ClassNK chairman and president Noboru Ueda says it will take about six months to complete repairs at two Japanese shipyards that were devastated by earthquake and tsunami.

He said newbuildings on order at Yamanishi Shipbuilding and Kitanihon Shipbuilding will be delayed, but only for a short time.

Ueda says three vessels were under construction at Yamanishi and two at Kitanihon when the disaster stuck.