ClassNK issues new guidelines

The Guidelines on the Welding of Duplex Stainless Steels, which are free via the ClassNK website, provide a summary of the requirements for welding procedure specification certification and welding procedure qualification tests, including relevant precautionary measures for the welding of duplex stainless steels.

Takeshi Imamura, general manager, material and equipment, said: “We hope that these new guidelines will help shipyards take advantage of these new materials in developing and building a new generation of safer and more efficient chemical tankers.”

ClassNK says the new guidelines have been produced to help simplify the process of obtaining approval for the Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) for the use of duplex stainless steel in the construction of vessels.

It also aims to support the widespread use of these new materials at shipyards around the world.