International Association of Classification Societies

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) is a technically based organization consisting of twelve marine classification societies headquartered in London.

Marine classification is a system for promoting the safety of life, property and the environment primarily through the establishment and verification of compliance with technical and engineering standards for the design, construction and life-cycle maintenance of ships, offshore units and other marine-related facilities. These standards are contained in rules established by each Society. IACS provides a forum within which the member societies can discuss, research and adopt technical criteria that enhance maritime safety.

IACS was founded on September 11, 1968, in Hamburg, Germany. IACS consists of 12 member societies. More than 90% of the world's cargo carrying ships’ tonnage is covered by the classification standards set by the twelve member societies of IACS. (Source: IACS Website)

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, Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) hosted the first conference of major societies in 1939 - 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. In 1969, IACS was given consultative status by the IMO. Its membership has increased since that time to the current thirteen members. DNV and GL have agreed to merge their respective businesses in 2013, the new entity will be called DNV GL.

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