2 Classification societies: past, present and future
Summary
1. Origin of classification societies
2. The classification societies today
a) Classification, for doing what ?
b) International organisation of classification societies
c) Monitoring of class by States
3. Conclusion : which future for classification societies ,
4 Classification societies: past, present and future
ORIGIN OF CLASS
► Commercial need to reduce losses of ships and cargoes
► Societies set up by marine insurers
► To meet the need of marine insurers : rating of the ships to covered by hull insurance
► First class societies
Bureau Veritas (1828)
Lloyd’s Register (1834) from the merger of the Red Book and the Green Book created in 1760
American Bureau of Shipping (1862)
Det Norske Veritas (1864)
Origin of classification societies
5 Classification societies: past, present and future
ORIGIN OF CLASS
► These Registered requirements are not in any way to be confused with rules which the Society may adopt from time to time determining the requirements for the classification of ships or other matters.
History of Classification - LR’s Constitution
Lloyd’s Register of Ships, 1764
► The Society, which was founded in 1760 and reconstituted in 1834, deemed it desirable to adopt the Rules (known as the Registered Rules) for the purpose of registering the Society as a body whose business is recognised under the laws of the United Kingdom as being conducted for the benefit of the community.
6 Classification societies: past, present and future
Creation of Bureau Veritas
► 1828 : creation at Antwerp of the « Bureau de renseignements pour les assurances maritimes » by 3 marine insurers
► Aim : to keep underwriters informed on the premiums in use in various commercial centres and at the same time to provide « a detailed description of the good and bad qualities of vessels calling the main ports of the Netherlands »
7 Classification societies: past, present and future
Bureau Veritas rating system
► The rating system :
3/3 = very strong ship in good condition
5/6 = ship of average trustworthiness
1/ 3 = ship of very limited trustworthiness
1/4 = ship in very bad condition
► Rating of the ship suggested by surveyors captains
► Survey free of charge for the owner
► Fees paid by the insurers (annual subscription)
8 Classification societies: past, present and future
Development of classification
► Commercial and economic constraints
Shipowner wanted term rating valid for a long period
Creation of the term rating and regular surveys for the ship
► Technical constraint
Publication of the first classification rules
Change in the recruitment of surveyors (shipmasters replaced progressively by marine engineers)
Creation of the technical committees
9 Classification societies: past, present and future
Development of public maritime safety regulations
► Samuel Plimsoll informing against the “coffin ships”
► 1876: Adoption by the British Parliament of the Merchant Shipping Act which enacted rules for minimum freeboard of the vessels
► 1890: The Merchant Shipping Load Line Act
Laid down official rules for freeboard tables and calculations
Recognised LR and BV for the assignment of freeboard
► 1907: A French Decree recognized BV and LR for the application of the 1907 Act on the safety of navigation
11 Classification societies: past, present and future
Regulation of the marine safety system
REGULATION BY STATES REGULATION BY INDUSTRY
Materials
Structural strength
Machinery
Classification Rules
Safety
Security
Pollution
prevention
International
conventions
12 Classification societies: past, present and future
Actors of the marine safety
FLAG STATE CLASSIFICATION
SOCIETY
PORT STATE
HULL INSURER
P&I CLUB
CHARTERER
BANK
CLASS & STATUTORY CERTIFICATES
13 Classification societies: past, present and future
1. Classification of ships :
a private mission of providing a level of reference
standard for ship quality
2. Certification of ships :
a public mission on behalf of Governments and
marine Authorities
3. Technical assistance & consulting
Role of a classification society
14 Classification societies: past, present and future
DEFINITION OF CLASS
► Classification is the appraisal on the level of compliance of a vessels to the rules set up by the class society
► This appraisal is represented by class notations entered on the certificate and periodically transcribed in the society’s register
Definition of class
15 Classification societies: past, present and future
DEFINITION OF CLASS An example : the Etoile Orion
I [ HULL [ MACH Oil tanker ESP Unrestricted navigation [ AUT-UMS [ SYS-IBS ICE CLASS IA STAR-HULL
Ships built in
accordance with the
rule requirements
as regards its
construction and
maintenance
Ship classed after
construction
Enhanced survey
programme
Ship fitted with automated
installations enabling
machinery spaces to remain
periodically unattended
Ship fitted with an
integrated bridge
system
Ship classed for
navigation in
severe ice
conditions The structural condition of the
ship is monitored using
computerised survey data
Service
Notation
16 Classification societies: past, present and future
A REFERENCE STANDARD : CLASSIFICATION RULES
► The Rules published by the society give the requirements for the assignment and maintenance of classification for seagoing ships
