classification surveys are undertaken to ensure that the ship adheres to the norms and maintains its gradation of class, the objective of survey for registration is just to check the measurement. Similarly, the objective of under-writer's survey is to verify the expressed warranty declared by the assured.

An important group of organisations that exert considerable influence on the design, construction and safety of ships is the Classification Societies. Classification is defined as ‘a division by groups in order of merit’. These societies work for the benefit of ship-owners, cargo-owners and underwriters in order to ascertain if a particular ship represented a reasonable risk.

The origin of classification is associated with the Lloyd’s Register of Shipping. It was customary in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries for merchants, shippers and underwriters to meet in coffee houses in London to discuss business. Lists of ships were circulated in those establishments and those were particularly useful in providing underwriters with information about the degree of risk involved in insuring the ships and their cargoes. One of the coffee houses was owned by Edward Lloyd, a renowned entrepreneur. Lloyd made history when he provided a list or bulletin about ships in 1702. Known as Lloyd’s List, such lists have continued to be published.

As time went on, the provisions in the information about ships became more formalised and a Register was published eventually. Initially, the business of classifying ships and insuring them went on under the same roof. In 1760, the two activities became entirely separate – the classification wing called Lloyd’s Register of Shipping was founded to examine merchant ships and classify them according to their condition. Today, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping is simultaneously an independent authority and a non-profit organisation that relies entirely for its income on the fees charged for surveys and other services rendered. It is controlled by a committee that includes ship-owners, ship-builders and representatives of the Institute of London Underwriters, the Royal Institute of Naval Architects and Shipbuilders. Nowadays, the organisation’s expertise and activities extend far wider than merchant shipping – onshore industries, offshore exploration and installations.

A classification society is similar to a standards institute which determines the standards for the shipping industry. It has its own rules and regulations for construction and classification of different kinds of ships. It acts without any prejudice to anyone’s interest. If a ship concerned meets the standards laid down in the rules, then it is classed and remains so as long as she maintains the standards. This has earned a high degree of reliability, trust and fame for the classification society, making it equally acceptable by almost all concerned in shipping. The role and function of the Classification Society will be better understood by analysing its relationship with other organisations and agencies involved in shipping.

SHIP-OWNERS: For the ship-owners, a classification society is possibly one of the best technical consultancy services available. Usually, the ship-owners want to increase the efficiency and number of their ships not before they classify them. The Society Surveyor is available whenever there is a deficiency or breakdown and would get the best advice as to how the ship can be put back into same efficient good order as it were before. The modern classification rules involve mandatory inspection of each and every part and component of the ship, her machinery and equipment, once every four years, which automatically ensures good upkeep and maintenance. Besides a ship-owner enjoys the trust and confidence of the market as