On 1 July, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) officially announced
the opening of three new exclusive surveyor offices in
Tartous, Syria; Callao, Peru; and Sibu, Malaysia. The new offices
become the 110th, 111th, and 112th offices in the Society’s
global service network. The opening of the new offices
continues ClassNK’s aggressive network expansion, which saw
the class society open seven new exclusive surveyor offices
around the globe in 2009. This expansion also coincides with
the dramatic growth of the ClassNK register, which has
grown by more than 20 million gross tonnes (gt) since the
beginning of 2008.
The new offices in Tartous and Callao are the first
exclusive surveyor offices ClassNK has opened in Syria and
Peru, respectively, and Chairman Ueda marked the
achievement by saying “These new offices reflect the growing
number of NK clients in the Middle East and South America
and the continuing globalization of the ClassNK fleet.”
With regards to the new office in Sibu, Malaysia, Mr. Ueda
emphasized the important role that Malaysia’s shipbuilding
industry has played in NK’s successful expansion in the
workboat market noting that “Last year, the number of NK
classed newbuildings in Malaysia grew to more than 100
vessels, and this new office will allow us to better serve
Malaysia’s dynamic shipbuilding industry.” The new Sibu Office
is the fifth exclusive surveyor office ClassNK has established
in Malaysia.