The role of classification on the maritime industry
What is classification?
Classification is a standard applied to the construction and ongoing service of ships and other floating installations, including petrol platforms and wind generators.
While other industries have regulatory bodies, classification is unique to the marine industry. The unique international and multi-cultural flavor of shipping has ensured that classification was one of the earliest regulatory processes.
That process survives and maintains its position within the marine sector due to there being no established alternative systems for ensuring marine standards are maintained.
Classification, therefore, covers the essential requirements to bring a ship to life prior to the vessel’s construction on the schematic drawings from the Shipyard.
Rules have been developed and published for classification over many years. These have been implemented worldwide, covering the following:
A) Structural strength of the hull.
B) Safety and reliability of propulsion and steering systems.
C) Effectiveness of those features and essential auxiliary systems that have been built into the ship to establish and maintain basic conditions on board so that cargoes and personnel can be safely carried while the ship is at sea, at anchor, or moored in port.
Specific sets of rules and regulations have been published for the following vessels.
1) Ships.
2) Special Services Craft: These include Yachts and ships made from materials other than steel.
3) Naval Ships.
4) Floating Docks.
5) Bulk Carriers.
6) Passenger Vessels.
7) Tanker vessels.
8) Chemical Carriers.
9) Gas Carriers.
10) Inland waterways: Vessels for rivers, canals, and lakes.
The classification process in a new construction
Once the shipowner has decided there is a commercial need to increase and/or renew their fleet tonnage, they will seek tenders from shipbuilders, supplying them with details of the numbers, type, and size of ships plus any other specification requirements he may have. At this stage, the owner is always the decision maker regarding which classification society to select, though the shipbuilder can be a significant influencer.
Class notations are based on a Classification Society´s set of rules. If the owner has no preference regarding the eventual class society with which his ship is registered, he will state that the ship is to be delivered with equivalent class notations. Tenders from interested shipbuilders will include a quotation of the cost together with a technical specification on which the quote was based. In the fifty percent of the cases where the owner specified no preferred class society, the shipbuilder will recommend the class.
Once the cost and specifications have been agreed upon, the prospective owner and shipbuilder sign a contract, with a further contract being signed between the yard and the chosen classification society. The shipbuilder becomes the society´s client until delivery ship delivery when the owner becomes the client.
The classification process then starts with the appraisal and approval of plans relating to the intended vessel’s hull, machinery, and equipment.
Plans are submitted to the local plan approval office and returned with endorsements. Plan approval centers for all the class societies are strategically located globally.
The construction of the ship commences following the approval plans. Classification Surveyors are present during every stage of the construction to ensure plans are followed, and standards for quality of construction are met.
Occasionally, there may be alterations to plans or modifications, and occasionally, mistakes might be made during construction. Depending upon the size and complexity of the amendment, the re-approval office or local surveyor is attending the building.
Steel plating, castings, forgings, anchors, anchor cables, and other hull items are examined in approved works and certified before the installation on the vessel.
Classed machinery and electrical equipment, such as switchboards, are inspected during construction and tested in approved works, during installation, and re-tested onboard during the trials.
Finally, the ship embarks upon sea trials, during which the remaining items are tested, such as the tanks’ steering, propulsion, and strength testing.
Copies of approved plans showing the as-built condition of the ship are submitted to the classification society for retention in case the surveyors require them. The surveyor must verify that all class and statutory requirements (where authorized by the Flag) have been met and complied with prior to delivery.
A Certificate of Class for the ship is issued where all conditions are met. The ship is considered ready for service.
The date of delivery is deemed to be the same as the date of completion of ships. This date is entered in the Register.
However, if the ship is laid up on completion, depending on the lay-up period, the classification society may request additional surveys, which may require docking. Subsequent Special Surveys dates will be referenced from the date of successful completion of the additional surveys.
When construction and sea trials have been completed, the attending surveyor will submit several reports and statements to its office, known collectively as the `First Enter Reports´, referring to the `First Entry’ in the Register Book. These documents are verified to ensure that all class requirements have been met, after which the local surveyor is authorized to issue the classification and statutory certificates to the ship. These certificates are usually valid for five years.
The statements and checklists submitted are as follows:
A) First Entry Report.
B) The construction Ship Report (Hull checklist for vessels building to any of the IACS Class).
C) The Report on the installation of Machinery (Sea Trial).
D) The Installation of Machinery Report (Machinery Checklist for ships building on any of the IACS Class).
In Southern Ocean Marine Engineering Solutions, we provide technical support for the owners on new builds and vessel refits. This is to minimize delay times and ensure no extra costs are charged to the owners of the Mega Yacht industry or Commercial Shipping Companies.
