International ship classification body withdraws Russia’s membership

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has withdrawn the membership of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping’s (RMRS) amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

IACS Council voted to adopt a Resolution withrawing the membership with immediate effect last Friday.

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 hopes that hostilities in Ukraine will cease as soon as possible, and that peace will return to the region,” IACS said in a statement.

IACS consists of eleven-member marine classification societies representing more than 90% of the world’s cargo carrying tonnage. The classification societies include American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Bureau Veritas (BV), Croation 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).

London-based Lloyd’s Register and Norway’s DNV had previously announced withdrawing class services to Russian entities. ABS said Monday it was also withdrawing all services “involving Russian vessels, assets and companies.”