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International Association of Classification Societies Ltd.

IACS

Dedicated to safe ships and clean seas, IACS makes a unique contribution to maritime safety and regulation through technical support, compliance verification and research and development.

Lobbying Activity

Response to EU industrial maritime strategy

28 Jul 2025

IACS appreciate the fact that classification societies are listed among the main stakeholders in the consultation process of the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy. IACS considers that this is a recognition of the central role that classification societies play with regard to safety and the environmental protection, going beyond just being a sub-sector in maritime transport. IACS as an international player can bring added value to the strategy, given that shipping is a truly international sector and the role of the IMO has been highlighted continuously by DG MOVE.
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Meeting with Polona Gregorin (Head of Unit Climate Action)

30 Jan 2025 · Discussion on the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) extension to maritime and verification rules

Meeting with Annika Kroon (Head of Unit Mobility and Transport) and Bureau Veritas Marine Offshore

30 Jan 2025 · Discussed the verifiers’ views and concerns about the ETS Maritime and FuelEU Maritime implementation and enforcement

Meeting with Barbara Sellier (Head of Unit Mobility and Transport)

30 Jan 2025 · Exchange of views related to the work of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) – Expert Group on EU (EG EU group)

Meeting with Fotini Ioannidou (Director Mobility and Transport)

28 Jan 2025 · IACS presented an update of their activities.

Response to Compliance with Flag State requirements (shipping)

28 Aug 2023

IACS (International Association of Classification Societies) welcomes the proposals of the Maritime Safety Package, tabled by the European Commission DG MOVE on 1 June 2023. These are overall well-balanced and timely. Please find attached a few comments/clarifications that could help with implementing.
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Response to Port State control - Further improving safety, security and sustainability of maritime transport

28 Aug 2023

IACS (International Association of Classification Societies) welcomes the proposals of the Maritime Safety Package, tabled by the European Commission DG MOVE on 1 June 2023. These are overall well-balanced and timely. Please find attached a few comments/clarifications that could help with implementing.
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Response to Evaluation of the Ship Recycling Regulation

30 Jun 2022

IACS and its members have been consulted and involved in the setting-up of Regulation (EU) 1257/2013, the Ship Recycling Regulation (SRR). It is recalled that IACS (members') activities covered, among others, successful and close cooperation with EMSA on their guidance on IHM certificates (EMSA Guidance on the Inventory of Hazardous Materials). In addition, IACS took part in discussions related to the independent verifiers (see EU SRR workshop for independent verifiers, held on 31 May 2016) and our members supported the EC with studies (study on financial mechanism to facilitate safe and sound ship recycling, carried out by DNVGL). As to the parts that IACS (and its members) oversee, the Regulation is working. Some aspects of it could be refined in the future though and IACS is pleased to assist with this upcoming work. If the implementation of the regulation does not raise major difficulties for the members of the IACS, it should however be underlined that certain provisions concerning materials of annex II not covered by the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) raise questions of interpretation as to their applicability to non-EU flagged vessels. To reduce burden on relevant parties, a simplified procedure or requirement could be developed with regards to changing HKC IHM certificate into EU IHM certificate. Accordingly, “EMSA Guidance on IHM” and “EMSAs Best Practice Guidance on the Inventory of Hazardous Materials” should be updated. Similarly, the issuance of statements of compliance to third-party flag vessels under Article 12 may raise questions, with some flag States objecting to these SOCs being issued on their behalf. As an alternative, the statements of compliance issued by EU RO to third-party flag vessels might be considered equivalent. The guidance of EMSA is of great help in the implementation of this regulation. However, some of its wordings are more prescriptive than the regulation itself, e.g. requirements for sampling and analysis. An alignment of the texts would be opportune. While ship recycling facilities operating in the EU area approved by national authorities (MS), applications from shipyards located in third countries are assessed and approved by the European Commission. It is important that criteria, set out for yards to be included in the EU list, are clear, transparent and equivalent. In this regard, the “Communication from the Commission — Requirements and procedure for inclusion of facilities located in third countries in the European List of ship recycling facilities — Technical guidance note under Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013 on ship recycling” published in 2016 could be further improved. Moreover, the best possible balance should be found between the EU SRR and the HKC, with the mid-term objective to working towards internationally binding rules for ship recycling practices. On a more general note, IACS is pleased to share our recent "White Paper on the role of the independent verifier in EU environmental legislation" and to remain in ongoing and constructive dialogue with the EU regulators about defining this role in a legislative environment, where increasing reference and use is being made of independent verifiers.
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Response to FuelEU Maritime

8 Nov 2021

Please see enclosed IACS' comments.
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Meeting with Roxana Lesovici (Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean)

18 Mar 2020 · General Transport issues

Response to Revision of the Shipping MRV Regulation

31 Mar 2019

1) With regard to the data submission after verification, it is suggested to align the requirements of MRV regulations with IMO DCS, i.e. the verifier could submit the emission report to the EU through data exchange, rather than by the company itself, so as to reduce the burden on the companies. 2) Companies and the verifier have to register on the specified web site (http://emsa.europa.eu/ship-inspection-support/thetis-mrv.html) to report data and feedback verification results, and to issue electronic certificate. However, due to the different internet security levels and requirements of different countries, the website may not be logged in or the webpage opens very slowly, so the corresponding work cannot be completed as required. Is it possible that the EU may consider a more convenient way to carry out the corresponding operation ?
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Meeting with Silvia Bartolini (Cabinet of Vice-President Miguel Arias Cañete)

3 Sept 2015 · Energy Union and Climate

Meeting with Silvia Bartolini (Cabinet of Vice-President Miguel Arias Cañete)

3 Sept 2015 · Energy Union

Meeting with Friedrich-Nikolaus von Peter (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)

19 Jan 2015 · Role and challenges for shipping classification societies