Recognized organization

What is a RO and what is its role?

Recognized organization (RO) means an organization that is recognized by a flag State to perform, on its behalf, statutory certification and services under mandatory IMO instruments and national legislation. It is an organization that has been assessed by a flag State and found to comply with the RO Code adopted by IMO. The Code, parts 1 and 2 of which are mandatory, while part 3 is recommendatory, provides a consolidated instrument containing criteria against which ROs are assessed and authorized/recognized, and gives guidance for subsequent monitoring of ROs by Administrations.

Role of RO‟s:

• To perform statutory survey and certification on behalf of the Flag State
  • To comply at all times with the requirement of the RO Code
  • To carry out a survey whenever an accident occurs to a ship or a defect is discovered, which affects the safety of the ship or efficiency or completeness of its LSA or other equipment.
  • To carry out any additional surveys as requested by and on behalf of the Flag State.

When can certificate of class be suspended and withdrawn?

Certificate of Class is suspended –

1. When a ship is not operated in compliance with the rule required.
2. When a ship proceeds to sea with a less freeboard than that assigned or when the freeboard marks are placed higher than assigned
3. When the owner fails to request a survey after having detected defects or damages affecting the class.
4. When repairs, alterations or conversions affecting the class are carried out without requesting the attendance of a surveyor or not to the satisfaction of surveyor.

In addition to the above, the Class is automatically suspended–

1. When any one or more survey has become overdue and has not been completed by end of the corresponding survey time window.
2. When a recommendation or condition of class is not dealt with within the time limit specified.
3. During an annual survey if any CSM item is due or overdue.
4. When due to nature of defects, the society considers that a ship is not entitled to retain its class even on a temporary basis.

The society will withdraw the class of a ship–

1. If requested by owner.
2. If the class has been suspended for more than six months.
3. When a ship is reported as a constructive total loss and the owner does not have intentions to repair the ship for reinstatement of class.
4. The ship is reported lost.
5. The ship is reported scrapped / put out of service

Condition of Class is imposed by the society for a defect or fault of hull/machinery/ equipment, repair of which cannot be left to the discretion of the Owner. This is only given to the class items i.e. items that affect the ship‟s Class. These require specific measures, repairs and request for survey, etc. to be carried out within a specified time period in order to retain class. Some Classification societies call it „Recommendation of Class‟ (ROC).

For example, a Ship engine Governor is not working, and spares has a lead time and will only be available in around one month time. In such a case, clearly ship is not complying with the rules of the classification society. But if the Class revokes the “Certificate of class”, the ship would not be able to sail. So instead, a class surveyor attends the ship and suggests and/or verifies the temporary arrangements. After the said temporary arrangements are in place, he will allow the ship to sail for a specific time period by issuing a “Condition of class”, which means that to be able to retain the class, the said defect need to be rectified before the specified period. This way the “certificate of class” remains valid but with a condition. When the defect is rectified, class surveyor will attend the vessel to verify that. After successful verification, he will delete the condition of class.

Class Memorandum or Memo is the information to the Owner given by the Class, regarding certain item/area to look at. It is noted as a memo for assistance to the Owner and the next surveyor. e.g. notes concerning material, minor defects, etc. A memo may also be given when a condition which, though at that moment does not affect the Class, but if left at that condition for a long time, has the potential of affecting the Class. e.g.  slight indent on shell, or minor deficiency of machinery, etc. A Memo may be used in the following cases:

1. Exemptions from rule requirements
   1. Accepted deviations from rule requirements
   1. Limitations on the use of the ship or its equipment
   1. Defects or deficiencies of no concern to class
   1. Deleted class notations
   1. Information related to agreed survey arrangements.

What will be stated in the CoC? Where and how will you check the Conditions of Class?

A Condition of Class (CC) may contain the following:

1. A description of the deficiency, defect, damage or the examination required
2. Required action
3. Due date for the required action to be completed
4. Possible temporary requirements imposed until the required action is completed.

