By Zahra Ahmed
3. American Bureau of Shipping
Formed in 1862, the American Bureau Of Shipping, also called ABS in the shipping industry, is a classification society based in America. It outlines its aims to safeguard human lives and protect property and marine and coastal environments. For this purpose, society develops and sets specific standards regarding the ships’ and offshore units’ design, building and functional maintenance.
ABS lays down its technical and operational framework, known as the ‘ABS Regulations and Guidelines,’ It is based on these rules that various marine vessels and offshore structures are assessed and classed accordingly.
The primary business services provided by ABS include the worldwide classification of marine ships, offshore vessels and oil and gas sectors. As recorded in 2020, it emerged as the second biggest classification organisation possessing a vessel fleet of more than 12,000 ships and offshore structures operating in the commercial maritime sector.
4. Lloyd’s Register
Llyod’s Register, or LR, is a classification society that offers business and other technical services to the marine industry. It was established in 1760 and is a holding of Lloyd’s register foundation, a global and independent charity organisation based in the UK that aims to protect life and property on land, sea and air through its extensive research and innovative global technologies in spheres of science, aeronautics and engineering.
In the marine sector, the organisation aims to offer long-lasting services for managing the client’s ships and offshore structures to maximise productivity and eliminate redundancy while keeping maritime safety issues and marine environmental regulations at the forefront. Also, the organisation has a global presence through its international staff that assists client groups in identifying operational risks by conducting surveys.
It has branch offices in more than 182 nations and assists clients in building and operating their maritime assets while ensuring maximum technological competitiveness and adherence to marine safety and effectiveness through its classification criteria and operational rules.
5. China Classification Society
Formed in 1956, the China Classification Society is a non-profit organisation based in Beijing, China. The primary services offered by the society in the marine industry include conducting surveys for classificatory purposes of ships and offshore assets. It also provides services to the Chinese administration and governments of other nations and aims to offer classification services and technical expertise by developing the latest technologies.
This society is authorised by 58 flagged countries and has a global presence through its branch offices established in more than 129 nations. Apart from providing services to the shipping sector, it also operates in the financial industry, engages in research and technological development regarding marine resources, supervises business projects for clients, renewable energy and reduction of carbon emissions. It occasionally advises the Chinese government on formulating maritime trade policies and constantly expands its scope in new sectors.
6. Korean Register or KR
The Korean Register is a classification society formed in 1960 and is headquartered in Busan, South Korea. It is a non-profitable enterprise that outlines its working agenda as ensuring maritime safety and preserving the marine ecosystem through developing green technologies in the shipbuilding industry.
KR is a part of the International Association of Classification Societies, possessing a fleet comprising more than 2,840 vessels, amounting to 60 million gross registered tonnages. It is authorised by over 65 flag administrations to conduct classification procedures for their ships and offshore structures.
Apart from providing services in Korea, the society has 68 administrative offices worldwide, technical operations in more than 100 nations, and all major port facilities.
While it offers classificatory services, it has a significant presence in the maritime research sector to outline more relevant classificatory regulations and meet the new challenges of the marine industry.
7. RINA
RINA is a classification society formed in 1861 based in Genoa, Italy. It is among the world’s oldest organisations offering ship classification, certification, maintenance and technical services, which provide technological aid to clients in designing, building, managing and surveying ships, cruises, yachts and offshore structures. It outlines its objective to bring significant advancement in the commercial maritime industry by assisting clients to reach more excellent operational standards regarding the safety and productivity of assets.
It has about 200 administrative offices operational in 70 nations and a workforce of 4000 experts. RINA has widened its scope of operations to include other sectors, such as the industrial, power and electricity sectors. It focuses on offering green and environmentally sustainable solutions to its clients.
In the marine sector, RINA propagates sustainable technologies focussed on reduced carbon emissions, as reflected in the society’s classification rules. Lastly, the community has been authorised by 116 flag administrations to conduct surveys in their territories.
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8. Russian Maritime Register of Shipping or RS
This classification society is linked with ice ships and deals with icebreaking and resistant technologies in the maritime sector. It was formed in 1913 and is authorised by 69 flag administrations. It has been an active part of the International Association of Classification Societies since 1969.
Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia, it employs around 1500 officials in more than 100 branch offices worldwide, offering its clients classification services. The society outlines its objective of ensuring the best safety and operational standards at sea and also lays down rules to reduce marine pollution. More than 6000 vessels are certified by this society belonging to 40 different flag nations.
9. Indian Register of Shipping
Indian Register of Shipping, also known as IRClass, is a classification society of international repute and recognition. It is a non-profit and independent organisation formed in 1975 in India and became a part of the International Association of Classification Societies and Croatia’s and Poland’s classification societies.
IRClass offers classification services for marine vessels and offshore structures, enforcing high-class standards and yardsticks for building and maintaining ships and other shipping machinery. It also provides services to the energy sector and the engineering industry.
The Society assists the government of India and offers class certificates to the Indian flagship vessels. It has 25 administrative offices spread across Indian coastal cities to provide readily surveying and inspection facilities to all major ports in India. The Society also has many offices in other countries such as Bangladesh, Thailand, South Korea, China, the United States, Britain etc.
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