ClassNK joins with NAPA to bring best-in-class SEEMP solution to market

Singapore, May 08, 2012

ClassNK expertise combined with NAPA software creates environmental solution to increase eco-efficiency and reduce fuel consumption

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK), the world’s largest ship classification society and NAPA, the leading software house for ship design and operations, today announced a collaboration to provide the most comprehensive solution for Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP).

The collaborative solution builds upon the in-depth understanding of ship performance in practice delivered by two world-leading companies in their respective fields. By sharing their expertise, this co-operation will provide an unrivaled service for ship owners, operators and shipbuilders across the globe seeking to rationalize energy consumption and emissions, reduce fuel costs and find an effective solution for SEEMP, for which regulation will come into force on 1st January 2013, ultimately mitigating the environmental impact of operations.

In order to ensure that the collaborative SEEMP solution will be both effective and practical for use on actual vessels, ClassNK and NAPA are working closely with Japan’s largest shipbuilder, Imabari Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., who has been, and will continue to be, instrumental in shaping the development of the system. A trial version of the new solution is expected to be completed within the year, and upon completion it will undergo extensive real world testing on vessels owned and operated by an Imabari Group shipping company. Feedback from this verification testing will be used to further develop and refine the system prior to final release. Imabari Shipbuilding will also make use of the system and the results from its verification tests to further improve the performance of new vessels built at its shipyards.

Yasushi Nakamura, Executive Vice President, ClassNK, said:
“As the world’s leading classification society, we are trusted by our clients to continuously add value to their operations. In the current economic and regulatory environment, pioneering new means of increasing eco-efficiency and reducing fuel consumption is right at the top of the agenda. ClassNK has a reputation for service excellence, which is why NAPA’s unrivaled hydrodynamics expertise and proven background in ship design makes them the natural choice for this collaboration with the cooperation of Imabari Shipbuildings Co., Ltd.”

Juha Heikinheimo, President, NAPA Group said:
“We are delighted to continue our long-time, fruitful co-operation with ClassNK and to join our forces to provide world leading class society eco-efficiency solutions for maritime industry. Eco-efficiency lies right at the heart of NAPA’s business, we are committed to providing environmentally sound solutions from eco-efficient ship design to our operations support software. The partnership with ClassNK shows the potential of NAPA’s software in supporting significant financial and environmental savings. Indeed, when married with sound management practice, improvement of latent efficiencies, optimization of trim, ballast and floating position, and implementation of voyage optimization systems, an electronic approach to SEEMP can achieve as much as 15-20% in fuel economy, depending on the vessel type.”

The SEEMP solution from ClassNK and NAPA will combine modules to optimize trim, route and speed optimization and weather routing with an analytics service to offer operational efficiency and decision support. The system will allow owners and operators to respond quickly and adapt operations in real-time to capitalize on latent efficiencies within operations in order to increase eco-efficiency and reduce fuel consumption as a solution for SEEMP.

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About NAPA
NAPA is the world leading software house supplying solutions for ship design and operation with a mission to improve safety and eco-efficiency of the global maritime industry. With a solid track record in setting new standards for 3D modelling of ships and ship performance analyses, NAPA’s philosophy is that true eco-efficiency starts with the build process and continues through the operational lifecycle of a vessel. NAPA software is used by shipyards, owners, designers, classification societies, research institutes, authorities, consultancies and universities. NAPA has nearly 400 user organizations for the design application and 1,400 installations onboard.

About ClassNK
With more than 199 million gross tons on its register, ClassNK is the world’s largest classification society, helping ensure the safety of some 20% of the world’s oceangoing commercial tonnage. A leader in R&D, ClassNK devotes more than 10% of its turnover each year to both collaborative and independent R&D for the maritime and offshore sectors. ClassNK is working with leading companies, universities and research organizations from throughout the maritime industry to develop a new generation of tools and technology to improve safety, reduce emissions, and secure a greener future for the entire maritime community.