Classification services include classification inspection and certification of ships, offshore facilities, containers and related industrial products. Classification society inspection means that the shipowner voluntarily applies for insurance and ship registration, and the classification society conducts inspection, so that his ship or offshore facilities can obtain a certain grade. After the classification society has passed the inspection, it will issue certificates, grant class symbols and additional marks, and record them in the list of ships published by the classification society. The function of the classification society mark is to show that the ship or offshore installation was built under the supervision of the classification society or was comprehensively inspected by the classification society for the first time after completion, proving that it meets or is equivalent to the specifications or regulations of the classification society. Additional marks refer to adding one or more marks after the class symbols according to the specific conditions of ships and equipment. Such as ship type, cargo loading, special tasks, navigation area restrictions, ice area reinforcement, etc. Classification society inspection is the most traditional business of classification society. With the development of classification society, modern classification society inspection has changed since the beginning of classification society. Modern classification inspection not only serves the insurer, but also ensures the quality and navigation safety of ships through classification inspection, which can replace the government's requirements for implementing relevant international conventions. Without the classification certificate, the ship will not be able to operate normally, because classification is the premise of ship registration and insurance.
(2) statutory services
Legal service refers to the compulsory inspection or audit conducted by a surveyor designated by the competent government department or a qualified organization authorized by the government according to the relevant laws and regulations of the flag state government and the international conventions concluded by the flag state government. At present, the statutory services provided by classification societies include statutory inspection and ISM code certification. Statutory inspection Statutory inspection came into being with the increase of international shipping conventions in recent forty years, and it is more and more necessary for the government to supervise the ship's condition. The government clearly stipulates by decree which classification societies can represent the government in inspection and certification according to the requirements of international conventions such as SOLAS Convention, Load Line Convention, MARPOL Convention and STCW Convention. Audit of international safety management rules. The audit of international safety management rules refers to the audit of the quality system of ships and shipping companies according to the requirements of international safety management rules (ISM rules), and the SMC and DOC certificates are issued to ships and shipping companies respectively. Since 1980s, the age of the global fleet has increased, and shipwrecks have occurred continuously. And 80% of them are caused by human factors. Recognizing the important role of human factors in ensuring maritime safety and preventing marine environmental pollution, IMO has taken a series of actions to control human factors. At the second diplomatic conference of the parties to SOLAS Convention held in 1994, three new chapters of SOLAS Convention were adopted, which fully incorporated the international safety management rules and became mandatory provisions of the Convention. Since then, major international classification societies have been authorized by the flag state government to provide ISM system consultation and audit to shipowners.
Due to the fierce competition among classification societies, in order to seek development, classification societies have begun to shift the market from the traditional non-profit business related to ship inspection to the profitable industrial field. The industry services provided by classification societies include quality system certification, engineering inspection, cargo inspection, notarization inspection of ships and offshore facilities, technical consultation, calculation and evaluation, etc. Quality system certification is a new business with broad market prospects. At present, major classification societies provide consulting and certification services for shipping companies, shipyards and marine service companies on ISO9000 series and other quality assurance systems. Notarization inspection is a kind of inspection that is entrusted to identify a certain situation and issue a certificate from the standpoint of notarization. In case of shipwreck or aircraft accident, the shipowner or insurance company entrusts the shipowner to carry out cause analysis to determine the damaged position, scope and degree, as well as the contents of the damaged repair project. The inspection report issued by the classification society as a notary inspection institution can be used as an effective certificate for handover, billing, adjustment, claim and maritime arbitration. In addition, the inspection of the ship's starting and stopping the lease, the inspection of the warranty items, the nuclear price of the ship's sale, and the verification of the steel weight of the scrap ship are all notarized inspections. The technical consulting services provided by the classification society include: international conventions and domestic regulations; Ship maneuverability; Hull and its performance monitoring; Emergency plan; Towing, mooring and anchoring at sea. At present, some major classification societies in the world have extended their services to chemical, electronic, energy, agricultural products, environmental protection and other industries. The service of classification society in the industrial field has not changed its traditional mission of "promoting the safety of life and property at sea and preventing marine pollution". However, the profitability of industrial services may cause potential conflicts of interest within the classification society. The pursuit of economic benefits by classification societies may affect the relaxation of traditional business standards by classification societies. Classification societies can provide customers with "buy one get one free" service. If the customer accepts the for-profit analysis and design service of the classification society, it is easy to obtain the classification society and the legal certificate at the same time. Classification society has realized the conflict between non-profit business and profit business of classification society.