Classification societies
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
For more than 160 years, ABS has been at the forefront of marine and offshore energy innovation. We work alongside our partners tackling the most pressing technical, operational and regulatory challenges so the marine and offshore industries can operate safely, securely and responsibly.
We provide traditional classification services as well as on-the-ground technical services in asset performance, energy efficiency, environmental performance and life cycle management. With a passion for making the world a safer place, while also delivering practical and innovative solutions, we stand ready to assist and advance the marine and offshore energy industries.
Our reputation matters to us. Our day-to-day activities are guided by three principles: integrity, good faith and excellence. Integrity comes from consistently behaving according to a set of codified values and ethics. Good faith means that we will always demonstrate respect, sincerity, honesty and impartiality in our dealings. Excellence is fundamental; we strive to raise the standards of the marine, offshore and gas industries while meeting the needs of clients and the public in general.
Bureau Veritas
Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has more than 78,000 employees located in more than 1,500 offices and laboratories around the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its clients improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions, in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore has over 190 years of service experience as a classification society, with 2,650 experts active in 140 countries. We operate as a global network, following global standards, but able to meet our clients’ needs locally through our regional marine operations, customer support and technical centers. Information-sharing platforms across our network and with our clients, combined with our open, transparent way of working, mean we are set up to manage projects internationally.
The classed fleet consists of more than 11,400 seagoing ships, making Bureau Veritas the largest classification society by number of assets. We covering all market segments, ranging from deep sea merchant shipping, short sea shipping and cruise to work ships and naval ships. Our relationships are built on service, transparency and trust: we work alongside our clients, providing the support they need, and share our knowledge through training and technology. We cooperate with the entire marine and offshore ecosystem: ship owners, shipyard and ship designers, equipment manufacturers, charterers, operators, energy majors, contractors, financiers and administrations around the world.
We have built up extensive experience with gas fueled and (hybrid) battery powered ships and collaborating with industry partners on new fuels – including ammonia, hydrogen and methanol – and power systems – including fuel cells – to support the energy transition toward maritime climate neutrality. Additionally, we are involved in forward looking smart ship projects, covering autonomous navigation and remote operations. To safeguard automated and connected assets we have developed a pragmatic risk based cyber security approach meeting both regulatory and industry needs.
DNV
Combining leading technical and operational expertise, risk methodology and in-depth industry knowledge, we empower our customers’ decisions and actions with trust and confidence.
As a company, we continuously invest in research and collaborative innovation to provide customers and society with operational and technological foresight. With our origins stretching back to 1864, our reach today is global. Operating in more than 100 countries, our 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping customers make the world safer, smarter and greener.
DNV is the world’s leading classification society and a recognized advisor for the maritime industry. We enhance safety, quality, energy efficiency and environmental performance of the global shipping industry – across all vessel types and offshore structures. We invest heavily in research and development to find solutions, together with the industry, that address strategic, operational or regulatory challenges.
Lloyd’s Register
Lloyd’s Register works around the world to assess and certify ships, systems and facilities to help improve quality and increase safety. We work with ship yards, owners and operators to provide innovative, value-added solutions that help improve performance and protect the environment throughout the design, construction and operation of ships.
New fuels, new engines and new designs are becoming available for the existing fleet. The difficulty for shipowners, builders, equipment makers and financiers is not only what technology to support but when to invest. Whatever technology or solution our clients are exploring for their fleet, LR can help assess it, understand it and make it safe.
LR’s range of environmental products and services helps ship operators not only meet legislative requirements but also implement best practice solutions for managing environmental risks. Besides undertaking ship energy audits, and providing fuel technology services, we help operators to implement ISO 140001 certification. We can help operators to develop a safe, practical strategy to reduce the risks associated with ballast water management and to comply with national and IMO regulations. By undertaking a gap analysis (HEGA), we can help implement best practice for managing the human element.
Our overall vision is to continuously improve in helping our clients ensure supply chains are safe, responsible and sustainable.
RINA
RINA is a founding member of IACS (International Association of Classification Societies) and operates on behalf of 122 flag authorities. In addition to the provision of classification and statutory certification we deliver value added services to the shipping industry and are rated among the top performing classification societies.
Technical competence, attention to quality and focus on innovation are the pillars that allow us to support shipping on the path to digital transformation and to achieve the CO2 emissions reduction objectives established by the IMO, and we work with designers to verify compliance with the applicable rules of dual-fuel vessels and of novel concept designs incorporating new fuels such as hydrogen or ammonia, allowing for an increase in efficiency and performance which equates to fewer emissions.