Class society ClassNK has received authorisation from the Liberian Registry to provide Liberian flagged vessels with electronic certificates for statutory surveys.
ClassNK said that it was the world’s first class society to be authorised by the Liberian Registry to issue certificates in electronic form.
Reduce admin burdens:
In order to reduce the administrative burdens associated with the sending and on board storing of numerous certificates, coupled with the goal of making certificate information easier to retrieve, ClassNK developed the ‘ClassNK e-Certificate’ system.
Secure electronic format:
This new system issues both class and statutory certificates in a secure electronic format, cutting down on the workload for shipping companies. Trials for the Liberian flagged ships in operation were carried out in co-operation with Japanese shipping companies, under the authorisation and in mutual co-operation with the Liberian flag administration – Liberian International Ship & Corporate registry (LISCR).
e-Certificates:
Using elements of the Liberian Registry’s own digitised certificates, recognised at the IMO, ClassNK has developed ClassNK e-Certificate which conforms with the updated Guidelines for the Use of Electronic Certificates (FAL.5/Circ.39/Rev.2) issued by the IMO this month.
Safe-keeping of data:
As well as enabling the transmission and receiving of electronic data offshore, ClassNK e-Certificate allows users to verify the authenticity of certificates online to ensure data has not been manipulated or falsified.
The Liberian Registry has confirmed that the certificates issued through ClassNK e-Certificate meets the requirements set out in the IMO Guidelines and authorised its use for statutory surveys.
The registry also confirmed that ClassNK will be the sole class society authorised to issue these e-Certificates in first three month period of this new initiative. The Liberian Registry is requesting Port State Control and others to allow the use of ClassNK e-Certificate issued electronic certificates.
The following certificates are covered by the system:
- Load Line
- SOLAS (SC, SE, SR, Exemption Certificates)
- MARPOL (IOPP, NLS, ISPP, IAPP, EIAPP, IEE)
- AFS
- BWMS
- ITC
- SMC
- ISSC
- MLC
This service will be available to Liberian flagged vessels in the second quarter of this year.
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Source: ClassNK
