On 1 June, in St Petersburg, the Korean Register of Shipping (KR) and the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) – both IACS members – signed an Agreement enabling both societies to work more closely together.

Recognising that a closer cooperation will allow both organisations to deliver enhanced services to the maritime industry, the Agreement was formally signed by Dr Oh Kong-gyun, Chairman and CEO of KR and Mikhail G. Ayvazov, CEO of RS.

The core principles of the new agreement are:

• To cooperate on the recruitment and training of technical staff and surveyors and to capitalise on the strengths of each other’s global survey network
• To jointly explore ways of assisting ship-operators and ship-owners seeking to make use of polar routes
• To combine KR’s strength in CSR for bulk carriers and tankers with RS’s strength in ice class ships in order to contribute effectively to the harmonised CSR activities which are ongoing within IACS

• To work together and to take a leading role in all classification matters
• To stage a series of technical seminars on a joint basis
• To share knowledge and expertise through visits, secondments and other channels

On signing the agreement, Dr Oh said:

“The shipping and shipbuilding sectors continue to expand both in Korea and in Russia and we see several strategic advantages in working alongside our colleagues in Russia to assist continued growth in both countries. Combining our efforts also enables us to strengthen our reach and our technical ability so we are better able to meet the demands of our global customers. I am looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Mr Ayvazov and his colleagues at the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping”

Mr Ayvazov said,

“RS is very pleased to extend the scope of bilateral relations with KR especially in light of increasing contacts and growing cooperation between Russian ship owners and Korean yards. I am convinced that the conclusion of this framework agreement will provide opportunities for further positive developments in both RS and KR aimed at our common advancement and I look forward to working closely with Dr Oh and the KR team to discuss the practical steps for implementing the principles set out in this agreement.”