Classification Society
A Classification Society is a non-governmental technical organisation that establishes rules for the design, construction and operation of ships; surveys ships during construction and in service to verify compliance with those rules; and issues Class certificates attesting to compliance. Class certificates are essential for ship financing, insurance and trading.
The major class societies are members of IACS (International Association of Classification Societies):
- DNV (Norway)
- ABS (American Bureau of Shipping)
- Lloyd's Register (UK)
- Bureau Veritas (France)
- NK / ClassNK (Japan)
- RINA (Italy)
- CCS (China)
- KR (Korea)
- RS (Russia)
- IRS (India)
Class societies are often delegated by flag state administrations to certify compliance with international conventions (SOLAS, MARPOL) — so they wear two hats: rule-makers and government auditors.
Class certificates are the passport a ship needs to be financed, insured and traded — no class, no business. Because class societies both write the rules and audit against them, and often act on the flag state's behalf, they sit at the centre of a ship's entire compliance and commercial life.
sets class rules
issues class certs
certifies SOLAS/MARPOL
What is IACS?
The International Association of Classification Societies — the body whose members are the major recognised class societies (DNV, ABS, Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, ClassNK and others).
Who are the major classification societies?
DNV, ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, ClassNK, RINA, CCS, KR and others — most are IACS members.