GL Gets Greek Authority

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. Germanischer Lloyd is also now accepted and authorized by the Greek maritime administration as a “Recognized Security Organization” (RSO), enabling the society to perform all tasks required for certification according to the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

“I would like to stress the importance of the bilateral Agreement signed today, since it expands the traditional field of authorization for statutory services to encompass survey and certification,” declared Commodore A Kamarinakis, Head of Greece’s Merchant Ships’ Inspection General Directorate, at the contract signing on March 19 in Piraeus. “Also, the authorization covers not only ocean-going cargo ships but also passenger vessels and island ferries under the Hellenic flag.”

“This extended authorization is an expression of recognition for the technical competence of Germanischer Lloyd and the excellent cooperation the society has with the Greek flag state,” emphasized Lutz Wittenberg, Director of Germanischer Lloyd’s Mediterranean/Middle East/Black Sea/Africa (MEA) Division. “With 41 ships totaling 1,356,896 gt currently classed with us, the Greek-flag fleet is amongst the ‘top ten’ flags in the GL Register. We are pleased that we are now able to provide this valued client with an expanded spectrum of services.“

GL is authorized by over 100 administrations, including that of the Federal Republic of Germany, to perform the statutory duties for ship safety on their behalf. GL’s divisional office for the Mediterranean/Middle East/Black Sea/Africa (MEA) region is located in Piraeus. Besides its direct services for shipyards and fleets in the region, this office provides a comprehensive array of certification functions.