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Non-Profit,: Members of The

Classification societies are non-governmental organizations that establish technical standards for ship construction and operation, classify ships to validate their design meets published standards, and certify ships' structural integrity and essential systems. They develop their own rules in compliance with international norms and conduct periodic surveys to ensure ships continue meeting standards. While a classification certificate does not guarantee a ship's safety, it certifies compliance with the society's rules, and unclassified ships cannot be insured, mortgaged, or easily crewed due to lack of financing and regulatory compliance. Major classification societies include Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register, and the American Bureau of Shipping.

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65 views2 pages

Non-Profit,: Members of The

Classification societies are non-governmental organizations that establish technical standards for ship construction and operation, classify ships to validate their design meets published standards, and certify ships' structural integrity and essential systems. They develop their own rules in compliance with international norms and conduct periodic surveys to ensure ships continue meeting standards. While a classification certificate does not guarantee a ship's safety, it certifies compliance with the society's rules, and unclassified ships cannot be insured, mortgaged, or easily crewed due to lack of financing and regulatory compliance. Major classification societies include Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register, and the American Bureau of Shipping.

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Luciana c
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1ero Cubierta

CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES

A classification society is a non-governmental, non-profit, organization in the shipping


industry, that establishes and maintains technical
standards for construction and operation of marine vessels, offshore structures including
platforms and submarines. The primary role of the society is to classify ships and
validate that their design and calculations are in accordance with the published
standards.

The objective of ship classification is to verify and certify the structural strength and
integrity of essential parts of the ship’s hull and its appendages, and the reliability and
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.

A classification society develops and applies its own rules in compliance with
international and/or national norms. Furthermore, it carries out periodical survey of
ships to ensure that they continue to meet the parameters of set standards. If the owner
knows of any defects of the ship that may affect the class, he has to inform the Society
without delay.

A certificate of classification, bearing the class notations assigned to the ship and an
expiry date, is issued to all classed ships. However, a classification certificate is not a
warranty of safety, fitness for purpose or seaworthiness of the ship. It only certifies that
the vessel is in compliance with the Rules that have been developed and published by
the society.

A classification society is formed by surveyors, mechanical engineers, material


engineers, piping engineers, and electrical engineers. Surveyors inspect the engines,
shipboard pumps and other vital ship's machines.

Today there are more than fifty classification societies in the world. Some of the well-
known are members of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS)
and some of these are: Bureau Veritas, China Classification Society, Lloyd's Register,
Registro Italiano Navale, American Bureau of Shipping, etc.
Classification in most countries is still not a legal requirement, however all ships are
classified. SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea agreement) now requires ships to be designed,
constructed and maintained in compliance with structural, mechanical and electrical
requirements of a recognized classification society.
No financial institution will ever finance purchase of a ship that is not classed with one
of the societies. A ship that is not classed can’t be insured or mortgaged. It will very
difficult to find crew willing to sail on a ship which is not classed. Nobody will risk
giving cargo on such a ship and the ship will hardly have any value in charter or sale
market.
Classification is one element within the maritime safety regime. Others with a
responsibility for or interest in promoting maritime safety include shipowners,
shipbuilders, flag State Administrations, port State control authorities, underwriters,
shipping financiers, charterers, and, of course, seafarers. The role of classification and
Classification Societies has been recognized in the International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea, (SOLAS) and in the 1988 Protocol to the International Convention
on Load Lines

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