International Association of Classification Societies - Safer &

Cleaner Shipping

History
 IACS was founded on September 11, 1968, in Hamburg, Germany & more than 90% of the
world's cargo carrying ships’ tonnage is covered by the classification standards set by the
member societies of IACS.

Members
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Bureau Veritas (BV), China Classification Society (CCS) , Croatian
Register of Shipping (CRS), Det Norske Veritas Germanischer Lloyd (DNV GL), Indian Register of Shipping
(IRS), Korean Register of Shipping (KR), Lloyd's Register (LR), Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK/ClassNK),Polish
Register of Shipping (PRS), Registro Italiano Navale (RINA), Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS)

Purpose
 Although IACS is a non-governmental organization, it also plays a role within the International
Maritime Organization (IMO), for which IACS provides technical support and guidance and
develops unified interpretations of the international statutory regulations developed by the
member states of the IMO. Once adopted, these interpretations are applied by each IACS
member society, when certifying compliance with the statutory regulations on behalf of
authorizing flag States.
 IACS has consultative status with the IMO, and remains the only non-governmental organization
with observer status which also develops and applies technical rules that are reflective of the
aims embodied within IMO conventions. The link between the international maritime
regulations, developed by the IMO and the classification rule requirements for a ship’s hull
structure and essential engineering systems is codified in the International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

Organization

 IACS is governed by a Council, with each Member represented on the Council by a senior
management executive. The position of Chairman of the Council is rotated between the
members on an annual basis. Reporting to the Council is the General Policy Group (GPG),
made up of a senior management representative from each member society. The GPG
develops and implements actions giving effect to the policies, directions and long term plans
of the Council. The chair of GPG is taken by the Member holding the Council chair. Much of
the technical development work of IACS is undertaken by a number of working parties (WP),
the members of which are drawn from the technical, engineering, survey or quality
management staff of the member societies.
International Association of Classification Societies - Safer &
Cleaner Shipping

Duties of Classification society

 Classification society is a certification body
 Conduct various surveys, inspections and audits
 The surveys are done to check compliance with various regulations
 They are involved right from the ship building stage
 Classification society is involved in making various rules for ship building
 They monitor the progress of ship building
 The materials used for ship building is checked by the classification society
 The flag state dedicates the duty of conducting most of the surveys / certification to
classification society
 They are involved in the case of dry docking a ship, any modification, accident / incident
 After the ship is in compliance with classification society, a certificate of class is issued

Withdrawal of services

 In November 2012, following action by the China Classification Society (CCS), all
members of IACS had ended Iran-related certification work. A targeted campaign by
United Against Nuclear Iran led CCS and other IACS classification societies to exit Iran.
Without certification from IACS firms, vessels are largely unable to secure insurance
cover or call at international ports.

Minimum Requirements to become a full member of IACS

 Minimum 30 years of experience
 More then 1500 sea going vessels registered
 All vessels must be over 100 GT with total 8 million GT
 Should have 150 exclusive surveyors and 100 technical staff

To become an associate member of IACS

 Minimum 15 years of experience

 More then 750 sea going vesse
 Total Gross Tonnage must be minimum 2 million
 Should have 75 surveyors and 50 technical staff

Submitted by

Prakash SG

( Phase II)
International Association of Classification Societies - Safer &
Cleaner Shipping