Conditions of Class or Memorandum to Owner are recorded in the vessel’s class status from where they will be deleted when no longer valid. Class survey status report can be downloaded if Master has access to the Class website or can be asked from the Company who will have access to this data on the Class website. Some Class (like the IRS) allows seeing the Condition of Class and other details without login on their website by simply punching in the IMO number of the ship.

Condition of Class and any memos are also described in the Q88 form (Q88 is a questionnaire used to assess vessel suitability and risk when chartering tankers and for vetting purposes)

What happens if condition of class is pending? How will it get cleared?

If a Condition of Class seriously affects the vessel’s safety and reliability, immediate action will be required. Otherwise, a time limit will be given for the action to be completed. Within the time period, the required repairs or actions must be taken, and Class must be informed. A Condition of Class will be deleted when the Society, through a survey or received information, has been satisfied that requested action has been satisfactorily completed.

If a CoC is not removed before the time period given, the Certificate of Class will be suspended.

When a CoC is pending, the vessel may lose Charterers or may be hired at a lower freight and if carrying an Oil Major cargo, may be required to immediately carry out the necessary repairs.

What is Class Notation?

Classification notation consists of words, acronyms, letters and abbreviation that describe a vessel’s restrictions, service or applicable survey characteristics & any other specific requirements of the Class that are met by the vessel. Each Classification society has a system to certify a ship by giving notation on the basis of ship type, service, navigation and other criteria, provided by the Owner and / or the builder. Class notations that are assigned to a ship are indicated on the ship’s Certificate of Class as well as in the Register of Ships published by the society. Examples of Class Notations are:

1. Main Class Symbol – Express compliance of the ship with specific rule requirements regarding machinery and equipment.
2. Construction Marks – Identifies the Classification society that supervised the ship during construction.
3. Type Notation – Defines the type and/or service of the ship.
4. Service Area Restrictions – Defines limiting areas for navigation (eg. ice class)
5. Additional Class Notations – defines the special features such as additional equipment or any other specific arrangements.

For example, 1A NS* (Tanker, Oils-Flashpoint on or below 60 degC and Chemicals Type II and III) ESP BWE(s) CSR

Here, 1A is the main class notation of DNV-GL, NS* is the construction mark for Class NK, Tanker — is the Type Notation, ESP, BWE (ballast water exchange) and CSR (common structural rules) are additional class notations.

bulk carrier notations

• Bulk Carrier
  • Great lakes bulk carrier
  • Grab (Strengthened inner bottom for grab loading and unloading with grab)
  • Strengthened HA (Weather deck hatch covers strengthened for heavy cargo)
  • CSR (designed and built according to IACS common structural rules)
  • BC A/B/C (Strengthened to carry dry bulk cargoes of density more/less than 1.0 t/m3)
  • Crane (Onboard crane certified by the Society)
  • HELDK (Ships with helicopter deck)
  • PC 1-5 (Polar Class)
  • BWM(T/E) (Ballast water management treatment/exchange)

Polar code notations

Polar Code classifies ships as Category A, B and C. Polar Class notations given by Class are as follows:

PC 1 – Year-round operation in all Polar waters

PC 2 – Year-round operation in moderate multi-year ice conditions

PC 3 – Year-round operation in second-year ice which may include multi-year ice inclusion PC 4 – Year-round operation in thick first-year ice which may include old ice inclusion

PC 5 – Year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions PC 6 – Summer/autumn operation in med. first-year ice which may include old ice inclusion PC 7 – Summer/autumn operation in thin first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions

[PC –vessels intended for navigation in ice-infested polar waters]

Quarterly listing

Quarterly listing is a document issued to the ship by its classification society. It is a document that consists of:

1. Information such as Vessel’s Name, IMO No., details for Registered Owner and Technical Operator
2. Status of Statutory Surveys records and Class Survey records along with the window and due dates.
3. Class Notations
4. CMS (Continuous Machinery Surveys) along with the date last inspection done and due dates.
5. Pending CoC (Condition of Class / Outstanding recommendation) with due dates
6. Class memorandum

Traditionally the document was issued / printed on quarterly basis and sent to Owners / Operator in hard copy and hence called as Quarterly Listing. However, as the time has changed, the documents can be downloaded on real time basis from Class website using the operator’s User ID and Password. (It is the same as „Class survey status report‟ of DNV GL. „Quarterly listing‟ is still being used by LR & some other Classification Societies)

What is IACS? Who can become members of IACS?

