CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY

Classification society are neutral third party survey organization under taking ship survey in support of insurers. The societies are the primary means by which the shipping industry regulates itself and verifies the maintenance of ship safety. Classification society establish and apply technical requirements for the design, construction and survey of marine related facilities. The requirements are published as classification rules.

                  SOLAS and other International conventions permit the flag administration to delegate inspection and survey of ships to classification society. Thus a classification society becomes a recognized organization by the flag state. When issuing or endorsing statutory certificate on behalf of the flag administration verify that the condition of ship confirms with relevant rules and regulations of the flag state (i.e.) it performs a Governmental function). However, it needs to be clearly understood that the primary objective of a classification society is to undertake ship survey in accordance with the class rules.

                  Maintenance of class depends on the program of periodical Hull and machinery surveys, being carried out within stipulated periods. Survey programmes comprise of special, annual and Intermediate surveys.

                  Classification societies however, are private entities and class surveyors are not a substitute for governmental officials who have enforcement powers.

         1.      Special Surveys : Special surveys of hull and machinery are carried out at 5 yearly intervals in order to establish the condition of hull structure / machinery respectively, to confirm that the same is in accordance with the class requirements. Special surveys are intended to detect possible damages and establish that extent of any deterioration following satisfactory completion of special surveys, a new certificate of class is issued by the society.

         2.      Annual Survey : Must be carried-out 3 months before or after each anniversary date of completion, commissioning or special survey in order to confirm that the general condition of the vessel is maintained at a satisfactory level. following satisfactory completion of annual survey, the certificate of class is endorsed by the class surveyor.

         3.      Intermediate surveys : are carried out on all ships, instead of either second or third annual survey.

         4.      Docking Surveys : Docking surveys are carried-out by arrangement with owners ships under 15 years old must be examined in dry dock twice in any 5 year period, not more than 3 years may elapse between docking ships with 15 or more years old, must be examined in dry dock at 2 yearly intervals with extension to 2 1/2  years, when suitable high resistance paint is applied to the underwater portion of the hull.

         5.      Continuous Surveys : Continuous survey of hull are permitted on all ships other than bulk carriers, combination carriers and oil tankers, which are now subjected to enhanced surveys. All hull compartments are to be opened up for survey and testing in rotation with 5 years interval between examination of each part.

         6.      Continuous survey of machinery : are carried-out every 5 years, with parallel arrangement as for the hull.

         7.      C/E's examination of Machinery : May be made where the society agrees to some items of machinery being examined by the Chief Engineer at ports where the society is not represented or where practicable at sea. A limited confirmatory survey is carried out at the next post where the society surveyor is available. Where an approved planned maintenance system operates.

                  Confirmatory surveys may be held at annual intervals.

         8.      In-water surveys : May be accepted in line of one of the two docking surveys required every the information, normally obtained from docking surveys. The beam must be greater than 30m (or as agreed) and a suitable high resistance paint must have been applied to the under water portion of the hull.

         9.      I. G. System Survey : Annual survey. In addition, on ship to which IGS notation has been assigned, a special survey of the IG plant must be carried out every 5 years.

LIMITATIONS OF CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY

                  While the authority to carry-out statutory surveys and inspections on behalf of flag administration may be delegated to the RO, the powers of enforcement of R.O. are limited when required repairs or corrective actions are not carried out or a survey is not passed satisfactorily, R.O.'s do not have the powers need to detain the ship. At the most R.O. can withdraw the statutory certificates or declare them invalid, and notify the ships flag state and the port state where vessel happens to be located for further action.

                  Also, classification societies are not guarantors of safety of life at sea or the seaworthiness of vessel because classification society has no control over how a vessel is operated and maintained in between the periodic surveys which it conducts. Therefore, responsible ship owners employ highly qualified superintendents, carry out vessels maintenance on a regular basis and ensure that their ships undergo all class surveys and retain class.