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New guidelines aim for sector classification consistency

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Japanese classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK) plans to strengthen its services through changes to regulations governing hull structure and new technology.

NKK chairman and president Tadashi Mano admitted the changes would have an impact on the shipbuilding industry, but said they were necessary to improve standards which had been developed mostly based on experience.

'We must introduce theoretical progress into the regulations,' he said, adding the review of the rules, which had started two years ago, would be completed by March 2002.

Mr Mano, visiting Hong Kong, said NKK aimed to standardise regulations as they had no consistency.

In carrying out the review, NKK would keep everything transparent from ship design to shipbuilding, he said, adding that efforts also would be made to improve the quality of the society's services.

NKK, which has classified 6,500 vessels, employs about 900 staff. It has 20 offices in Japan and 60 outside the country.

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