► Aim = to protect a ship as a piece of property
► Various types of rules
Steel ships
Offshore units
Inland navigation vessels
Submarine craft
Yachts
High speed craft
Navy ships
The classification Rules
17 Classification societies: past, present and future
Field of the classification Rules
COVERED BY CLASS
► Materials
► Structural strength
► Main & auxiliary machinery
► Electrical installations
► Cargo installations
► Fire protection
► Intact stability
NOT COVERED BY CLASS
► Mode of propulsion
► Power of propulsion unit
► Manning
► Crew qualification
► Lifesaving appliances
► Navigational aids
► Damage stability
► Pollution prevention
18 Classification societies: past, present and future
A REFERENCE STANDARD : CLASSIFICATION RULES
Classification of ships under construction
► 5 Key steps for class society during the construction of a new ship
Technical Review of
design Plans
Inspection at
work of material
Survey under construction Attendance to trials
Issue of
Classification
Certificate, valid
5 years
19 Classification societies: past, present and future
► During their life, ships are submitted to regular (periodical) surveys for the maintenance of class in accordance with IACS Unified Requirements
► Within a cycle of 5 years there are :
Annual surveys
Intermediate survey
Renewal survey
► In addition occasional surveys
► Enhanced Survey Programme for bulk carriers and tankers
Classification of ships in service
20 Classification societies: past, present and future
Recognition of classification
« … … ships are to be designed, constructed and maintained in compliance with the structural, mechanical and electrical requirements of a recognized classification society ... »
SOLAS CONVENTION Ch.II-1, Part A-1, Reg. 3-1
« The Administration shall satisfy that the general structure strength of the ship is adequate for the draught corresponding to the freeboard assigned… A ship which is designed, constructed and maintained in compliance with the appropriate requirements of a classification society recognised by the Administration may be considered to provide an acceptable level of strength. »
LOAD LINE CONVENTION Annex I, Ch.1, Reg 1
CLASSIFICATION COMPULSORY FOR SHIPS
• Engaged in trade
• Engaged in international voyage
• Passenger ships and cargo ships ≥ 500 grt
21 Classification societies: past, present and future
A REFERENCE STANDARD : CLASSIFICATION RULES
The certification activities
► PUBLIC SAFETY RULES
► RULES SETTERS:
International Maritime Organization
Flag regulations EU institutions
22 Classification societies: past, present and future
► 130 Flag States have delegated their statutory activities to Bureau Veritas
► Main delegations : IMO conventions
Technical inspections of vessels
Issuance of certificates
► Delegation for ISM Code regulations
Assessment of the Safety Management System (SMS) of the shipping company by audits and reports
Periodical verifications
Issuance of DOC to the company and SMC to the vessels
► Delegation for MLC Convention
► Delegation for implementing national rules
► Interventions of class acting as RO for ships under construction and in service
The certification activities of a classification society
23 Classification societies: past, present and future
Statutory inspections
CONTROL OF STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS BY FLAG STATE
Cycle of 5 years
- Annual survey
- Intermediate survey
- Renewal survey
Enhanced surveys
INSPECTIONS CERTIFICATES
Occasional survey
Valid 5 years
- Cargo ship safety construction
(SOLAS)
- Load Line
- Pollution prevention
Valid 12 months
- Passenger ship safety (SOLAS)
24 Classification societies: past, present and future
False perception on class : what class is not doing
► Class surveyors are not
permanently on board
the vessel
► Class survey regime
does not cover
the whole ship
► Class does not
guarantee the ship’
seaworthiness
► Class is not the
industry policeman
The classification societies today
International organisation of classification societies
26 Classification societies: past, present and future
The classification industry
► 50 classification societies in the world
► The 13 biggest classification societies are members of IACS (International Association of Classification Societies)
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) USA 8.935 147 M gt
Bureau Veritas (BV) Fr 8.519 75 M gt
China Classification Society (CCS) China 2.412 40 M gt
Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Nor 5.428 133 M gt
Germanischer Lloyd (GL) Ger 6.774 93 M gt
Korean Register (KR) Kor 2.342 39 M gt
Lloyd’s Register (LR) UK 6.185 154 M gt
ClassNK (NKK) Jap 6.103 173 M gt
Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) It 2.303 26 M gt
Russian Register (RS) Ru 4.373 15 M gt
Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) India
Croatian Register of Shipping (CRS) Croatia
Polish Register of Shipping (PRS) Poland
TOTAL 53.374 900 M gt
Statistique IACS January 2011
27 Classification societies: past, present and future
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLASSIFICATION
SOCIETIES (IACS)
► Importance
90% of world fleet in tonnage (900m grt)
50% of world fleet in number of ships (53,000)
6.000 marine surveyors
600.000 ship surveys per year
► 3 objectives
To promote the highest standards in ship safety and the prevention of marine pollution
