Russian Maritime Register of Shipping fulfills obligations to customers, to appeal its exclusion from IACS
MOSCOW. March 13 (Interfax) - The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) continues providing its services and fulfilling its obligations to customers; the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has made an unlawful decision on the RS's exclusion, the register said.
"On March 10, 2022, the IACS Chair, in violation of the Charter and procedures of Association, proposed to immediately withdraw Russian Maritime Register of Shipping's membership of IACS, with reference to the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom against the Russian Federation in connection with the situation in Ukraine. And already on March 11, 2022, three quarters of the IACS members has agreed to this proposal by secret ballot, despite the protest of RS and objections of some IACS members," RS said on its website.
"RS fulfills all obligations to customers and continues to render services aimed at the improvement of standards of safety of life at sea, safety of navigation, safe carriage of goods by sea and in inland waters as well as at environmental pollution prevention," it said.
"Russian Maritime Register of Shipping is preparing an appeal in connection with the above mentioned illegal decision," it said.
"Notwithstanding the decision taken, IACS Council acknowledged that RS's commitment to quality and maritime safety is not in doubt. It was also unequivocally recognized that RS remains a competent classification society and that withdrawal of RS's IACS membership will not affect maritime safety of vessels in RS class," the register said.
The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping was founded in 1913. It has been a member of the IACS since 1969. RS is recognized by the maritime administrations of 68 flag states and has about 50 offices all over the world.
In March, the European Union restricted import of technologies related to maritime navigation and radio communications to Russia. At the same time, the EU also added RS to the list of Russian state-run entities subject to financial sanctions.
The International Association of Classification Societies comprises the world's largest qualification societies: the American Bureau of Shipping (the United States), France's Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register of the United Kingdom, the China Classification Society, Japan's ClassNK, Denmark's Det Norske Veritas (DNV), and others.