Tokyo: Noboru Ueda (pictured) has delivered his first policy address since being elected Chairman and President of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) last month, pledging to transform the Japanese company into "a much more open, transparent and accessible class society" with "increased emphasis on internationalism."
To this end the company will further emphasise the development of new IT systems such as the new web-based NK-Pass and other services, he told a recent meeting of the Shipbuilders Press Club in Japan, as well as further decentralise the process of plan approval. New plan approval centres will open in Istanbul, Mumbai and Busan, adding to ClassNK's existing plan approval sites in Singapore, Shanghai and Tokyo.
Greater internationalism will be followed in other ways as well. The society established its 100th exclusive surveyor office last year "and that is far from the end of our plans for expansion," Ueda said - all the while stressing the company's "continued commitment to ensure the highest level of quality and service at every single point in our service network." There will also be the addition of significant extra staff over the coming year, he noted, "including some 50 new staff in China alone."
By way of summary, Ueda vowed that during his tenure ClassNK would continue to focus on "the quality and thoroughness of our surveys and audits, a commitment to cutting-edge research and development, the expansion and improvement of our information systems, the introduction of pioneering new services, and an increased emphasis on internationalism." [09/04/08]
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