Statutory Services News

The Korean Register (KR) has been appointed to deliver statutory services on behalf of the Government of Brunei. KR will act as a Recognized Organization (RO), with KR surveyors conducting vessel surveys and audits, issuing certificates for Brunei’s flagged ships and ensuring full compliance with the SOLAS, MARPOL, ITC, ILL, and MLC regulations and international conventions.Brunei is a country where the oil and gas industry accounts for 90% of the national economy, as a result…

Classification society ClassNK has undergone structural changes that include an integration of its point of contacts in order to more quickly and efficiently support clients with the IMO’s upcoming Sulphur Cap which will be globally enforced starting in January of 2020.In light of the increasingly strengthening SOx regulation, until now ClassNK had already been providing not only appropriate plan approvals/site surveys and information on international/regional regulations, but also carrying out various other initiatives to provide clients with compliant support to the new regulation.

This month we caught up with Jeong-kie Lee, Chairman and CEO of the Korean Register and also the Chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), for his insights on the dominant trends moving the maritime industry into the future.The maritime industry has been challenged, to say the least. Today, where do you see challenge? Where do you see opportunity?The maritime industry is in a state of extreme upheaval, with private and public organizations having to deal with a wide range of ever changing…

Panama Maritime Authority has authorized Dromon Bureau of Shipping (DBS) as a Classification Society, Recognized Organization (RO) and Recognized Security Organization (RSO) to perform class and statutory certification services on behalf of the Flag Administration. The agreement was signed by Fernando Solorzano, General Director of Merchant Marine of the Republic of Panama and Andreas Nicolaou, Managing Director of DBS. The signing ceremony took place on 24th of November 2017 at the presence of Honourable Jorge Barakat Pitty, Minister of Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Panama, Ms Yaritza Romero, Chief of Staff of Panama Maritime Authority and the top Management of DBS.

Turk Loydu has been authorized by Panama Maritime Authority, the world’s leading maritime administration, to conduct survey and certification activities for Panama flagged ships. Worlds No.1 maritime administration Panama Maritime Authority and Turkish classification society Turk Loydu has signed an authorization transfer protocol in Istanbul on 7th November 2017. In accordance with the signed authorization Turk Loydu will be able to issue classification certificates and conduct statutory surveys and certification services for Panama flagged ships. Panama Maritime Authority Merchant Marine Directorate General Manager Fernando Solorzano…

Classification society the Korean Register (KR) has elected Lee Jeong-kie as its new Chairman and CEO. Lee assumes the role of Chairman and CEO, following the death of B. S. Park, who passed away after a short illness in October 2016. Lee has worked for KR for 29 years, most recently as executive vice president of KR’s survey division. He was elected at the extraordinary meeting of KR’s general assembly which oversees the running of KR and comprises 86 voting members. This is the second time in KR’s 56-year history that an internal candidate has been appointed as Chairman and CEO.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) and DNV GL signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) authorizing DNV GL to participate in the Alternate Compliance Program (ACP) and delegated certain survey and certification services for U.S. flagged vessels. The MOA was signed by Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, assistant commandant for prevention policy, and Captain Blaine Collins, DNV GL vice president of group government & public affairs for the U.S. “We greatly value the ongoing relationship we have with the Coast Guard,” said Collins. “We appreciate their trust and confidence in DNV GL to provide statutory services on behalf of the U.S. The ACP is an alternative to complying with vessel certification and inspection standards contained in Title 46…

The U.S. Coast Guard and DNV GL have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) authorizing DNV GL to participate in the Alternate Compliance Program (ACP) and delegated certain survey and certification services for U.S. flagged vessels. This delegation and MOA, signed by Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, assistant commandant for prevention policy, and Captain Blaine Collins, DNV GL vice president of group government and public affairs for the U.S., supersedes the agreements previously executed by DNV and the Coast Guard on August 4, 2006, and GL and the Coast Guard on September 7, 2011.

