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Chapter 5

5.0 Statutory and Classification Surveyors and Types of Surveys

Statutory and classification have been covered together as many of the statutory surveys conducted are
carried out by the classification societies as an authorised body.

The origins of the classification society dates back to the 1700s when underwriters were concerned
about the fitness of ships to carry out marine ventures and protect the cargoes and crew. In 1760, a
committee was set up and it attempted to record or “classify” the condition of ships using a simple
alphabetical notation A,E, I,O, U depending on the standard of construction. This worked to a certain
extent but relied heavily on the differing standards of the surveyors employed to conduct these ship
surveys. In 1834, it was agreed that an independent “classification society” should be set up and the
Lloyd’s Register of British and Foreign Shipping was born. This new system was seen as such a good idea
that it became the forerunner for all the other societies today.

This lead to the formation of the International Association of Classification Societies or IACS
(www.iacs.org) in 1930.

The following is a quote from IACS which summarises what classification of a ship is all about. “Ship
classification, as a minimum, is to be regarded as the development of world-wide implementation of
published rules and/or regulations which will provide:-

the structural strength of (and where necessary the watertight integrity of) all essential parts of the hull
and its appendages,

the safety and reliability of the propulsion and steering systems, and those other features and auxiliary
systems which have been built into the ship in order to establish and maintain basic conditions on
board”.

This can only be achieved if compliance with the rules is maintained. This is the role of the classification
society, to maintain ships to a set of defined rules.

Ship owners can opt to have whichever classification they want to “class” their new or existing ships. In
the case of a new build classification societies will approve plans, building processes, the materials to be
used in construction, then supervise the ship’s construction and installation of the hull, machinery,
electrical and electronic equipment and systems, plus the approval of all the navigational and safety
equipment required to be on board. Once the ship is completed under this supervision process she is
said to have been built “under class”. A Certificate of Class will then be issued along with a full set of
certificates valid for five years. These certificates are then subject to an annual endorsement to maintain
the ship “in class”.
The classification surveyor depending on his qualifications and professional discipline will conduct a
number of the following of surveys.

Annual surveys of hull and machinery

Drydock surveys

Class renewal surveys

Hull & machinery periodical surveys

Class extension surveys

Damage surveys of hull, machinery including electrical installations.

The services of the classification societies goes beyond those listed above. Classification societies test
and approve equipment, approve materials used in the construction of ships and their equipment, they
conduct extensive research and development programmes, and provide technical advisory services. In
recent years they have expanded into other sectors out with the marine industry including wind energy,
rail, pharmaceuticals and quality management.

Classification surveyors are in the main trained and employed directly by the classification society. Their
surveyors will on the whole have a very high educational qualification, usually in specialised areas. There
are a number of non-exclusive classification surveyors but these are becoming far fewer. Non-exclusive
classification surveyors are usually individuals, sometimes companies, authorised by a classification
society to conduct limited types of surveys on behalf of the particular society, and they were called non-
exclusive as they may act for more than one society.