An independent organization that certifies that a ship has been built and maintained according to the organization's rules for that type of ship and complies with the applicable rules and regulations of the country of the ship's registry and the international conventions of which that country is a member. A ship that receives its certification is referred to as being "in-class."
An independent society which certifies that a vessel has been built and maintained in accordance with the rules of such society and complies with the applicable rules and regulations of the country of such vessel and the international conventions of which that country is a member.
An organisation that develops and maintains standards for the construction and upkeep of vessels including their engines and safety equipment. A classification society will carry out regular surveys of all vessels on its register. A ship that complies with all the relevant rules and regulations of a classification society is said to be “in class”.
An organization that formulates rules for the construction of ships, and carries out inspections on ships in service to assure their continued seaworthiness.
worldwide experienced and reputable societies, which undertake to arrange inspections and advise on the hull and machinery of a ship. A private organization that supervises vessels during their construction and afterward, in respect to their seaworthiness, and the placing of vessels in grades or "classes" according to the society's rules for each particular type. It is not compulsory by law that a ship-owner has his vessel built according to the rules of any classification society; but in practice, the difficulty in securing satisfactory insurance rates for an un-classed vessel makes it a commercial obligation.
In the shipping industry, classification societies are non-governmental organizations or groups of professionals, ship surveyors and representatives of offices that promote the safety and protection of the environment of ships and offshore structures. This is achieved by setting technical rules, confirming that designs and calculations meet these rules, surveying ships and structures during the process of construction and commissioning, and periodically surveying vessels to ensure that they continue to meet the rules. The first classification society was Lloyd's Register which originated from the famous 17th century coffee house in London frequented by merchants, marine underwriters, and others, all connected with shipping.