Page 15: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2026)

HAYATO SUGA, PRESIDENT & CEO, CLASSNK through purpose-built AI systems capable of generating more

FROM IDEAS TO EXECUTION

When Suga assumed the CEO role, his message internally precise, technically informed responses. Tasks that currently consume one or two hours could potentially be reduced to min- was simple: move from ideas to action, and that shift is already utes. “To strengthen our response to these digital technologies, visible. Over the past year, ClassNK has accelerated approv- we established a Digital Division this April 2026 and will ad- als in principle (AIPs) for emerging technologies and designs, expanded technical guidance, launched environmental cost vance these efforts in a more structured way,” said Suga.

But Suga is equally clear-eyed about the risks.

simulation services, and invested in new internal structures to

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in operational de- better respond to increasingly complex client needs.

cision-making, governance questions become unavoidable.

Still, Suga is not describing incremental change.

Black-box decision logic, unclear accountability, and legal li-

He sees the organization entering a period where respon- ability all become critical concerns.

siveness itself becomes a competitive differentiator.

For a classi? cation society, this introduces a dual responsi-

Shipowners today are not simply seeking technical compli- ance. They are trying to make expensive strategic decisions bility. First, using AI responsibly within its own operations; amid uncertainty around fuels, regulations, vessel design, second, developing the expertise to assess AI-driven technolo- gies being deployed by shipowners, shipyards and equipment digitalization, and operational risk. That changes the nature of manufacturers. That second role may become especially im- what a classi? cation society must deliver.

For Suga, classi? cation is evolving beyond its traditional portant as autonomous systems mature, because if AI becomes role as a certi? er toward becoming a faster, more integrated central to navigation support, machinery management, ship- yard robotics, or autonomous vessel decision-making, clas- technical decision-support partner.

That evolution is being reinforced structurally. This year, si? cation will inevitably be asked to validate those systems.

That is no small shift.

ClassNK established a dedicated Digital Division, re? ecting the belief that emerging technologies, particularly AI, will re-

NAVIGATING THE FUEL TRANSITION shape both shipping and classi? cation itself.

If AI is the most transformative digital trend, fuel transi- tion remains the maritime industry’s most immediate strategic

AI: THE DEFINING TECHNOLOGY dilemma, and trust that the uncertainty around fuel transition

Ask Suga to identify the single most consequential technical and the ‘future fuel’ remains profound. Shipowners are faced trend shaping future ship design and operations, and he answers with making vessel design and ? eet decisions today that will without hesitation: arti? cial intelligence. That is a notable re- sponse in an industry still focused heavy metal, alternate fuels resonate for three decades or longer, decisions on fuel type and ? exibility that could ultimately make or break a company.

and decarbonization.

When it comes to fuel transition, Suga’s answer is prag- “The use of AI is not limited to improving ef? ciency,” said Suga. matic rather than ideological: there will be no single winner, “AI is expected to be applied in many ? elds, and has the potential there is no ‘silver bullet’ solution.

to drive organizational transformation through more ef? cient op- “During the fuel transition period, we expect multiple solu- erations, and even to transform business models themselves.” “Speci? cally, AI has the power to fundamentally enhance the services we provide, in areas such as risk prediction, ship safety assessment, and the optimization of environmental impact,” said Suga. “We believe we are now at an important stage where we must establish clear directions for AI gover- nance and move more quickly and reliably toward execution.”

The implications for classi? cation are signi? cant. AI can improve risk prediction, enhance safety assessments, optimize environmental performance, streamline surveys, and funda- mentally change how technical services are delivered.

Internally, ClassNK is already using generic AI tools to im- prove workforce productivity and operational ef? ciency. But

Suga’s ambitions go further. The organization is developing more specialized maritime-focused AI applications designed to support both internal work? ows and client services.

One practical use case involves customer interaction. Rou- tine owner inquiries that today may require multiple exchang- es and signi? cant staff time could be dramatically accelerated www.marinelink.com 15

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