Even in the most mature organisation it is useful to set down
key, short term objectives and re-examine fundamental aims in a fast changing
world. The annual “change of Chairman” of the International Association of
Classification Societies took place this month and the opportunity was taken to
publish a forward strategy and work plan for the coming year. Introducing this,
the incoming Chairman, Mr. Roberto Cazzulo of the Italian classification society
RINA, suggested that the organisation will endeavour to place a heavy emphasis
on transparency during his time in office. Removing some of the mystery from
the working of classification societies is perhaps timely, in an era when
“transparency” in every field is being regularly demanded. A useful document
explaining the “what, why and how” of classification societies has been
published and will hopefully serve to clarify their important roles both as
arbiters of standards and in representing maritime administrations. It has been
clear for many years that the various roles of the societies has been widely
misunderstood, not least by politicians and others seeking to apportion blame
after some maritime calamity! IACS is approaching the culmination of the
massive programme to produce harmonised common structural rules for oil tankers
and bulk carriers and will hopefully see this completed by the end of this year.
But the unexpected occasionally intervenes with the best programmes and the
worrying casualty to the MOL Comfort and its implications for other large
containerships has prompted the IACS Council to act. An advisory group of
experts from across the IACS membership will look at every aspect of
containership safety, with the emphasis on those of post-Panamax size. A
collaborative effort, suggested Mr. Cazzulo, could bring together the necessary
expertise to investigate this matter. IACS of course remains heavily engaged
in providing technical knowledge to IMO where, its chairman notes, class has a
“unique” role, its input going a long way to ensure that the regulatory regime
is balanced. “We cannot have unaffordable regulations” he noted, in a remark
that will be appreciated by BIMCO members, who provide much of the operating
experience that informs the technical discussion. But he also suggested that
technical advice is often provided to IMO “too late” with the regulators
pressing ahead without the vital data that might produce better balanced
regulations. There have arguably been too many instances of regulatory
impatience that, for want of the right technical expertise and data, which have
produced regulations that have demonstrated unexpected consequences. The
organisation, like the industry itself, was facing a number of challenges, said
its chairman, noting that innovation and new technologies, with inevitable
relations to safety were moving very fast. It was also necessary to put a
greater emphasis upon the human element, to ensure that there was a smooth
interface between people and the technology they were operating. There was
also a need for balance in the relationship between safety and the environmental
regulations, ship efficiency and the need for adequate horsepower. And in all of
this, the need for transparency, he said, was paramount.
WORLD SHIPPING
12 July 2013 - 19:30
Watchkeeper: De-mystifying classification
Even in the most mature organisation it is useful to set down key, short term objectives and re-examine fundamental aims in a fast changing world.
WORLD SHIPPING
12 July 2013 - 19:30
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