International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) is a technical organization consisting of twelve marine classification societies (out of around 50), headquartered in London.
It is estimated that these 12 societies, collectively class about 94% of all commercial tonnage involved in international trade worldwide.
IACS provides a forum within which the member societies can discuss, research and adopt technical criteria that enhance maritime safety. With its extensive knowledge of the industry and fleet, IACS provides a massive contribution to international shipping and regulations.
It holds a consultative status with the IMO and regularly participates in the capacity of an observer as well as an adviser to the IMO and the member states. IACS also enables cooperation with the Port State Control (PSC) to ensure high quality in the maritime field.
IACS Members
- ABS American Bureau of Shipping
- BV Bureau Veritas
- CCS China Classification Society
- CRS Croatian Register of Shipping
- DNV GL Det Norske Veritas Germanischer Lloyd
- IRS Indian Register of Shipping
- KR Korean Register of Shipping
- LR Lloyd’s Register
- NK Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK)
- PRS Polish Register of Shipping
- RINA Registro Italiano Navale
- RS Russian Maritime Register of Shipping
IACS Members Explained
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) is an organization that consists of multiple prominent classification societies from around the world. These classification societies are responsible for setting and enforcing technical standards and regulations for the design, construction, and maintenance of ships and other marine structures. As of my knowledge cutoff date in September 2021, the IACS members included the following classification societies:
- American Bureau of Shipping (ABS): ABS is a leading classification society headquartered in the United States, and it provides services to a wide range of vessels and offshore structures.
- Bureau Veritas (BV): Bureau Veritas is a global classification society based in France, offering classification and certification services for ships, offshore platforms, and more.
- China Classification Society (CCS): CCS is one of the major classification societies in China, specializing in ship classification and certification services.
- DNV GL (Now DNV): DNV GL was a major classification society with headquarters in Norway. As of my last update, DNV GL had merged into DNV (Det Norske Veritas) to form a single classification society called DNV.
- Korean Register of Shipping (KR): KR, based in South Korea, provides classification and inspection services for a wide range of maritime structures and vessels.
- Lloyd’s Register (LR): Lloyd’s Register, headquartered in the United Kingdom, is one of the world’s oldest and most recognized classification societies, offering services related to shipping and energy industries.
- Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK): ClassNK is a well-known classification society from Japan, specializing in ship classification and related services.
- Registro Italiano Navale (RINA): RINA is an Italian classification society offering classification, certification, and technical consultancy services to the maritime industry.
- Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS): RS, based in Russia, focuses on the classification and certification of ships and marine equipment.
- Indian Register of Shipping (IRS): IRS is an Indian classification society providing services related to the maritime industry, including ship classification.
Please note that the composition of IACS members may change over time due to mergers, new members joining, or other organizational developments. It’s advisable to check the most current list of IACS members from the official IACS website or another reliable source for the most up-to-date information.
You may also like, Everything about Classification Society – Explained