Press Release

22 October 2025

Tokyo - ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for “Samsung Remote Operation Center (SROC)”, a shore-based remote monitoring system developed by Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., and a certificate handover ceremony was held in KORMARINE 2025.

ClassNK is involved in various demonstration projects and continuously works to develop necessary safety standards, in order to support the development and implementation of automated/autonomous operation technologies from a safety perspective. Based on these experiences, ClassNK released its “Guidelines for Automated/Autonomous Operation of ships" which comprehensively summarizes the requirements for each stage of conceptual design, design development, installation, and maintenance during the operation of automated/autonomous operation technologies. This guidelines also set out the requirement of the specific safety requirements for remote operation systems and their specific safety evaluation methods.

For the concept design of “SROC”, ClassNK conducted its safety review based on the requirements of “Guidelines for Automated/Autonomous Operation on ships” and examined the risk assessment through HAZID involving relevant stakeholders. Having confirmed its compliance with the requirements, ClassNK issued the AiP.

ClassNK will continue to improve the environment for the use of automated/autonomous operation technologies by providing standards for advanced initiatives and technological verification.

Samsung Heavy Industries Website
https://www.samsungshi.com/En/Default.aspx


AiP Handover Ceremony (KORMARINE2025 Samsung Heavy Industries’ booth)

Mr. SungAn Choi, CEO/President, Samsung Heavy Industries CO., Ltd
Dr. Toshiro Arima, Executive Vice President, ClassNK

Approval in Principle (AiP):
At the initial stage of designing or before the specific target ship to be implemented is decided, the design is examined based on the existing regulations such as international conventions and ship classification rules, and an Approval in Principle (AiP) is issued as proof of conformity with requirements. It also prevents rework of regulatory aspects in the post-process, shortens the examination time at the time of class registration, and can be used as a technical basis for external appeal of the design status. For more information, visit our website.

For inquiries about this press release:
ClassNK Technical Solution Department
Tel: +81-3-5226-2042
E-mail: tsd@classnk.or.jp

For media-related inquiries:
ClassNK Public Relations Team
4-7 Kioi-Cho, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 102-8567 Japan
E-mail: eod@classnk.or.jp

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