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        Why is it called classification?

In second half of the 18^th century, marine insurers, based at Lloyd's coffee house in ffice:smarttags" />London, developed a system of inspection of hulls and equipment of ships. In 1760 a Committee was formed for the purpose, the earliest existing result of their initiative being Lloyd's Register Book for the years 1764-65-66.

An attempt was made to 'classify' the condition on an annual basis. The condition of the hull was classified A, E, I, O or U, according to the excellence of its construction and continuing soundness (or otherwise). Equipment was G, M, or B: simply, good, middling or bad. After a few years, G, M and B were replaced by 1, 2 and 3, which is the origin of the well-known expression 'A1', meaning 'first or highest class'.

Eventually, in 1834 a self-standing 'classification society' was set up and called 'Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping'. Rules for construction and survey were published the same year.

The idea of such an organisation caught on around the world, BV being founded in Antwerp in 1828 but based in Paris from 1832. RINA dates from 1861; ABS traces its origins back to 1862. Adoption of common rules for ship construction by Norwegian insurance societies in the late 1850s led to the establishment of DNV in 1864. GL was formed in 1867 and ClassNK in 1899. The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping was an early offshoot of the River Register of 1913. More recent foundations have been CRS in 1949; CCS, 1956; KR, 1960; and IRS, 1975. They are all called 'classification societies' but, with some exceptions, today do not assign different 'classifications'. The ship is either 'in' or 'out' of 'class'.

        What is a classification society today?

A Classification Society is an independent organisation that has no commercial interests related to ship design, ship building, ship ownership, ship operation, ship management, ship maintenance or repairs, insurance or chartering. 

Classification can be defined as the development and world-wide implementation of published rules which will contribute to the structural strength and the watertight integrity of essential parts of the ships hull and its appendages and the safety and the function of the propulsion and steering systems, power generation and those other features and auxiliary systems which have been built into the ship in order to maintain essential services on board. Classification rules are not intended as a design code and in fact cannot be used as such.

Owners require classification of a ship for several purposes such as mortgage, insurance, chartering etc.

The role of classification has been embodied in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, SOLAS and in the 1988 Protocol to the International Convention on Load Lines.

Another category of physical safety items is dealt with by the technical requirements of international conventions. Thus, these items have been known as ‘statutory’. Broadly, they cover three distinct areas:

1) Aspects of hull design and survivability – load line (which overlaps with classification) and stability in the intact and damaged condition;
2) Accident prevention, including navigational aids and pollution and fire prevention;
3) The situation after an accident (fire, flooding) – containment and escape.

Some or all of these may also be reproduced in a particular class society’s rules.

Classification today is the foundation on which the flag Administration issues certificates in accordance with the international conventions: SOLAS, Load Line and MARPOL (Prevention of Pollution from Ships). The flag may delegate the approval and survey work under these conventions to class, in which case, class is said to be acting on behalf of the Administration as its recognised organisation (RO – see p4 below).

A ship built in accordance with an IACS Member's rules will be assigned a class designation by the society. For ships in service, the surveyor of each member society carries out surveys to ascertain that the ship remains in compliance with those rules. Should any defects affecting class become apparent or damages be sustained between the relevant surveys the Owner and operator are required to inform the society concerned without delay.

A ship is maintained in class provided that the relevant rules have, in the opinion of the society concerned, been complied with and surveys carried out in accordance with its rules.

The classification certificates issued are not to be construed or implied as an express warranty of safety, fitness for purpose or seaworthiness of the ship or of its value for sale, insurance or chartering.

Scope of classification

The classification process consists of:

·         The review of plans and documents, and the completion of surveys during construction, to check that the rules are complied with;

·         Upon satisfactory completion of the above the assignment of class and issue of a certificate of classification;

·         The periodical class surveys carried out onboard to check that the ship in service continues to meet the conditions for maintenance of class.

Activities which fall outside the scope of classification include such items as: design and manufacturing processes; choice of type and power of machinery and certain equipment; number and qualification of crew or operating personnel; form and cargo carrying capacity of the ship and manoeuvring performance; hull vibrations; spare parts including their number, location and fastening arrangements; life-saving appliances and maintenance equipment.  These matters remain therefore the responsibility of other parties, even if they are given consideration for classification according to the type of ship or class notation(s) assigned.