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) is a nongovernmental organization with the world‟s leading classification societies as its members. More than 90% of the world‟s cargo carrying tonnage is covered by the Member Societies. Admission to IACS signifies high standards, excellent reputation and professional competence in maritime industry. IACS has observer status in IMO and co-operates closely with IMO, participating in the working teams of different IMO committees.

Membership of IACS is granted to organizations that meet the Membership Criteria. The criteria and the procedure for applying for a membership are given on the IACS website. To become member of IACS, a Classification Society needs to comply with all the 11 criteria some of which are:

• Evidence that the organization is a Classification Society
  • Compliance with QSCS (Quality System Certification Scheme)
  • Ability to develop, apply, maintain, regularly up-date and publish its own set of classification rules
  • Ability to provide surveys of the ships under construction and periodic surveys of ships in service
  • Sufficient international coverage
  • Ability to assess designs for construction and/or major modification for ships in service of various types
  • Significant in-house managerial, technical, support and research staff
  • Technical ability to contribute with its own staff to the work of IACS
  • Compliance of classed ships with all IACS Resolutions Members of the IACS are:
• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
• Bureau Veritas (BV)
• China Classification Society (CCS)
• Croatian Register of Shipping (CRS)
• Det Norske Veritas (DNV-GL)
• Indian Register of Shipping (IRS)
• Korean Register of Shipping (KRS)
• Lloyd‟s Register (LR)
• Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Class NK)
• Polish Register of Shipping (PRS)
• Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
• Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS)

Continuous survey hull and Continuous survey machinery

The continuous survey system (CSS) consists in distributing a scope of the special survey for class renewal, into individual surveys, with the full survey cycle to be carried out in the period, for which the class has been assigned or renewed. Types of continuous survey system are the CMS (Continuous machinery survey) and CHS (Continuous Hull surveys).

Continuous Machinery Survey (CMS) System is to ascertain the general condition of the whole machinery and equipment by opening up a part of the machinery and equipment through reasonable procedures in a continuously and systematically planned manner. Under this system, the Classification Society permits the C/E to survey certain CMS items except M/E bearing/pins and pressure vessels, on alternate five yearly survey cycle. Depending on the Class, the Superintendent will issue authorization letter to the C/E who meets the requirements of the Class. Such C/E is authorized to carry out the survey of CMS items and in accordance with the PMS. During such survey, C/E will ensure that class prescribed survey form is completed with necessary readings/details and photographic evidence is obtained for crediting the CMS item during the forthcoming Class surveyor‟s attendance.

Continuous Hull Surveys is a survey arrangement whereby the survey items in the hull list established for the ship are subject to separate surveys within the 5 years cycle. The arrangement shall provide for survey of approximately 20% of the total number of survey items during each year of the five-year class period. For ships over 10 years of age, all ballast tanks shall be examined twice in each five-year class period. CHS may normally be accepted for ships less than 20 years of age. For ships above 20 years of age, it may be specially considered provided some additional acceptance criteria are complied with.

Ships must have an approved Hull PMS in place which will be verified during Annual surveys. The bottom survey in dry dock may be carried out at any time within the five-year class period. Concurrently, the overall and close-up examination and thickness measurements of the lower portions of the ballast tanks, examination and gauging of anchoring equipment and internal examination of chain lockers should be carried out.

Special surveys are the renewal surveys for Certificate of Class and not the same as a CMS or CHS. They are conducted for the renewal of the class and aimed at establishing that the technical condition of the ship and changes in the composition and design of its facilities meet the requirements of the Rules. However, CHS and CMS systems must be complied with for a Special survey to be conducted and Class certificate to be renewed. Special surveys are conducted at intervals not exceeding 5 years, with the renewal of the class, as a rule, for the next five-year period.