Last week the classification society made waves when it announced plans to class its first Japan-flagged vessel, an anchor handler ordered by Offshore Japan Corporation.
While the society has classed countless vessels built by Japanese shipyards most of the ships flying the nation’s flag are classed by Tokyo-based compatriot Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK).
When contacted by TradeWinds about talk that the move represents a broader bid to expand its footprint in the region an ABS spokesman hinted that this may be the case in a carefully worded statement.
“Since
