Hayato Suga stepped up to the role of President & CEO at ClassNK as of March 21, 2025. The appointment places him at the helm of one of the world’s largest classification societies, whose register includes over 9,500 ships and is served by 130 exclusive surveyor offices in 58 countries.
The new chief executive takes charge at a time when collaboration and information sharing have become essential to decarbonize the maritime industry. The organization has already demonstrated environmental commitment under its leadership team. ClassNK has certified over 70 recycling yards and issued Inventory of Hazardous Materials approvals for more than 5,000 vessels [5][-2].
ClassNK appoints Hayato Suga as CEO
Suga brings 39 years of maritime expertise to ClassNK, having joined the organization immediately after earning his bachelor’s degree in Ocean Engineering from Hiroshima University in 1986. His career began with hands-on experience in plan approvals and on-site surveys before he assumed management responsibilities for survey operations across Europe and Africa from the London Office .
Upon returning to Japan, Suga contributed to the development of tanker standards and served as chair of the Tanker Structure Co-operative Forum. His progression at ClassNK included roles as Director of the Plan Approval Division and Director of the Planning Division, leading to his appointment as Executive Vice President in 2022 and promotion to Senior Executive Vice President in 2024.
“The business environment is changing rapidly, with boundaries between industries becoming increasingly blurred due to environmental challenges and digital transformation,” says Suga [1]. He emphasises that ClassNK must evolve beyond traditional certification roles.
Suga aims to enhance ClassNK’s international competitiveness, expand service offerings, and foster initiative-taking across the organization. He emphasises the need for shipping companies to address uncertainties related to the energy transition through reliable technical assessments.
ClassNK expands services to meet digital and green demands
ClassNK has expanded its service portfolio to address environmental regulations and digital transformation needs. The organization established a new Tech Expertise Center in Piraeus, offering technical support beyond traditional survey-related matters.
ClassNK added “Fleet Cost Simulation” to its alternative fuel services in early 2025, enabling clients to evaluate regulatory costs associated with FuelEU Maritime and the EU Emissions Trading System [4] [5]. The service includes a Fleet Cost Calculator and Cost Estimation Report, simulating cost fluctuations through 2050 while reducing documentation workload [5].
The society released the fourth edition of “FAQs on FuelEU Maritime,” providing guidance for ships over 5,000 gross tonnage facing new regulations starting January 1, 2025 [6]. This initiative is part of ClassNK’s broader “Transition Support Services,” which facilitate the maritime industry’s shift toward decarbonization [6] [7].
ClassNK has enhanced its digital capabilities through “ClassNK ZETA,” a GHG emissions management tool used by over 5,500 vessels [8]. Recent platform updates allow users to monitor fuel consumption, energy usage, and GHG intensity across entire fleets [8].
ClassNK’s Digital Grand Design 2030 establishes three fundamental policies to improve safety and drive innovation in the blue economy [9].
Industry innovation
ClassNK certification initiatives have extended beyond traditional maritime domains in 2025. The organization became Asia’s first provider of Sustainable Aviation Fuel certification through its ClassNK Sustainable Certification Scheme (SCS), recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization in October 2024 [10]. This certification capability is especially relevant to shipping, as it builds experience with fuel certification schemes that could parallel future IMO life-cycle assessment approaches [11].
ClassNK added Japan’s first hydrogen-fueled tugboat TEN-OH to its register [12]. Built by TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING under the “Nippon Foundation Zero Emission Ships Project,” this vessel underwent rigorous safety reviews focusing on preventing hydrogen-related explosions and mitigating potential fuel leakage impacts [13].
The organization has established a strong position in end-of-life vessel management ahead of the Hong Kong Convention’s June 2025 implementation [11]. ClassNK has issued approval for the Inventory of Hazardous Materials for more than 5,000 vessels [11]. Its PrimeShip-GREEN/SRM ship recycling management software has evolved into the industry standard for IHM [14], facilitating electronic information exchange between suppliers and shipbuilders to reduce paperwork [3].
Suga’s 39 years of maritime experience position ClassNK to address the industry’s evolving demands. The organization’s expansion beyond traditional certification roles includes Fleet Cost Simulation services and the Tech Expertise Center in Piraeus, designed to support shipping companies during energy transition uncertainties.
ClassNK’s recent initiatives demonstrate its technical capabilities across multiple sectors. The organization became Asia’s first provider of Sustainable Aviation Fuel certification and added Japan’s first hydrogen-fueled tugboat TEN-OH to its register. The ClassNK ZETA platform now serves over 5,500 vessels for GHG emissions management.
“The business environment is changing rapidly, with boundaries between industries becoming increasingly blurred due to environmental challenges and digital transformation,” says Suga. The CEO emphasizes ClassNK must evolve beyond traditional roles to enhance international competitiveness and expand service offerings.
ClassNK’s preparation for the Hong Kong Convention through ship recycling yard certifications reflects its approach to regulatory compliance. The organization’s PrimeShip-GREEN/SRM ship recycling management software has become the de facto industry standard for the Inventory of Hazardous Materials.
References
[1] – https://www.ship2shore.it/en/hayato-suga-is-the-new-president-and-ceo-of-classnk
[2] – https://maritime-executive.com/index.php/editorials/shaping-class-for-the-future-2
[3] – https://www.xindemarinenews.com/en/PEOPLE/2025/1203/62109.html
[4] – https://www.tradewindsnews.com/regulation/classnk-s-new-boss-says-class-must-go-beyond-certification-in-digital-green-era/2-1-1842102
[5] – https://mfame.guru/classnk-announces-leadership-restructuring/
[6] – https://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/en/hp_pressrelease.aspx?id=13243&layout=1
[7] – https://hansa.news/classnk-has-announced-a-change-in-its-top-leadership/
[8] – https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/shaping-class-for-the-future-2
[9] – https://maritime-executive.com/corporate/shaping-class-for-the-future
[10] – https://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/en/news.aspx?id=13822&layout=1&type=p
[11] – https://mfame.guru/classnk-updates-fueleu-maritime-faqs-to-support-compliance-for-eu-calling-vessels/
[12] – https://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/en/info_service/ghg/
[13] – https://www.classnk.com/hp/de/hp_pressrelease.aspx?id=11822&layout=1
[14] – https://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/en/activities/techservices/dgd2030/index.html
[15] – https://www.linkedin.com/posts/saf-investor_japan-launches-saf-certification-scheme-activity-7358437649746911233-D3VI
[16] – https://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/zh/news.aspx?id=14162&layout=1&type=p
[17] – https://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/en/hp_pressrelease.aspx?id=14162&layout=1
[18] – https://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/pdf/activities/primeship/brochure/en/ebro-primeship-greensrm.pdf
