no vessel name, trial date or expected fuel saving was given.
A classification society sets and verifies the technical rules a ship is built and run to. That makes ClassNK one of the gatekeepers for automated navigation: its verification is what lets a shipowner, insurer or flag state rely on a system rather than on the maker's word.
