Classification society

A classification society is a company acting in the shipbuilding industry as a consultant.

Tasks

Create classification societies technical guidelines for the design and construction of ships and give them out as building codes. Building codes include, for example, strength calculations for the design and dimensioning of ship structures.

Monitor classification societies and document compliance with these guidelines in the construction of a new ship and then give him a so-called class. The class is an assessment of the seaworthiness and based on the ship and cargo insurance as well as commercial vessels.

The surveyor from the classification society control the state of preservation of the ships they manage in the course of operation of the vessel at regular intervals. Such tests include the assessment of the hull and all essential for operation of the ship parts such as the engine and other technical equipment. Every five years, carried out a large class of renewal, where the ship is docked. Here, a close examination of the skin of the entire underwater hull, rudder, propeller, bow thruster, the sea valves and sea chests. Because of the conservation status is decided whether the class of the ship get downgraded or withdrawn. A classification society may therefore be referred to loosely as ' ships', but its remit goes with the offering comprehensive technical support and our own research far beyond that.

To certify classification societies not only ships, but also offshore structures, which can be compared with the test statics in the construction industry. In order to keep their knowledge and experiences with the progress of technical development at a high level and up to date classification societies operate research departments.

Basically, a shipowner is not obliged to classify his ship, but he is severely restricted in the operation of a ship not classified as only a few states do not accept classified ships in their territorial waters. In European waters or ports ships without classification certificate will not be tolerated.

History

At the start of maritime commerce were the reputation of the shipbuilder and the captain and the personal tour of the ship by the merchants crucial for assessing the quality of the ships. However, the merchants found it difficult to assess the quality of the ships properly; Finally, they were not shipbuilders. For comparison, the ships also no uniform standards were added so that the ship owners and underwriters spoke out strongly for the creation of classification societies which should classify the ships and judge. So it came that the ship data were recorded in registers by objective raters who served the comparison of the ships. They contained information on equipment, loading capacity and owners. Damage and defects were also recorded, boosting the insurance premiums depending on the extent, if people ever found insurers in major damage.

The first classification society was founded in 1760, namely the British company Lloyd 's Register of Shipping. At that time existed in the City of London a " Coffee House " the Welshman Edward Lloyd. This " Coffee House " was the meeting point of the shipowners, brokers and merchants, to obtain information on trade, shipping and their operators. Therein lay the nucleus of today 's oldest classification society. Piece by piece, joined by some shipowners and shipyard owner in a society together, with the aim to improve the understanding and the exchange of information between the two parties "manufacturer" and "buyer". In addition, the shipowners has been keen to create an institution that is technically able to evaluate vessels on the basis of then policies can be created for the ships in the insurance industry.

Following the example of Lloyd 's Register were based in other states also later classification societies:

Today, there are 12 internationally recognized classification societies worldwide:

This classification societies are united under the umbrella organization International Association of Classification Societies (IACS ). In addition, there are about 30 other classification societies.

The Polish Classification Society Polski Rejestr of Shipping (PRS ) was temporarily excluded from the umbrella organization IACS because they did not meet the internationally desired quality standard.

There are also some other operating regionally, classification societies which are not a member of IACS. These include, among others:

  • Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia ( BKI ), Jakarta
  • China Corporation Register of Shipping (CR ), Taipei
  • Choson Classification Society ( CCS), North Korea
  • Fidenavis (FN), Madrid
  • Hellenic Register of Shipping (HRS ), Piraeus
  • Registro Cubano de Buques ( RCB), Havana
  • Registrul Naval Roman ( RNR ), Bucharest
  • Rossijskij Rechnoj Registr (RR ), Moscow
  • Türk Loydu Vakfi ( TL), Tuzla (Istanbul)
  • Vietnam Register of Shipping ( VIRES ), Hanoi

From which classification society a specific ship is classified, can be seen in the freeboard mark which is attached halfway Length of the fuselage, read. Thus classified by Germanischer Lloyd ships are labeled, for example with "GL".

Technical standard Underwriting Edward Lloyd (coffeehouse owner)
478456
de