Three leading bodies responsible for surveying ships and verifying them as seaworthy launched an initiative on Thursday aimed at dispelling growing industry concern about the thoroughness of safety checks. Classification societies Lloyd's Register (LR), the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Det Norske Veritas (DNV) said they had laid down a 10-point action plan. "We've got to get away from this reputation that we... most definitely have of being too slow to react (to safety concerns)," said LR chief executive officer David Moorhouse. Classification societies' surveyors conduct detailed surveys of ships for corrosion and safety hazards every year. The leading 10 classification societies have long been governed by one industry body, IACS, of which they are all members.