Classification society Korean Register (KR) has signed an agreement with the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) to deliver services on behalf of the Indian flag administration, carrying out vessel surveys and issuing certificates according to international conventions. KR is now able to conduct relevant surveys and audits and to issue certificates to Indian flagged ships for SOLAS, MARPOL, ITC, ICLL and MLC. India's maritime industry has strong potential for growth because of its geographical location between Asia and Africa and its 7,000-kilometer-long coastline, KR said. India's recent economic growth has dramatically increased the value of its import and export trade. However, the port facilities and vessels to accommodate this growth are lacking.

Korean Register (KR) - an IACS member classification society – is now authorized as a Recognized Organization (RO) by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure to perform statutory services for flagged vessels. Separately, KR has also been authorized to provide similar services for flagged vessels on behalf of the government of Togo. KR is now able to conduct surveys and audits and issue certificates to the flagged ships from these two countries for SOLAS and MARPOL. KR continues to expand its statutory services on behalf of flag administrations. These latest authorizations demonstrate that KR’s technical competence is being recognized and valued across the world and that KR is regarded as a reliable…

Arun Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director, head of IRClass, discusses advances at the classification society as it celebrates 40 years. Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) is India’s “National” Ship Classification Society, formed to fill the need for having an Indian ship classification society due to the increase in Indian flagged commercial shipping tonnage, post-independence. Accordingly, Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar first proposed to set up a National Classification Society. In response the Ministry of Shipping & Transport convened a meeting in Delhi on May 29…

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has marked World Maritime Day by expressing its support for the efforts of the International Maritime Organization to promote the vital contribution made to the industry by its most important asset: its people. In selecting Maritime Education and Training as its theme for World Maritime Day 2015, the IMO is seeking to focus attention on a wide spectrum of maritime education and training as the foundation of a safe and secure shipping industry. These are resources which the IMO believes are vital to preserve the quality, practical skills and competence of qualified human resources and to ensure the industry’s sustainability.

Korean Register (KR), an IACS member classification society, has been fully authorized by the Marine Safety and Security Division of Transport Canada to perform statutory services on behalf of the government of Canada. KR is now able to conduct relevant surveys, audits and issue certificates to Canadian flagged ships for SOLAS, MARPOL, ITC, ILL, and ISM Code. Because of Canada’s geography the administration is particularly active in the Polar Code discussions within IMO and KR believes that this authorization will assist other KR classed vessels operating in Arctic waters. KR opened an office in Vancouver in 2012 and underwent an audit by the Canadian government at its Busan headquarters in June 2014 and its Vancouver office in July 2014.

Korean Register (KR), an IACS member classification society, announces that it has signed an MOU governing the delegation of statutory certification services for vessels registered in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. KR is now fully authorized by the Government of Luxembourg to deliver statutory services and is Luxembourg’s 7seventh Recognized Organization (RO). KR is now able to conduct relevant surveys, audits and issue certificates to Luxembourg flagged ships for SOLAS, MARPOL, ITC, ILL, ISM Code, ISPS Code and MLC.

Korean Register (KR), an IACS member classification society, has been authorized as a “recognized organization” of the Latvian government to deliver statutory services. The authorization means KR is now able to conduct relevant surveys, audits and issue certificates to Latvian flagged ships for SOLAS, MARPOL, ITC, ICLL, ISM Code and MLC. ISPS Code related certification will also be carried out upon acquiring prior approval from the government of Latvia. This authorization follows similar acceptance by Oman earlier in the year and brings the total number of countries where KR is authorized to carry out ship survey and certification work to 67.

Construction of two supply vessels to the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) class, commissioned by the company Lukoil is starting in China. A steel cutting ceremony was held at the Keppel Nantong Shipyard Co. Ltd in Nantong on June 18, 2014. In accordance with an agreement on the classification of ships under construction, signed by RS and Keppel Nantong Shipyard in the spring of 2014, RS will provide classification and statutory services during their construction. Survey during construction will be implemented by the RS Branch Office in China. When the vessels comply with all applicable international requirements and RS rules, they will be assigned the class notation КМ Arc4 [1] AUT1 ICS FF3WS DYNPOS-2 Supply Vessel.

Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) is to undertake ship construction survey for the Lukoil Group. This project follows the RS effective cooperation with one of the major RF oil companies in developing offshore hydrocarbon resources. RS has signed contracts for the whole range of classification and statutory services under the construction of an offshore salvage ship by Keppel Singmarine Pte Ltd in Singapore and two offshore support vessels by Keppel Nantong in China. The completion of trials and delivery of all the ships are planned for 2015. The new ships will join the Lukoil offshore fleet for the northern sector of the Caspian Sea. They are designed to supply and ensure the safe operation of the Filanovsky field offshore development facilities.

The Liberian Registry has authorized the Croatian Registry of Shipping (CRS) to act on its behalf in connection with the survey, audit, certification and plan-review of Liberian-flag ships and the companies which operate them. The Liberian Registry adopts a proactive approach to the service which it provides to the record numbers of ships which fly the Liberian flag. It is the only ship registry to provide harmonized audit and Maritime Labor Convention verification services, using its exclusive global network of highly trained nautical inspectors. Where appropriate, it also delegates authority to perform audits, inspections and certification to recognized organizations which it knows and trusts.

RINA has been officially recognized as a competent and authorized authority to carry out classification and statutory services for ships registered under the Kazakhstan flag. The authorization was formalised in a recently signed agreement between the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan and RINA Services SpA, the parent company of the Genoa-headquartered RINA Group. Under the terms of this agreement, RINA is authorised to classify and survey Kazakhstan-registered ships…

The Liberian Registry has accorded the status of Recognised Organization to the classification society IRS (Indian Register of Shipping), to act on behalf of vessels operating under the flag of Liberia. Captain J C Anand, Chairman of IRS, says, “This recognition by Liberia is a matter of great significance and prestige to IRS, coming as it does from one of the world’s leading flag states, which has an enviable reputation for quality and service and an outstanding safety record. Scott Bergeron, Chief Operating Officer of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based managers of the Liberian Registry, says, “The Liberian Registry adopts a proactive approach to the service which it provides to the record numbers of ships which fly the Liberian flag.

Germanischer Lloyd has been granted full authorization by the Greek maritime administration with immediate effect. The authorization enables the classification society to perform, on behalf of the administration, all survey and certification duties related to the assessment of the safety and the condition of ships sailing under the Greek flag. These statutory duties encompass attending to all types of ships, including passenger ships greater than 1,500 gt and high speed craft; the execution of International Safety Management (ISM) Code renewal audits, with the issuance of certificates; and surveying and issuance of certificates according to the requirements of IMO’s recently agreed Anti-Fouling Convention.

ABS has signed a memorandum of Agreement with the Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA – the Argentine Coast Guard) by which the classification society is now authorized to issue statutory certificates on behalf of the PNA for Argentine flag vessels in the nation’s cabotage trades. ABS is one of only two international class societies to receive this authorization. ABS is currently authorized by the PNA to issue statutory certificates for internationally trading Argentine flag vessels. The extended authorization expands that authorization to include domestically operating vessels such as workboats, fishing vessels and barges. “This agreement has particular significance since a recent change in Argentine law requires all cabotage vessels to operate under the national flag by 2006…

ABS has signed a memorandum of Agreement with the Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA – the Argentine Coast Guard) by which the classification society is now authorized to issue statutory certificates on behalf of the PNA for Argentine flag vessels in the nation’s cabotage trades. ABS is one of only two international class societies to receive this authorization. ABS is currently authorized by the PNA to issue statutory certificates for internationally trading Argentine flag vessels. The extended authorization expands that authorization to include domestically operating vessels such as workboats, fishing vessels and barges. “This agreement has particular significance since a recent change in Argentine law requires all cabotage vessels to operate under the national flag by 2006…