Assignment, maintenance, suspension and withdrawal of class

Class is assigned to a ship upon the completion of satisfactory surveys, held in order to check compliance with the rules of the society, either at the time of newbuilding or when an existing ship is transferring class.

Classed ships are subject to surveys for maintenance of class. These surveys include the class renewal (also called “special survey”), intermediate, annual, and bottom/docking surveys of the hull, tailshaft survey, boiler survey, machinery surveys and surveys for the maintenance of additional class notations, where applicable. The surveys are to be carried out in accordance with the relevant requirements in order to confirm that the condition of the hull, machinery, equipment and appliances comply with the applicable rules.

The classification of a ship is based on the understanding that the ship is loaded, operated and maintained in a proper manner by competent and qualified crew or operating personnel. It is the Owner's responsibility to ensure proper maintenance of the ship until the next survey required by the rules. It is the duty of the Owner, or their representative, to inform the surveyor, on boarding the ship, of any events or circumstances affecting the class.

Where the conditions for the maintenance of class are not complied with, class will be suspended, withdrawn or downgraded or revised to a different notation, as deemed appropriate by the society. The ship may lose its class either temporarily or permanently. In the former case it is referred to as “suspension” of class, in the latter case as “withdrawal” of class. In the case of surveys becoming overdue, the suspension is automatic.

        Classification surveys

A classification survey is a visual examination that normally consists of:

·         an overall examination of the items for survey,

·         detailed checks of selected parts,

·         witnessing tests, measurements and trials where applicable.

When a surveyor identifies severe corrosion, structural defects or damage to hull, machinery and/or any piece of its equipment which, in the opinion of the surveyor, affects the ship’s class, remedial measures and/or appropriate recommendations / conditions of class are implemented before the ship continues in service.

 ‘Recommendation’ and ‘condition of class’ are different terms used by IACS societies for the same thing and are requirements to the effect that specific measures, repairs, request for surveys etc., are to be carried out by the owner within a specific time limit in order to retain class.

The class renewal surveys/special surveys (held every 5 years) include extensive examinations to check that the structures, main and essential auxiliary machinery, systems and equipment of the ship remain in a condition which satisfies the rules. The examinations of the hull are generally supplemented by thickness measurements and witnessing of tests as specified in the rules and as deemed necessary by the attending surveyor to assess that the structural integrity remains effective and to help discovering substantial corrosion, significant deformation, fractures, damages or other structural deterioration.

At the time of annual surveys, the ship is generally examined. The survey includes an inspection of the hull, equipment and machinery of the ship and some witnessing of tests, so far as is necessary and practical in order to check that the ship remains in a general condition which satisfies the rule requirements.

The intermediate survey (held approximately half way between special surveys) includes examinations and checks as specified in the rules on the structure to show that the ship is in a satisfactory condition.  According to the type and age of the ship the examinations of the hull are supplemented by thickness measurements as specified in the rules and where deemed necessary by the attending surveyor.

        Statutory certification of ships

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is an umbrella convention concerned with many aspects of the sea and its uses, including the granting of registration of a ship by a State. Once a ship is registered, the flag State has certain duties laid out in UNCLOS. In particular, under Article 94, the flag State must  “effectively exercise its jurisdiction and control in administrative, technical and social matters over ships flying its flag”  and take   “such measures for ships flying its flag as are necessary to ensure safety at sea…..”

International Conventions have been agreed setting out uniform standards to facilitate acceptance of a ship registered in one country in the waters and ports of another and in the general furtherance of safety at sea and protection of the environment.

SOLAS and the other International Conventions permit the flag Administration to entrust the inspection and survey of ships to a recognised organisation (RO). The organisation is empowered to require repairs or other corrective action to a ship and to carry out inspections and surveys if requested by the appropriate authorities of a port State.

