For a vessel to be in a seaworthy condition during the course of its lifetime and remain so, certain rules have to be followed and certain conditions have to be fulfilled. These rules and conditions are all contained in the relevant STATUTORY and CLASSIFICATION rules.
Thr STATUTORY rules are mainly contained in a volume called SOLAS. SOLAS stands for Safety Of Life At Sea. Other important rules covering anti-pollution measures are contained in a volume called MARPOL. Most statutory rules are international and are applied to commercial ships above a certain size.
Independant companies called CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES publish classification rules. These rules stipulate minimum standards to be applied to the hull and machinery during construction and service of the vessel e.g. minimum thickness of the hull structures, water-tight integrity, minimisation of fire risks, strength of propeller tail shaft and propellers, safe carriege of cargoes and passengers etc.
Both sets of rules entail regular inspections during the lifetime of a ship. The main purpose is to ensure that the standards are maintained and the vessel remains seaworthy. Surveyors appointed by the CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES usually carry out all these inspections.
C.R. COX represent some of the major Classification Societies and carry out Classification Surveys on their behalf in Western Australian Ports. The Classification Societies represented by us are:
Please email us or fill in the enquiry form, if you require a class survey to be carried out on one of your ships (provided it is registered with one of the Classification Societies mentioned above).
