Lloyd's Register (LR) has always been committed to promoting high standards of safety, quality and environmental protection within the shipping industry. It is recognised that LR, along with other major classification societies, has a few ships in its classed fleet where insufficient maintenance is carried out. LR is committed to helping the operators of such ships to raise the standards of maintenance and repair to an acceptable level.
LR has initiatives both for the LR-classed fleet and with other International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) members e.g., recent strengthening of the Transfer of Class agreements. In cases where operators cannot or will not raise standards to acceptable levels, then it must be clear that there will be no place in the LR-classed fleet for such ships.
Fleet ActionsLR surveyors have now been instructed to report all cases of serious lack of maintenance. These ships will be monitored and may then be subject to follow-up unscheduled surveys. Ships targeted by this monitoring process will be required to complete all essential repairs before departing port, except where suitable repair facilities are unavailable – in this case, short-duration conditions of class may be imposed to enable repairs to be undertaken at a suitable location. Requests for postponement of surveys on such ships will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, and then only for short periods.Enter or re-entry to LR class for existing ships will be subject to a satisfactory review of the ship's classification and ownership history. In addition, before being accepted into class:
all ships above 15 years of age must have a pre-inspection all ships over 15 years and subject to Enhanced Survey Procedures (ESP) must complete a full intermediate (ITSS) or Special Survey (SS) all ships over 20 years must undergo a full SS.Port State Control
LR urges all operators to invite an LR surveyor to attend during initial Port State Control (PSC) inspections, so that any problems can be recognised and resolved as early as possible, thereby minimising potential delays and cost.
PSC records can provide a useful index to sub-standard ships and LR welcomes any evidence that helps to identify sub-standard tonnage, so that potential problems can be addressed as soon as possible – lowering risk to safety and the environment. The criteria for compiling PSC statistics currently varies between the major administrations, and figures are not directly comparable. LR therefore welcomes recent moves to provide a common approach to Port State detention statistical reporting so that an accurate global view can be obtained.
Guide for Shipboard Airborne Noise Control
Offshore Wave Energy Converter
Automatic Identification System