Classification societies are appointed by the Government of the Netherlands to act on its behalf. They are also called recognised organisations (ROs). In the Netherlands, they carry out ship inspections and issue certificates.
Inspections and certification by classification societies
Ships that fly the Dutch flag, or plan to fly the Dutch flag, are inspected by classification societies when they are first registered. After that, they are inspected at regular intervals. These inspections check whether the ship meets the rules and whether its certificates can be renewed.
Classification societies also issue certificates under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
Instructions for classification societies
The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) has issued instructions for classification societies operating in the Netherlands.
There are different instructions for:
- Ships covered by international conventions.
- Ships that are not covered by international conventions. These are called non-convention ships.
The instructions are included in the Netherlands Regulatory Framework (NeRF):
- For non-convention ships, see ItoRO no. 02 - Inspections and Certification Non-Convention ships.
- For ships being registered under the Dutch flag, see ItoRO no. 06 - Transfer of ships to Netherlands' registry.
- If a ship cannot, or temporarily cannot meet its certification requirements, see ItoRO no. 15 - Reporting and procedure for non-compliance.
If a ship does not meet the rules
If a ship does not meet the rules, the classification society must withdraw the long-term certificate on behalf of the ILT. It may then issue a short-term certificate or a statutory condition. This document explains what measures must be taken or what extra equipment is needed to meet the rules. The short-term certificate or statutory condition also states the time limit for correcting the deficiencies.
To prevent delays, the classification society may issue short term certificates or statutory conditions outside normal office hours without consulting the ILT in advance. The ILT must be informed afterwards.
If local authorities ask for confirmation, refer to the statement below.
Appeal
If you disagree with a decision made by a classification society, you may appeal to the ILT. You must send your appeal in writing within 6 weeks of the date of the decision. Include the following information in your appeal:
- Your name and address.
- The date of the decision.
- A description of the decision to which the appeal is directed.
- The grounds for the appeal, stating why you disagree with the decision.
- Your signature.
Address
You can send the appeal by post to:
Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT)
Legal Affairs Department
Postbus 16191
2500 BD Den Haag
the Netherlands
Or send an email to bezwarenilt@ilent.nl