ClassNK has published the Rules for the Construction and Certification of Freight Containers/Guidance and the related amendment

The Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) has published the Rules for the Construction and Certification of Freight Containers/Guidance and the related amendment.

Application Requirements

Containers must undergo the tests and inspections as prescribed in these Rules.

Upon request from applicants, international conventions, international standards, and other relevant guidelines concerning freight containers shall be considered alongside these Rules.

Equivalency Consideration

Containers that possess an effective Safety Approval Plate, as deemed appropriate by ClassNK, will be deemed compliant with these Rules.

Containers of alternative design types will be evaluated at the discretion of ClassNK.

Precautions for Application

It is essential to be cautious about the possibility that containers may be subject to additional requirements beyond these Rules, which are imposed by the administration of the country where they are utilized.

Special attention must be given to tank containers used for transporting dangerous goods to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

The amendment is in force from 30 July 2023, the Rules are in force from 1 July 2023.


For more information, please see the documents below (available only to subscribers):


Rules for the Construction and Certification of Freight Containers/Guidance

Guidance for the Construction and Certification of Freight Containers (Amendment No. 1) (Amendment No. 1)