IMO Resolution A 739(18) lays down minimum standards for ROs.  Fundamentally it requires the organisation to demonstrate its competence and to be governed by the principles of ethical behaviour which should be contained in Code of Ethics. The RO should be subject to the certification of its quality system by an independent body of auditors accepted by the Administration. Together with IMO Resolution A.789(19), which presents specifications on the survey and certification functions of ROs, these resolutions provide the criteria and framework on which a flag must be satisfied that their RO’s meet.  IACS Members have been found to meet resolutions A.739(18) and A.789(19) by all of the Administrations (approximately 100) that are Parties to SOLAS.

The RO is responsible and accountable to the flag Administration for the work that it carries out on its behalf.  The principles of the inspection and survey work are the same as in respect of classification surveys, that is the verification by the RO that a ship is in compliance with applicable requirements at the time of the survey.  The scopes of these inspections and surveys are laid down by the flag Administration in compliance with the relevant international conventions it has signed.

Classification is one of the elements on which statutory certification by IACS members stands.  SOLAS Ch II-1, Reg 3-1 states that, in addition to the requirements of the other (SOLAS) regulations, ships shall be designed, constructed and maintained in compliance with the structural, mechanical and electrical requirements of a classification society which is recognised by the Administration in accordance with the provisions of regulation XI/1, or with applicable national standards of the Administration which provide an equivalent level of safety.

When a ship is suspended or withdrawn from class, IACS members notify the flag Administration concerned and publish the information e.g. on its weBSIte. As a consequence, the flag administration generally invalidates the statutory certificates concerning construction and equipment.

        The International Association of Classification Societies - IACS

IACS can trace its origins back to the International Load Line Convention of 1930 and its recommendations. The Convention recommended collaboration between classification societies to secure "as much uniformity as possible in the application of the standards of strength upon which freeboard is based…".

Following the Convention, RINA hosted the first conference of major societies in 1939 - also attended by ABS, BV, DNV, GL, LR and NK - which agreed on further cooperation between the societies. This was, of course, delayed by the second world war.

A second major class society conference, held in 1955, led to the creation of Working Parties on specific topics, and in 1968 to the formation of IACS by seven leading societies. The value of their combined and unique level of knowledge and experience was quickly recognised. In 1969, IACS was given consultative status with IMO. It remains the only non-governmental organisation with Observer status which is able to develop and apply rules.

Compliance with the IACS Quality System Certification Scheme QSCS and Observance of the Code of Ethics is mandatory for both IACS Member and Associate status.

The governing body of IACS is the Council, with each Member represented by a high management figure.  Under the Council is the General Policy Group (GPG), made up of a senior management figure from each Member, which develops and implements actions giving effect to the policies, directions and long term plans of Council. The detailed technical work is carried out by 25 or so Working Groups undertaking tasks assigned by GPG. The groups and their tasks are listed on the IACS website www.iacs.org.uk.  At the time of writing (January 2004), this working structure is under review.

IACS resolutions on technical or procedural matters may be developed by the members. These include Unified Requirements (UR) on matters directly connected to or covered by specific Rule requirements and practices of classification societies; Unified Interpretations (UI) on matters arising from implementing the requirements of IMO Conventions or Recommendations; and Procedural Requirements (PR) on matters of procedures to be followed by Members and Associates. 

IACS has in place a strategic plan to replace the Unified Requirements for structures (the ship’s hull) with Unified Rules, common to all members.

          IACS Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics is the bedrock of the IACS members’ work and can be found on the IACS website.

It states, inter alia:

  “Classification Societies live on their reputation. Acceptance of their technical work can only be maintained by continuously proving integrity and competence.”    and

  “Competition between Societies shall be on the basis of services (technical and field) rendered to the marine industry but must not lead to compromises on safety of life and property at sea or to the lowering of technical standards.”

The members of IACS are:

Members

ABS  American Bureau of Shipping

BV     Bureau Veritas

CCS China Classification Society

DNV  Det Norske Veritas

GL     Germanischer Lloyd

KR    Korean Register of Shipping

LR     Lloyd's Register

NK    Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK)

RINA Registro Italiano Navale

RS    Russian Maritime Register of Shipping

Associates

CRS Hrvatski Registar Brodova (Croatian Register of Shipping)

IRS   Indian Register of Shipping

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IACS 2004 subject to the terms and conditions shown on the IACS website.