Consultation and co-operation with IMO
Close co-operation with the world’s maritime industries and international organisations
► Structure
Council and Chairman
General Policy Group (GPG)
30 Working Groups
Permanent Secretariat
► Organisation
Conditions of admission to IACS
Quality Assurance System Certification (QSCS)
Transfer of class agreement (TOCA)
Publication of class withdraw on internet
Co-operation with PSC
► Participation to the regulatory process
200 Unified Rules and now Common Structural Rules for bulkers and tankers (scantling)
Contribution to IMO work : a permanent representative + active participation to all important meetings
R&D and training
28 Classification societies: past, present and future
Control & monitoring of class
IACS Quality System Certification Scheme (QSCS)
► Covers all classification and certification services
► Quality of CS work assessed by reference to the requirements of a certification programme (IMO + ISO standards)
► Operate under the direction of a IACS quality secretary
► Audits carried out by Accredited Certification Bodies (ACBs)
30 Classification societies: past, present and future
► Guidelines for authorisation of organisations acting on behalf of the administrations (A.739)
► Minimum standard (Appendix 1)
- to check technical, management & technical resources of Recognised Organisation (RO)
- to provide instructions for substandard ships
- to establish a system to check the adequacy of the work carried out by RO
► To sign a formal written agreement with RO (elements to be included are defined in Appendix 2)
► Specification of functions of RO (A.789)
IMO RESOLUTIONS
A.739 (1993) & A. 789 (1995)
included in SOLAS XI/1
Rules for Flag Administrations
Control by Flag States
31 Classification societies: past, present and future
Control of class in Europe
► Directive 2009/15/EC of 23 April 2009 “on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organizations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations”
► Article 3: Member State (MS)
can authorize only RO’s
► Article 5: ‘working relationship’
Liability provisions
Audit by MS
Reporting
Suspension and withdrawal of
authorisation
► Article 9: MS shall monitor RO
(biennial)
32 Classification societies: past, present and future
Control of class in Europe
Regulation (EC) No 391/2009 “on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organizations”
► MS may only authorize ROs
► RO has to comply with Criteria of Annex
► ROs have to set up an entity
► EU Commission can:
impose fines and penalty payments
withdraw recognition in specified cases
► EU Commission shall assess the ROs every two years by visits to
offices, inspection of ships (carried out by EMSA)
► ROs shall:
cooperate in PSC
provide fleet data
carry out transfer of class acc. to specific requirements
33 Classification societies: past, present and future
Control of class by EMSA
► Provisions of TOCA compulsory at Community level for all class societies, whether members of IACS or not
► RO required to define targets and methods to measure their own safety performance
► Use of exclusive surveyors for statutory tasks
► Inspection of the RO every 2 years by EMSA to verify compliance with the Directive
► Monitoring of the RO by the Member State within the scope of granted authorisation
► Need to assess the good safety performance of class as a condition to grant the recognition
► Withdrawal of the recognition if the safety performance of the RO is no longer satisfactory
► Possibility for the Commission to suspend the recognition of a RO
34 Classification societies: past, present and future
Class more and more controlled by authorities
► IACS audits
Annual audit of the head office + 3 survey centres + 1 controlling office
Vertical contract audits (on board of ships or at yard)
- Number of VCA fixed by IACS with a minimum of 5
- IACS decision to increase 30% number of VCA (BV : 11 per year)
► Flag Administrations
Art.16 of the Directive 2001/105/EC
- Each Member State must satisfy itself that the RO … effectively carry out the functions to the satisfaction of its competent administration
- Each Member State shill carry out this task on a biennial basis…
If art.16 is implemented by carrying out audits of RO, that means for each RO 25 audits every 2 years (one audit every month)
► European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
One assessment every 2 years
Assessment cover both head office, and selected regional office + visit to specific ships
A standard assessment requires a team of 3 assessors who spend up to 5 days in a HO and up to 2 days in a regional office
36 Classification societies: past, present and future
4 main challenges for classification societies
ROLE IN THE
REGULATORY
SAFETY SYSTEM
IMAGE &
REPUTATION COOPERATION &
MERGERS
LIABILITY REGIME
CLASS
CHALLENGES
37 Classification societies: past, present and future
Is there a future for class ?
What class is doing for safety
1. Class plays a key role in contributing to the safety and reliability of ships
2. Class is a technical reservoir in the design, construction & operation of ships
3. Class maintains R&D resources to develop better technical rules
4. Class provide technical support to the industry, the Flag States and the IMO
Top Related