The agreement was signed in Athens on 29 November by ClassNK chairman and president Noboru Ueda, and foundation chairman and IMO secretary-general emeritus, Efthymios Mitropoulos.
The first project under the co-operation scheme, to be carried out by the foundation's Chios-based International Center for Maritime Research and Tradition, is a research study to improve seafarer health and welfare, largely financed by ClassNK.
The SHIPS (Study on the Health Impact of air-Pollution in Ships) project will assess levels of exposure to ambient particles to establish whether they constitute a health hazard for ship crews, especially those working in the engine rooms, and to quantify any associated potential health risks.
The Maria Tsakos Foundation - International Center for Maritime Research and Tradition, was founded in 2008 by the family of Capt. Panagiotis Tsakos, founder of the Tsakos Group of Companies.
"It is a great honour to be able to work together with one of the world's leading maritime NGO's to promote safer shipping and better conditions for seafarers," said ClassNK's Ueda. "It is our hope that this project is only the first of many such collaborations to ensure a better future for our industry."
ClassNK is supporting the new study as part of its Joint R&D for Industry program, which has provided funding and research support for more than 250 joint maritime R&D projects since its inception in 2009.
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