This very significant symposium, to be held in London 5th & 6th November 2002, will look at how the navies of the world are regulating the safety of their naval ships with special emphasis on the increasing involvement of Classification Societies. Changes in national laws and public perceptions, developments in procurement and support, and recent accidents have increasingly led to Navies re-assessing their existing safety management policies. Foremost in supporting the navies in their re-assessments are the Classification Societies, several of which have developed or are developing naval ship rules and survey services.

Significant investment has been made by both Navies and Classification Societies in developing these new procedures and has resulted in a far better understanding of the Navies’ requirements and the differences between naval requirements and the requirements of national merchant ship administrations. Some of these developments have been quite spectacular and could not have been envisaged even a few years ago; several Navies now having not only support ships but also major front-line ships entered into and maintained in Naval Class. Both the Navies and the Classification Societies have been consulting with the wider naval community on these developments and this conference should help bring this community together to further these discussions. Influential speakers will be gathered from around the world to ensure the latest advances are available to the audience.