In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has revoked the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping’s (RMRS) membership. Last Friday, the IACS Council resolved to approve a Resolution withdrawing membership with immediate effect.
The decision comes following “external legal advice” in response to sanctions in the UK where IACS is located.
“IACS deeply regrets the circumstances that have resulted in this decision and hope that hostilities in Ukraine will cease as soon as possible and that peace will return to the region,” IACS said in a statement.
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) is made up of eleven-member marine classification societies that represent more than 90% of the world’s cargo carrying tonnage. American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Bureau Veritas (BV), Croatian Register of Shipping (CRS), China Classification Society (CCS), DNV, Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass), Lloyd’s Register (LR), Korean Register of Shipping (KR), ClassNK, Polish Register of Shipping (PRS), and Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) are some of the classification societies.
Lloyd’s Register, based in London, and DNV, based in Denmark, have both indicated that they will no longer provide class services to Russian firms.
