The role and
requirements of
classification societies
WHAT THEY DO AND DO NOT DO
Captain Sukhjit Singh
Definition of ‘Classification Society’
(The following definition applies in respect of the membership of IACS.)
A Classification Society is an organisation which:
publishes its own classification Rules (including technical requirements) in relation
to the design, construction and survey of ships, and has the capacity to (a) apply,
(b) maintain and (c) update those Rules and Regulations with its own resources
on a regular basis;
verifies compliance with these Rules during construction and periodically during a
classed ship's service life;
publishes a register of classed ships;
is not controlled by, and does not have interests in, ship-owners, shipbuilders or
others engaged commercially in the manufacture, equipping, repair or operation
of ships; and
is authorised by a Flag Administration as defined in SOLAS Chapter XI-1, Regulation
1 and listed accordingly in the IMO database, Global Integrated Shipping
Information System (GISIS).
Captain Sukhjit Singh
MISSION
The mission of classification societies
is to contribute to the development
and implementation of technical
standards for the protection of life,
property and the environment.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
What they DO
Classification societies establish and apply technical requirements for
the design, construction and survey of marine-related facilities,
principally ships and offshore structures.
These requirements are published as classification rules.
Classification rules are developed to contribute to the structural
strength and integrity of essential parts of the ship’s hull and its
appendages, and the reliability 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 for the purpose of safe
operation of the ship.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
What they DO
The owner of a ship that has been designed, built and tested
in accordance with the appropriate rules of a class society
may apply for a certificate of classification from that
society. The society issues this certificate if it is verified,
upon completion of relevant plan approval and surveys, that
the ship complies with the rules.
All classification surveys are carried out by qualified
surveyors using mainly visual inspection and sampling
techniques. They do not consist of comprehensive
verification or monitoring.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
Maintenance of Class
A ship is maintained in class provided that,
in the opinion of the class society
concerned:
the ship has been presented for surveys in
accordance with the classification rules;
the surveys confirm that the condition of the hull,
machinery, equipment and certain appliances
remain in compliance with the applicable rules at
the time of the survey.
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Suspension of class
The class may be suspended following a decision made by
the society when one or more of the following occurs:
when a ship is not operated in compliance with the rule
requirements,
when a ship proceeds to sea with less freeboard than that
assigned,
when the owner fails to request a survey after having
detected defects or damages affecting the class,
when repairs, alterations or conversions affecting the
class are carried out without requesting the attendance of
a surveyor.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
When to notify Class
Should any defects that may affect
class become apparent, or damage
be sustained, the owner of the ship,
or the shipyard when it is being
built, is required to inform the
society concerned without delay.
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Role of Classification Society
Classification societies may also act
as Recognised Organisations for Flag
States, verifying the same vessel’s
compliance with international
and/or national statutory
regulations.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
Recognised Organizations
SOLAS and the other International Conventions permit the flag Administration
to delegate the inspection and survey of ships to a Recognised Organization
(RO). This is in recognition of the fact that many flag Administrations do not
have adequate technical experience, manpower or global coverage to
undertake all the necessary statutory inspections and surveys using its own
staff.
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 to a very large extent 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 or inspection.
The scopes of these inspections and surveys are laid down by the relevant
national laws based on International Conventions to which the Government is a
signatory, together with additional instructions that may be issued by the flag
administration.
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WHAT THEY DO NOT DO
A classification society does not design, build, own, operate,
manage, maintain, repair, finance, insure or charter ships.
Proper and effective construction depends upon the designer
and shipbuilder doing their jobs properly. Safe operation and
maintenance of a ship for its intended service depends
principally upon the shipowner, the shipowner’s representatives
and the crew who operate, manage and maintain the ship on a
day to day basis.
Classification societies are not guarantors of safety of life or
property at sea or the seaworthiness of a vessel because the
classification society has no control over how a vessel is
operated and maintained in between the periodic surveys which
it conducts.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
DO we need classification ?
Being in class is not a mandatory requirement per se. This
statement, however, has to be qualified. There is no
overall maritime governing body that can forcibly prevent
an out-of-class (or class-suspended) vessel from sailing. In
theory, therefore, such a vessel could take on cargo.
In practice, such a prospect is highly unlikely. First and
foremost, this is because an out-of-class vessel would not
be able to secure insurance cover. It would be a dubious
operation indeed that contemplated taking on this sort of
risk. Also, most flag states insist that ships be classed.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
Is it certificate of Guarantee
Being in class is not the same thing as being provided
with a certificate or guarantee of seaworthiness or
being fit for purpose. It does mean that the vessel met
the requirements of the classification society
inspection at the time of inspection.
Furthermore, class approval can be given conditionally.
That is, various instructions or recommendations could
be attached with the provison that these have to be
acted upon within a specified period of time.
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Catch 22
Classification societies do not have any sort of policing
role.
Some think that they should.
Some governments appear to think that they do and so seek
to hold them liable when a vessel-related problem occurs.
However in truth, they are independent organisations and
make their inspections in an independent and objective
way. However, they are the servants of the owner as it is
the owner that appoints them and the owner that pays
their bills.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
Which classification society to choose
The selection of a classification society is entirely a matter for
the shipowner.
It is likely that there will be some stipulations imposed by the
vessel’s financiers and its insurers.
The most common of these will require the vessel to be entered
with a society that is a member of the International Association
of Classification Societies (IACS). This does not automatically
mean that entry with a non-IACS member is detrimental.
Some fleets will be national-flag or state-run operations and
they may be obliged to use the domestic classification body.
Some Port State Control bodies will actively target vessels
classed with organisations it regards in an unfavourable light.
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There is no obligation for
the vessel to remain with the
same classification
society for its entire
operational life.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
IACS
What is IACS
The International Association of Classification Societies,
presently comprising 12 member societies which comply with
the specified membership criteria.
Classification Societies' participation in IACS in its role as
technical advisor to the IMO, gives them first-hand access to
development of international regulatory instruments.
It provides IACS member societies with a means to share such
information with the industry, and to secure consistent
implementation of the international mandatory conventions
and codes as part of statutory services the societies perform
under authorisation from flag states.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
MEMBERS OF IACS
1. American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
2. Bureau Veritas (BV)
3. China Classification Society (CCS)
4. Croatian Register of Shipping (CRS)
5. Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
6. Indian Register of Shipping (IRS)
7. Korean Register of Shipping (KR)
8. Lloyd's Register (LR)
9. Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK/ClassNK)
10. Polish Register of Shipping (PRS)
11. Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
12. Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS)
Dedicated to safe ships and clean seas, IACS makes a unique contribution to maritime safety and
regulation through technical support, compliance verification and research and development. More
than 90% of the world's cargo carrying tonnage is covered by the classification design, construction
and through-life compliance Rules and standards set by the twelve Member Societies of IACS.
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Role as a Manager
The technical management department may have some
involvement in this and much will depend on the frequency with
which the owner’s superintendents need to visit the shipyard to
supervise and approve the work.
However, the main remit of the manager will be with the
operating fleet. The focus here is with the requirements faced by
vessels in service.
Class Rules require a vessel to undertake periodic surveys. The
requirements of these tend to become more onerous as a vessel
ages. This is not so much a matter of the Rules but more to do
with the fact that older ships are likely to need more steel
replacement while onboard equipment will have suffered more
years of wear and tear.
Captain Sukhjit Singh
Role as a manager continued.
Maintaining the class – challenges
associated
Seaworthiness
PSC detentions
Emergencies
Structural alterations
Awareness - what is covered under class
Captain Sukhjit Singh
