1. ClassNK partly amended Part CSR-T of the Rules and published Rule No. 14 (for Japanese-flagged ships) and Rule No.19 (for non Japanese-flagged ships) on 15 April 2009 based on IACS CSR for Double Hull Oil Tankers, July 2008 "Rule Change Notice No. 1" (hereinafter referred to as RCN1 of IACS Tanker CSR) adopted by IACS in January of 2009. The amendments to Part CSR-T were to be applied to ships contracted for construction on or after 1 July 2009.

2. Just before the implementation date of RCN1 of IACS Tanker CSR, however, IACS received a strong request from an international industry organization for re-consideration of the provision or further explanation of the technical background regarding the amendments related to the minimum thickness requirements of bottom and side shell plates included in RCN1 of IACS Tanker CSR. After extraordinary and controversial debates, the IACS Council eventually decided on 29 June 2009 by majority vote to carry out a necessary technical study on the relevant provision for further review of RCN1 of IACS Tanker CSR and to postpone its implementation until such time the technical study is completed. (Please refer to the Note of the attachment 1.)

3. IACS CSR and its amendments have to be uniformly implemented as Class Rules, and therefore once IACS decided to postpone the implementation of the RCN1, ClassNK has to postpone the implementation of the amendments to Part CSR-T of the Rules following the IACS decision.

4. ClassNK will urgently take necessary formal procedures, which may require a couple of months, to change the implementation date of 1 July 2009. This is an exceptional case and ClassNK would greatly appreciate your understanding regarding this matter.




(To be continued)