Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Naval Ships, January 2016

Classification Regulations Volume 1, Part 1, Chapter 2

Section 1

The handling of safety matters such as ship’s stability, life-saving appliances, pollution prevention arrangements and structural fire
protection, fire detection and extinction arrangements is the prerogative of the Owner and his delegated Naval Administration.
However, where these matters are delegated to LR they will be undertaken in accordance with agreed procedures and appropriate
class notations will be assigned and entered into the vessel’s Classification record.
Transfer of Information
To achieve naval class it is imperative to ensure that communication between LR, the Owner, Naval Administration, Prime
Contractor, designer and Builder is effective. In designing, building and maintaining a ship to class, it is essential that liaison
between the various parties involved is assured. In particular, formal written contracts are essential for commercial reasons
between the contractors, but an additional responsibility rests with all participants to ensure that naval class leads to a
transparency of information during construction and thereafter.

n Section 1
Conditions for Classification
1.1 Framework of Classification

1.1.1 The Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Naval ships, hereinafter referred to as the Rules, are applicable to
those types of ship which are defined in Vol 1, Pt 1, Ch 2, 2.1 Applicable ship types
1.1.2 The Rules do not, unless stated or implied in the Class notation, provide for special distributions or concentrations of
loading associated with the operation of the ship. LR may require additional strengthening to be fitted in any ship which may be
subjected to severe stresses due to particular features in the design or operation, or where it is desired to make provision for
exceptional loading conditions. In such cases particulars and details of the required loadings are to be submitted for consideration.
1.1.3 Compliance with the Rules does not relieve the designer of their responsibilities for compliance with the Owner’s and
Naval Administration’s requirements for the overall design features, in-service performance, certification requirements, and
standards to which the ship is to be built.
1.1.4 New ships built in accordance with the Rules, or in accordance with requirements equivalent thereto, will be assigned a
Class and will continue to be classed so long as they are found, upon examination at the prescribed surveys, to be maintained in
accordance with the requirements of the Rules.
1.1.5 In addition to confirming compliance with the Rules, LR will, in conjunction with the Naval Administration, require to be
satisfied that the ship is suitable for the geographical or other limits or conditions of the service requested.
1.1.6 Preparations required to permit a ship with a service area restriction specifying some service limitation to undertake
duties that take the ship beyond the specified service restriction, either from port of building to its service area or from one service
area to another, are to be in accordance with arrangements agreed by LR prior to the voyage.
1.1.7 Any damage, defect, breakdown or grounding, which affect the conditions for which a Class has been assigned, must
be reported to LR. (Note that some ships have a grounding condition included for Class).
1.1.8 Where LR is acting on behalf of the Naval Administration, any relevant requirements of the Naval Administration are to
be identified and advised to LR in writing.
1.1.9 It is a requirement of classification that stability and subdivision arrangements are to comply with and be maintained in
compliance with a specified standard(s). The specified standard(s) and ongoing certification regime are to be notified to LR by the
Naval Administration in writing. Where the Naval Administration, or its recognised organisation, approves the arrangements for
compliance with the required stability and subdivision standards, a copy of the following documentation is to be submitted:
• approval documentation issued by the Naval Administration stating that arrangements have been examined against the
required standard and are acceptable.
• accepted arrangements of openings, closing appliances, vents, etc. such that the limits of the watertight integrity may be
defined at the design draught. From these limits the pressure heads for watertight structure and watertight/weathertight
closing requirements for openings, etc. can be identified.
Alternatively, where requested, LR will approve the arrangements against the agreed standard(s).

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