Indian Register of Shipping

Infobox Company
name = Indian Register of Shipping

type = Not for profit
genre = Classification Society
foundation = 1975
founder =
location_city = Mumbai
location_country = India
location =
locations =
area_served =
key_people = J.C. Anand (Chairman),S. Kumar (Managing Director)
industry = Shipbuilding
products =
services = Classification
market c

revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
assets =
equity =
owner =
num_employees =
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homepage = [http://www.irclass.org www.irclass.org]
footnotes =
intl = yes

Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) is an internationally recognized independent ship classification society, founded in India in 1975. It is an associate member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).

Today IRS provides professionally competent, completely independent and highly efficient third party technical inspection and certification services for all types of ships, marine craft and structures. These services have also been expanded to cover a range of offshore and industrial projects.

The services are designed to meet ISO 9001 specifications (the International Standard on Quality Management Systems), and thereby help achieve high levels of quality and reliability, while maintaining project schedules and integrity. Further, they are proven to be cost-effective and meet timelines efficiently.

History

Indian Register of Shipping was founded in 1975 to act as a catalyst of self-regulation by Indian Shipping Industries and to serve as a forum for research and development.

Organization & Management

IRS is a non-profit making organization. All funds generated from fees for classification services are used solely for the performance of such services. A surplus of receipts in any one year is used for the extension and improvement of our services, including research and development. It has a Committee of Management with representatives from the Ministry and from each industry segment that uses its services. IRS has 15 offices located all over India. It has overseas offices at China, Sri Lanka, Dubai, South Korea, Bangkok.

ervices

Classification

Ship Classification is a mechanism by which the international shipping industry regulates itself. Ship Classification implies development of rules (standards) for the construction and maintenance of a ship's structure and essential engineering system and implementation of such rules in new building and existing ships to ensure the safety of the ships. The classification service of IRS has been now extended to cover all types of ships, craft and floating structures.

Classification of New construction

Design Appraisal

IRS carries out design appraisal of new buildings to ensure compliance with its Rules and Regulations. These cover hull structures, engines, generators, steering gears, propeller, electrical, piping and control systems, and other major machinery components.

urvey during construction

During construction, IRS surveyors regularly verify the material at shipyards, supervise welding procedures and welder's performance qualification test, check fabrication during all stages of construction, witness destructive tests, inspect all essential machinery during manufacturing installation on board at the shipyard and the witness final dock trial and sea trial. IRS surveyors also attend at various manufacturers' works to witness testing of material for construction and inspect essential machinery and equipment at various stages of construction. All these are done to ensure that the approved plans are followed, approved material and components are properly installed, good workmanship practiced and applied, and the Rules adhered to.

urvey After Construction

Maintenance of the IRS Classification is assured by the system of periodic surveys to ensure continued compliance with its Rules. These include various surveys of hull and machinery on a Continuing basis.

Classification of existing ships

Existing ships, not built under IRS supervision, can also be classed with IRS only after ensuring conformity with IRS Rules.

tatutory Services

IRS carries out statutory design appraisal, surveys and certification work on behalf of Flag States, when so authorized by the governments of such states via the International Maritime Organization Conventions and Codes . The four major IMO conventions are:

* International Convention on Loadline
* International Convention for the safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
* International Tonnage Convention
* International Convention on Maritime Pollution Prevention (MARPOL)

Non-Classification Services

pecification Services

The experience and knowledge accumulated through classification work enables IRS to provide technical advisory and supervisory services for ship owners. IRS surveyors who are seconded in to the owners for such services operate independently. Though distinct from classification services these services are nonetheless in harmony with them. The aim of IRS is to provide independent technical support and impartial cost effective advice to owners. Owners get value for money, coupled with highest standards of quality during construction, conversion or refit. IRS specification services have been used extensively by various ship owners including national administrations, port authorities, oil companies etc. Specification services are provided for pre-contract as well as post-contract stages.

Pre-contract services include:

* Advice for preparation of inquiry documents for tendering
* Appraisal of tender bids from shipbuilders
* Power estimation
* Fuel consumption, endurance and capacities for consumables
* Trim and stability calculations
* General layout and space concepts
* Cargo capacities and handling arrangements
* Selection of propulsion and auxiliary machinery
* Advice for painting and corrosion protection scheme.

Post-contract services

Design appraisal is done at the early stages to ensure that proposed arrangement conforms to the agreed specification. The design appraisal could cover model-testing program for power estimation, sea keeping and maneuvering.

Generally the following plans are verified for ensuring compliance with specification:

* Hull and superstructure
* All machinery systems
* Loading conditions
* Tank arrangement and capacities
* Electrical and control system
* Painting specification and corrosion control system
* Communication systems and navigational equipment
* Safety equipment and life saving appliances

upervision during all stages of construction

At the shipyard, comprehensive supervision is provided during all stages of constructions including tests and trials. Owners are appraised at monthly or agreed intervals about progress, deviations, from specifications and other pertinent facts of owners interest. Visits are arranged to the sub-contractor's work sites to inspect major items of machinery and equipment to ensure compliance with specifications and agreed standards of workmanship.

upervision during major modification and repair

This includes a broad range of focus areas like:

* Examination of existing plans of a vessel to assess its suitability for modifications
* Examination of the existing condition of a vessel
* Assisting owners in evaluation of contractors
* Supervision of modification work

Damage Surveys

Damage surveys on hull, machinery, equipment and permanent fittings on classed or nonclassed ships are done at the request of ship owners or any other interested parties such as underwriters, and factual reports are issued to the parties.

This service includes survey of da

* To establish nature, extent and cause of damage
* Recommendation of repairs
* Supervision and certification of repair done
* Final endorsement of repair bills.

See also

* Classification Society
* International Association of Classification Societies

External links

* [http://www.iacs.org.uk/ IACS - International Association of Classification Societies]

References