Page 17: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2026)

HAYATO SUGA, PRESIDENT & CEO, CLASSNK fectiveness of our survey and certi? cation services, as well as to

THE ROAD AHEAD enhance safety,” said Suga. Digital transformation is not limited

For Suga, perhaps the biggest leadership challenge is trust. to the ships themselves, in how they are designed, built, out? t-

As shipping becomes more regulated, more transparent, and ted and maintained for their service lives. Digital transformation more technologically complex, the number of stakeholders touches every aspect of the maritime industry – one generally touching classi? cation expands: classi? ed as conservative and moving forward at a glacial pace. fuel suppliers; technology developers; autonomy provid-

With that, ClassNK is also modernizing its ‘digital transforma- ers; software ? rms; investors; regulators; and charterers. “As tion,’ speci? cally how core classi? cation work gets done.

a certi? cation body, we recognize that improving awareness

Remote survey capability has become one of the most prac- and trust among a wider range of stakeholders is one of our tical examples. Geopolitical disruptions in regions like the key challenges going forward,” said Suga.

Middle East have underscored the operational importance

That changes the visibility, expectations, and accountability of maintaining inspection and certi? cation continuity when surrounding classi? cation societies.

physical access becomes dif? cult or unsafe. Remote survey

ClassNK’s response is not to become something funda- tools provide that resilience. Beyond continuity, digital tools mentally different, but to extend its traditional strengths into are also reshaping ef? ciency. “By using AI for image analy- new adjacent needs.

sis and initial data checks, we aim to create an environment

Suga is clear that the organization remains focused ? rst where surveyors can focus more on important decisions and on serving shipping rather than diversifying for diversi? ca- risk assessment,” said Suga.

tion’s sake.

AI-assisted image analysis, automated data screening, and

That philosophy re? ects ClassNK’s roots as an industry in- smarter pre-inspection work? ows could allow surveyors to stitution rather than a purely commercial enterprise.

spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time focused on

And perhaps that is the broader story. At a time when higher-value technical judgment.

shipping is navigating one of the most disruptive transi-

It’s important to realize that the objective is not replacing tions in its history, classi? cation societies like ClassNK are surveyors, it’s enabling them to concentrate on risk evalu- a trusted remit for technical expertise, but no longer simply ation, decision-making and technical oversight. The same technical gatekeepers.

thinking extends into shipbuilding, where AI and robotics are

They are becoming navigators in their own right. For beginning to in? uence construction methods, inspection prac-

ClassNK, the challenge is ensuring it remains both trusted and tices, and future compliance frameworks.

relevant as maritime reinvents itself.

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