ABS chairman still scathing following EC raids last year that he says went ‘beyond any test of reasonableness’ .

ABS chairman Robert Somerville last week renewed his attack on the European Commission following the raids by competition inspectors on European class societies last year.

In ABS’s annual report for 2008, he criticised the commission for appearing to go “beyond any test of reasonableness” and also said it was of great concern that so much of his review of the most important developments of 2008 should be devoted to this political issue.

In particular he highlighted the apparent contradiction of DG Comp launching an investigation into class “that could pull apart its existing fabric”, while DG Tren was working on the directive that would demand class societies work more closely together in harmonising their standards, for the benefit of maritime safety.

“As the books were closed on 2008, ABS and the other class societies were wrestling with the practical application of these apparently conflicting directives from the same governmental body,” he said.

International Association of Classification Societies chairman Oh Gyun-kong said the ongoing European Commission investigation into the internal workings of IACS had dominated his chairmanship year.

“But we have not allowed that to hamper or detract from the unique contribution that IACS makes to the international maritime community,” he said. “We have and will continue to co-operate fully with the European Union and to examine closely how we operate, both as individual organisations and through IACS.

“Changes within IACS have always been made in a reasonable and positive way to ensure that we continue to provide the industry with technical support, compliance verification and research and development.”

Mr Oh said he did not believe there was an EU requirement that specifically required IACS to open up its membership.

“It is true that IACS has considered modification of some of its membership criteria and this is at the stage of near completion,” he said.

“However, it should be made clear that changes in the membership criteria have been made to confirm the objectives of IACS, which are to contribute to the promotion of maritime safety and environmental protection and to maintain the highest technical standards and the quality services of its members.

“Any classification society has the right to apply for IACS membership and can be admitted as a member of IACS when the society satisfies all of the membership criteria.”

Dr Jan Jankowski, president of the board at the Polish Register of Shipping — which was forced to leave IACS several years back — said that if IACS opened up its membership, this would be positive news for PRS.

“The IACS ‘label’ is well known among flags, underwriters, banks etc., which often include IACS membership in their selection criteria,” he said. “This would improve our position in the maritime industry. Another reason for which PRS would welcome a return to IACS is the fact that IACS is a good forum for co-operation.

“PRS as a non-IACS class society manages to develop safety rules itself,” he said. “We hope that PRS could contribute, in co-operation, to the development of safety standards.”

Class NK, the world’s largest classification society, has no objection to opening up IACS membership, said managing director Shosuke Kakubari.

“We would not be opposed to non-member societies becoming full members, so long as quality is maintained in the process,” he said.

Lloyd's List, 6 May 2009