Frequently asked questions on classification

The laying down of standards for the construction and maintenance of ships. Compliance to these standards, published as Rules and Regulations, ensures assignment and maintenance of the class ✠100A1.

Notation meaning:

✠ - constructed under Lloyd’s Register survey 

100 - suitable for sea going service 

A - constructed or accepted into Lloyd’s Register class and maintained in good and efficient condition

1 - good and efficient anchoring and mooring equipment

Some main reasons are: 

• It ensures the maintenance of the standard and can facilitate the following:
  1. Insurance (ship and cargo)
  2. Chartering
  3. Sale and purchase
  4. Financing
  5. Issue of Statutory certificates required by International Conventions
• The benefit of expert advice and fast service to shipowners on a worldwide basis, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

By owners ensuring regular surveys of the hull, machinery and equipment, as well as maintenance and repairs from time to time as a result of wear and tear or accident, all under the supervision of our surveyors.

Generally by owners not carrying out surveys as above. Owners can also elect to choose a Classification Society other than Lloyd’s Register.

All owners are regularly informed of the survey status of their ships. Some owners access this information direct from our mainframe computer, either from their offices or sometimes from the ship itself using LR Class Direct. 

In this way both technical and financial planning for due surveys can be carried out.

All surveys and repairs are held under the supervision of Lloyd’s Register’s exclusive surveyors, some 1,800 of them stationed at more than 200 offices worldwide.

Comprehensive reports covering surveys and repairs are then transmitted, via our computer network, to London where the reports are vetted to ensure compliance with our survey and repair standards. They then form part of the permanent technical record of the ship, throughout its life.

No. Clearly if an owner does not hold the required surveys or comply with the surveyor’s recommendations they cannot expect Lloyd’s Register to retain the ship in class. Both assignment and withdrawal of class are carried out by the Classification Executive and in difficult cases by the Classification Committee.

Of course we recognise that, for many reasons, owners cannot always carry out surveys precisely on time. 

In such circumstances a postponement can sometimes be agreed, provided Lloyd’s Register is satisfied that the condition of the ship warrants it, and always with a mutually agreed date by which the survey will be held, taking into account also any flag state requirements.

Owners build their ships to Lloyd’s Register class standards, or may transfer existing ships to our class provided our standards can be met. Continuance of class is subject to surveys and repairs being held, using the services of our worldwide network of offices and surveyors. 

The benefits of class are many, including benefits to third parties such as underwriters and charterers, in the sense that a classed ship can be regarded as being maintained to Lloyd’s Register’s standards, and therefore at a risk level which is technically acceptable. Failure to meet the standards will result in class being lost.

Lloyd’s Register Foundation, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as ‘Lloyd’s Register’. Lloyd’s Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Lloyd’s Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.