PRS Appeals IACS Termination

The Polish Register of Shipping (PRS) has lodged an appeal with IACS (the International Association of Classification Societies), requesting the Association to reconsider and rescind its recent decision to terminate PRS’s Associate Member status. A written request has also been sent to the Chairman of IACS’ QSCS Advisory Committee, Capt Steen Stender Peterson, asking that the Committee should examine all quality system-related circumstances and the conclusions on which this decision was based.

"We know that these appeals are unprecedented steps to take," acknowledges Mr. Jan Jankowski, PRS Director General and Managing Director of the Marine Branch, "but we feel very strongly that there has been a miscarriage of justice as far as PRS is concerned and that we must therefore make every effort to have the reasons for IACS' decision reviewed."
"Not only is the credibility and reputation of Polski Rejestr Statków at stake on this issue, but also that of IACS if the range of maritime organisation and press commentaries in the very recent past are a true indication of the industry’s views," he added.

PRS also believes that the Register will have a continuing role to play in the ships classification industry even if it is not readmitted to IACS, "although under these circumstances the business situation will obviously be more difficult," Jankowski added. With this possibility in mind the Director General of PRS has recently visited London for discussions with a number of leading marine underwriters, underwriting authorities, and the Representative of Poland at the IMO (International Maritime Organization).

A support is particularly evident in Greece, from the PRS Greek Committee as well as from a number of shipowners who are not members of the Committee, who have expressed their "surprise and indignation" at IACS decision to expel PRS.