ClassNK introduces world's first notation for GHG emissions in ship construction

ClassNK has added a new notation called a-EA (CFP) to its Environmental Guidelines, making it the first classification society to offer a way to visualize and verify greenhouse gas emissions from ship construction. The notation requires shipyards to calculate the carbon footprint of building a vessel and have it checked by a third party. This helps shipowners and operators report Scope 3 emissions more accurately, especially for capital goods like new ships. Until now, emissions from ship construction were often estimated using generic factors that did not account for low-carbon materials or cleaner building processes. The new notation lets shipyards prove they used lower-emission methods and materials. For shipowners, it means they can back up their Scope 3 disclosures with verified data instead of default values. This is a practical step toward better carbon accounting in maritime supply chains.