The Indian register of Shipping commonly known as IRClass is an international ship classification society providing ship classification and technical inspection services.
For a simple understanding for our readers a ship classification society or ship classification organisation is a non-governmental organization that establishes and maintains technical standards for the construction and operation of ships and offshore structures.
Classification societies certify that the construction of a vessel comply with relevant standards and carry out regular surveys in service to ensure continuing compliance with the standards.
IRS providing Technical guidance to:
In Defence– Indian Navy & HSL
In Merchant Shipping– SCI, ONGC, Adani, Triumph offshore, DCI etc.
Currently, more than 50 organizations describe their activities as including marine classification, twelve of which are members of the International Association of Classification Societies. Although IRClass is the youngest member of the International Association of Classification societies, this Mumbai-headquartered organisation is supporting the growing Indian Maritime Industry and Indian Defence forces, in line with the Indian government’s policy of a self-reliant India – “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”.
IRClass in Defence
In respect to various complex new construction projects for the Indian Navy, ranging from a recently commissioned aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at Cochin Shipyard to 2 deep sea diving vessels (DSVs) at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, IRS has extended its expertise and technical guidance.
Some of their expertise range from plan approval to inspections at the construction site and also at the premises of OEMs.
Several major Indian Navy projects including Survey Vessels Large, Shallow water ASW Corvettes, Floating Dock, Semi-submersible pontoon, Cadet Training ships and various other auxiliary vessels are also being built under IRClass.
IRClass in Merchant Shipping
On the merchant shipping front, IRS is constantly involved in prominent new building and ship repairs for clients such as SCI, ONGC, Adani, Triumph offshore, DCI, Greatship India and Apeejay Shipping, both in India and abroad.
IRS is committed to decarbonization and the study of alternate fuels, for which several initiatives have been taken in this direction. The organisation has undertaken successful sea trials for two vessels which use biofuels, in concurrence with the Indian flag Administration. IRS also classed India’s first LNG-FSRU (Floating Storage Regasification Unit). This marked a clear milestone in India’s energy shift towards natural gas. Another vessel, a hybrid catamaran (battery powered) ferry – ‘Water Metro-01’, is the first in a series of 23 vessels being built under IRS class supervision and was delivered recently.
IRClass in Vizag/Andhra Pradesh
In Vizag, IRS maintains a strong team of surveyors along with a site office at Kakinada. An array of complex projects is being handled by the Vizag team. The 2 DSVs being built under IRS naval rules were simultaneously launched at HSL. In addition, 08 70-ton Tugs were delivered in the past year for
Adani Harbour Service Limited which were being built at Kanagawa Dockyard Limited, Kobe, Japan. The project was handled by Vizag surveyors, who also delivered one 120 m Product Carrier which was being built at Kampala, Uganda, Africa.
IRS in Andhra Pradesh
Has a strong team of surveyors along with a site office at Kakinada
IRS in Vizag extending support to Visakhapatnam Port Authority for existing fleet of port crafts
Vessel “Nirmal” recently awarded a certificate of class
Container certification under IRS is being done at Vijayawada
This will be deployed on Lake Victoria between Uganda and Kenya. Recently 03 bulk carriers of SCI underwent drydocking surveys by IRS at Hindustan Shipyard Limited. The ONGC’s offshore drilling vessel “Sagar Bhushan” is also undergoing major repairs and modification surveys under IRS. With the total number of ships classed with IRS reaching a milestone of 2000 – and Vizag being one of busiest ports of India – large number of ships are attended for annual and intermediate surveys at the ports of Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram and Kakinada.
IRS at Vizag has now extended its support to Visakhapatnam Port Trust by providing classification services to the existing fleet of port crafts. Vessel “Nirmal” was recently awarded a certificate of class.IRS also extended its expertise to the Navy with the installation of three new dry dock gates in the Naval Dockyard, along with delivery of several pontoons.
