Marine & Vessel Services

Since June 1, 2007, Japan has maintained agreements with the US and Canadian governments regarding Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) certification schemes for vessels.Vessels that call at ports in Japan/Russia/China/Korea during FSMC flight periods and subsequently enter US or Canadian ports during high-risk periods are required to present FSMC-free certificates.
Additionally, Chile began requiring FSMC-free certificate presentation from February 2014, New Zealand from February 2018, and Argentina from January 2021.
NKKK is authorized by the governments of the United States, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, and Argentina as an FSMC-free inspection organization, and has established inspection systems at ports throughout Japan and overseas ports, maintaining the highest number of inspection records among inspection organizations in Japan.

Vessels Required to Present FSMC-Free Certificates

• United States and Canada

  Vessels that called at ports in FSMC-regulated areas (Japan, Russia, China, Korea) during FSMC flight periods in the current year and the previous year, and subsequently enter US or Canadian ports during high-risk periods

• Chile

  Vessels that called at ports in FSMC-regulated areas (Japan, Russia, China, Korea) during FSMC flight periods within 24 months prior to Chile port entry

• New Zealand

  Vessels that called at ports in FSMC-regulated areas (Japan, Russia, China, Korea) during FSMC flight periods within 12 months prior to New Zealand arrival

• Argentina

  Vessels that called at ports in FSMC-regulated areas (Japan, Russia, China, Korea) during FSMC flight periods within 24 months prior to Argentina port entry

Please refer to the following for flight periods at each Japanese port and high-risk periods in the US/Canada.

These are inspections to confirm the current condition of the vessel hull at the time of charter (On-hire) and redelivery (Off-hire) to clarify the charterer’s responsibility for hull damage during the charter period. We also conduct bunker surveys at those times.

We conduct comprehensive inspections including hull and machinery condition surveys associated with vessel sale and purchase contracts, and investigations of operational troubles or accidents related to cargo handling equipment malfunctions.

NKKK, based on long experience and knowledge, assesses values and appraises various types of vessels including cargo ships, tankers, gas carriers, special purpose vessels, work boats, tugboats, passenger ships, and fishing vessels at specified valuation dates. These valuations are used for vessel sales, transfers, collateral, asset registration, general average adjustments, etc.
NKKK’s vessel valuations have been requested for many years by not only shipowners but also government agencies, prefectural offices, courts, independent administrative institutions, banks, insurance companies, and all other industries.

When towing vessels themselves, including various work boats, barges, and vessels incapable of self-navigation, we conduct maritime transport safety inspections from departure port to destination port.
NKKK’s survey reports issued after inspection can be utilized as related documentation to meet insurance companies’ underwriting conditions.

In May 2009, the “Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Ship Recycling Convention)” was adopted. The convention’s entry into force requirements were met when Bangladesh and Liberia ratified the convention on June 26, 2023, and the Ship Recycling Convention will enter into force on June 26, 2025.
To protect the working environment and ensure safety during ship recycling, the creation and maintenance of documentation (inventory) describing the quantities and locations of hazardous materials present on board ships is mandated.
Ships of 500 gross tonnage and above engaged in international voyages are subject to this requirement. For existing ships, Part I of the inventory must be prepared within 5 years after the convention’s entry into force (or by the time of dismantling).
NKKK conducts inventory (IHM) preparation services (existing ship method) as specified in the Ship Recycling Convention, as well as inventory maintenance (update) services.

NKKK conducts ballast water sampling and simple analysis based on the ballast water discharge standard (D-2 regulation) specified in the “International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (Ballast Water Management Convention)” which entered into force on September 8, 2017, and issues reports.

When ocean-going vessels enter Japanese ports to discharge cargo, we provide support as cargo handling safety supervision representatives for charterers to ensure that discharge operations (mainly coal and iron ore) between the vessel and terminal are conducted safely and smoothly from berthing to departure.