JAPANESE SHIPPING

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12200, 27 July 1925, Page 2

JAPANESE SHIPPING

BRITISH CLASSIFICATION. Tho shipowners and underwriters of Japan are strongly urging their Government to accept the classification surveys carried out by Lloyd’s Register in ull parts of the world in connection with the requirements of thq Ship Inspection Law.- and petitions have been presented to this effect. At present, it seems, Japanese vessels engaged in overseas trade are expected to return to Japan when the/ become due for their periodical surveys under the Government, regulations, and no institution other than the Teikoku Kaiji Kyokai—a Japanese classification society of comparatively recent establishment—is .empowered to act cn behalf of the Government. Tho object of the present movement is to obtain the recognition of Lloyd’s Register on the same footing as ihe Teikoku Kaiji Kyokai: and, seeing that, according to the “Kokumin Shinbun," 91) per cent, nf Japanese vessels are classed with Lloyd’s Register, the snving of expense and avoidance of dciay which would result from the petition being favourably entertained are obvious. It is clear that Japanese ship-owners find the classification of Lloyd's Register essential for tbe purposes of overseas trade, and it does not seem likely that a Govment So far-sighted as that of Japan, and -so anxious, to promote the interests of its international trade, will hesitate to rerrovi) an unnecessary handicap from its shipowners by accepting surveys held by an institution of such world-wide fame as Lloyd's Register.