The past 12 months have highlighted an apparent weakness in the ability of Classification Societies to respond quickly and forcefully to critical issues facing the shipping industry. To overcome this, the three leading societies DNV, ABS and LR announced in March a fast track set of initiatives, which they intend to implement whether or not a consensus is reached among all 10 members of IACS.
The objective of the initiatives is to accelerate the decision-making process within classification, and to rebut the criticism class receives from concerned parties for not taking its responsibilities seriously enough.Working Groups with representatives from the three societies are, at the time of writing, preparing detailed procedures and guidelines. The goal is for the new initiatives to come into force by 1 July 2001.
The initiatives can briefly be summarised as follows:
" Development of a common scheme for identifying, targeting and monitoring possible sub-standard vessels.
" Alignment of ISM audits with other safety control measures. Experience has shown that for some ships 2 1/2 years between audits is too long. An annual check is required in such cases. If the ship is classed with the society issuing the Safety Management Certification (SMC), this can be done in connection with the Annual Class Survey. However, for other vessels a voluntary arrangement with the owner/manager will be sought, or the split responsibility between Class and ISM will have to be phased out.
" The Early Warning System existing within IACS will, to the benefit of our customers, be used as basis for a more efficient exchange of experience among the three societies.
" Stricter Transfer of Class Agreement (TOCA) is needed to eradicate sub-standard shipping. Outstanding surveys and Conditions of Class (CC) shall therefore be dealt with by the losing Society before a class transfer takes place between any of the three societies, or if not possible, both the reason for class withdrawal and details about overdue items will be published on the web-site of the losing Society.
" Common standards will be introduced for training and qualification of surveyors.
" Co-operation with respect to use of Exclusive Surveyors will be extended.
" DNV, ABS and LR will harmonise basic design criteria for standard ship types. Initially work has been started on design loads for new ships, and on corrosion margins for tankers and bulk carriers in operation.
" The voluntary Condition Assessment Programme (CAP), offered by all three societies, will be harmonised in both procedures and rating scheme.
" For all Renewal and Intermediate Surveys on ESP vessels above 5000 grt. and older than 15 years, two exclusive surveyors will be required.
" To improve transparency, common scope and formats for onboard and shore-based information available to the industry will be developed.