Leading classification society ClassNK continues its remarkable growth in 2012, announcing today that its register topped 210 million gross tons for the first time at the end of November 2012. The announcement was made following a meeting of the Society’s Classification Committee, which certified that at the end of November 2012, the ClassNK register listed 8,163 vessels totaling 210,218,450 gross tons.  As ClassNK celebrated becoming the first classification society in history to have more than 200 million gross tons on its register at the end of May this year, today’s achievement highlights the fact that roughly 10 million gross tons have been added to the ClassNK register in the past six months alone.

Speaking on the occasion, ClassNK Chairman and President Noboru Ueda said: “Our constant growth is a direct result of the exemplary professionalism showed by NK Staff in our offices around the world, and a demonstration of the trust placed in us by the greater maritime industry.”

The growth of ClassNK’s register in 2012 has been driven by a large number of newbuilding completions, which account for 18.8 million gross tons, or roughly 78% of the 24 million gross tons that have joined NK’s register so far this year. The achievement places ClassNK within striking distance of its previous record of 19.7 million gross tons of newly built tonnage set in 2011.

In line with ClassNK’s dominant position in the field of bulk carrier classification, bulkers of all sizes accounted for just more than half of the ships added to the ClassNK register from January to November, with significant numbers of container carriers, work boats & offshore support vessels, as well as gas carriers and oil tankers making up the remainder of the additions.

Mr. Ueda added: “This growth reflects our unmatched commitment to provide the best quality service to our clients worldwide, as well as our global efforts to support the safe development of the maritime industry, and we will continue to work towards ensuring a greener and safer future for the industry in the days and years to come.”