Quality Classification Services News

Quality, modernisation and transparency have been the three fundamental themes of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) during DNV GL’s Chairmanship, and this approach is widely reflected in IACS’ 2017 Annual Review which was presented in London today by IACS Chairman Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen. Looking back at IACS’ development and successes over the past year, Mr Ørbeck-Nilssen said that during these dynamic times, both IACS and its twelve Member societies need to act as a guide for the shipping industry, identifying the path for others to follow. “When many in the maritime community feel like their businesses are in dire straits…

ClassNK and Green Award announced that they would further broaden their cooperation to ensure safety and minimize negative effects of the shipping industry. ClassNK became a Green Award incentive provider. ClassNK, a ship classification society, known for its highest quality classification services, covers about 20 percent of the world merchant fleet. The society is committed to safety and the prevention of pollution of the marine environment. As such a representative of ClassNK has been a member of the Board of Experts of Green Award Foundation for a number of years.

ClassNK is dedicated to ensuring the safety of life and property at sea, and the prevention of pollution of the marine environment. Bolstered by a workforce of more than 1800 engineers, surveyors and maritime professionals, ClassNK focuses on delivering the highest quality classification services while maintaining its totally independent third party, non-profit status. With more than 230 million gross tons on register, ClassNK is one of the world’s largest classification societies, helping to secure the safety of about 20% of the world’s ocean-going commercial vessels.

Classification society ClassNK established a new exclusive survey office in Casablanca, Morocco, which began operation on January 1, 2014. Located on the Atlantic Ocean in northern Africa, Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and one of North Africa’s largest ports. The new ClassNK Casablanca Office will strengthen ClassNK’s service network in the region, and cover surveys at ports across Morocco, as well as support clients and shipowners in northwestern Africa and the western Mediterranean. The Casablanca Office joins an existing network of 11 offices in the Mediterranean region and is ClassNK’s 6th office on the African Continent. With the establishment of the Casablanca Office, ClassNK now operates a global service network of 129 exclusive survey offices worldwide.

Citing irreconcilable differences in the structuring of a proposed alliance between ABS and RINA, ABS has withdrawn from further negotiations with RINA. "It is our understanding that RINA and Bureau Veritas will sign a letter of intent to merge certain of their operations," said ABS Chairman and CEO Frank J. Iarossi. ABS and RINA had spent more than a year exploring possible ways of structuring an alliance that would have strengthened the services offered to RINA's core constituency of Italian shipowners. "Throughout, we always had the interests of the shipowners at the forefront of our discussions," added Iarossi. ABS has maintained an office and operations in Italy for almost 80 years, with current headquarters in Genoa.