Armoda’s portable accommodation modules and technical buildings are deployed to support a wide range of offshore vessels. Each of these vessels sails under a flag state and is classed by a governing body to ensure that they operate legally and safely in the task the vessel is built for. In this article, we will cover what getting a vessel flag state means and what the various offshore vessel classifications are. 

Vessel Flag State

What Is a Flag State?

A flag state refers to the country where a company registers commercial and merchant ships. The term originates from ships registering with a specific nation and subsequently flying that nation's flag to indicate their registration.

What Is the Role of the Flag State?

The flag state's primary role is to conduct regular inspections of its registered ships to ensure the safety of their crew members and cargo. Additionally, the flag state collects taxes from these vessels and regulates pollution levels associated with its fleet. Ships, in turn, must comply with all policies enforced by the country where they are registered. Flag states hold significant power and are crucial in influencing and safeguarding maritime environments.

Registering With a Flag State

Ship owners can choose the country where they register their vessels. They can register their vessel under any flag and are not obligated to register in their country of residence. These registrations, called flags of convenience, provide certain incentives such as tax benefits, port access advantages, and regulatory concessions. Approximately 73% of ships operate under a flag of convenience, with Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands being the top three flag states. Interestingly, a nation need not be a coastal state to serve as a flag state.

To register with a flag state, vessels must adhere to specific standards issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the flag state itself. Ships must provide certifications verifying compliance with these standards, including those related to equipment, construction, and radio safety.

Vessel Classes

Vessel classification is a key process in ensuring that offshore vessels meet the required safety, environmental, and operational standards. Classification societies set the technical standards for vessel design, construction, and maintenance, while flag states oversee the registration and operational compliance of offshore vessels. 

Classification Society

Classification societies are non-governmental organizations that serve the maritime industry by establishing and maintaining the standards by which vessels and offshore facilities are built and operate. Meeting these classification requirements and obtaining a society’s certification is almost always required to obtain a flag state. Over 50 different classification societies provide these services around the globe.

International Association of Classification Societies (IACS)

To foster and promote uniformity across these societies, the idea of bringing the major societies together has been suggested. For 38 years (1930-1968), the idea grew from its initial conception at the International Convention on Load Lines of 1930. In 1939, at the Registro Italiano Navale, the major societies were invited, and they agreed to further the cooperation between the societies. The societies continued to meet, and in 1968, the IACS was formed. Today, twelve societies are members:

• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
• Bureau Veritas (BV)
• China Classification Society (CCS)
• Croatian Register of Shipping (CRS)
• Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
• Indian Register of Shipping (IRS)
• Korean Register (KR)
• Lloyd’s Register (LR)
• Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK)
• Polish Register of Shipping (PRS)
• RINA Services S.p.A. (RINA)
• Turk Loydu

These societies work together to develop and implement regulations and classifications to enable practical self-regulation of the maritime industry. They accomplish this by establishing, reviewing, promoting and developing minimum technical requirements for ship and facility design, construction, maintenance, and survey.

The IACS works on a circular cycle to develop and continually improve classification requirements. The cycle goes: Rules, Design Approval, Approved Plans, Survey During Construction, Survey in Service, Feedback, and Research; then, the cycle is repeated with new technologies and incorporation of feedback into the updated rules. This cycle is used to continually improve the safety and environmental impact of all the ships and facilities that obtain classification.

As an American-based company, many of our modules support US-flagged vessels and facilities that receive certification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). The ABS provides class services for global marine, global offshore, and global government.

Global Marine:

Their global marine class services cover commercial vessels that include Tankers, Container Ships, Bulk Carriers, Gas Carriers, Shuttle Tankers, Yatchs, and Inland Vessels.

Global Offshore:

Global offshore focuses on offshore energy production, providing class services for production vessels, floating production storage and offloading (FSPO), offshore supply vessels (OSV), exploration vessels, and offshore wind vessels.

Global Government:

Global government provides governments and government agencies with guidance in the marine and offshore sectors.

In addition to providing guidance and classing to the vessels, these societies also offer these services for temporary units or additions to existing vessels. This includes portable accommodation modules and technical buildings like the ones Armoda provides. To better understand how this classification cycle works for these modules, you can check out our article How Portable Accommodation Modules Get ABS Certified. In the article, we reviewed how our modules work through the classification process and obtain their class certifications.

The flagging and classification of offshore vessels and facilities is a critical process that ensures the safety, legality, and efficiency of maritime operations. By adhering to these standards, vessels can confidently operate, knowing they meet international regulations and best practices. Hopefully, you will better understand a vessel's flag state and class and its role in the marine industry. Contact Armoda today to learn how we help our customers when it comes to classification.