IACS : International Association of Classification Societies

IACS can trace its origins back to the International Load Line Convention of 1930 and its
recommendations. The Convention recommended collaboration between classification
societies to secure "as much uniformity as possible in the application of the standards of
strength upon which freeboard is based…".

Following the Convention, RINA hosted the first conference of major societies in 1939 - also
attended by ABS, BV, DNV, GL, LR and NK - which agreed on further cooperation between
the societies.

A second major class society conference, held in 1955, led to the creation of Working Parties
on specific topics and, in 1968, to the formation of IACS by seven leading societies. The value
of their combined and unique level of technical knowledge and experience was quickly
recognised. In 1969, IACS was given consultative status with IMO. It remains the only nongovernmental organisation with Observer status which is able to develop and apply rules.
Compliance with the IACS Quality System Certification Scheme (QSCS) and observance of
the IACS Code of Ethics is mandatory for both IACS Member and Associate status.

IACS consists of 10 member societies and one associate, details of which are listed below. Chairmanship of IACS is on a rotational basis with each member society taking a turn.

Members

ABS (American Bureau of Shipping/USA)
abs-worldhq@eagle.org
http://www.eagle.org

BV (Bureau Veritas/Denmark)
veristarinfo@bureauveritas.com
http://www.veristar.com

CCS (China Classification Society/China)
ccs@ccs.org.cn
http://www.ccs.org.cn

DNV Det Norske Veritas
iacs@dnv.com
http://www.dnv.com

GL Germanischer Lloyd
headoffice@gl-group.com
http://www.gl-group.com

KR Korean Register of Shipping
krsiacs@krs.co.kr
http://www.krs.co.kr

LR Lloyd's Register
Lloydsreg@lr.org
http://www.lr.org

NK Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK)
xad@classnk.or.jp
http://www.classnk.or.jp

RINA Registro Italiano Navale
info@rina.org
http://www.rina.org

RS Russian Maritime Register of Shipping
004@rs-head.spb.ru
http://www.rs-head.spb.ru/

Associates
IRS Indian Register of Shipping
ho@irclass.org
http://www.irclass.org

CRS Hrvatski Registar Brodova (Croatian Register of Shipping)
http://www.crs.hr/introduction.asp