IACS
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) is the technical association of the 12 major classification societies. Founded in 1968, headquartered in London. IACS members collectively classify over 90% of the world's commercial tonnage and effectively set the global classification standards.
IACS members: ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), BV (Bureau Veritas), CCS (China Classification Society), CRS (Croatian Register), DNV (Norway), IRS (Indian Register), KR (Korean Register), LR (Lloyd's Register), NK / ClassNK (Japan), PRS (Polish Register), RINA (Italy), RS (Russian Maritime Register).
IACS is the club of the leading class societies — its members class the large majority of the world's tonnage and set the common technical rules ("unified requirements") that keep ship standards consistent across flags and societies. When a ship is "in class" with an IACS member, that carries weight with owners, insurers and lenders.
major class societies
ClassNK · RINA · …
What is IACS?
The International Association of Classification Societies — the technical body whose members are the major class societies, collectively classing over 90% of the world's commercial tonnage.
Who are the IACS members?
The leading class societies — ABS, Bureau Veritas, ClassNK, DNV, Lloyd's Register, RINA, CCS, KR and others.