Classification societies are very important to the shipping industry. They formulate technical and operational standards for the design, construction, measurement and testing of different types of ships, transport ships and offshore structures, review the compliance requirements of ships and issue class certificates. The top ten classification societies in the world are DNV (Norwegian Register of Shipping), ABS (american bureau of shipping), NK (Japanese Register of Shipping), LR (Lloyds Register of Shipping), BV (French Register of Shipping), CCS (China Register of Shipping), KR (Korean Register of Shipping), Rina (Italian Register of Shipping), RS (Russian Register of Shipping) and IRClass (Indian Register of Shipping). 1. DNV-Norske Veritas, the largest classification society, formerly DNV GL, is the largest classification society in the world. It was established in 2013, after two famous classification societies, namely, Norske Veritas, headquartered in Norway, and Lloyds Register, headquartered in Germany, merged into one entity. In 2021, DNV GL removed its surname and changed its name to DNV, while maintaining its original organizational and functional structure. It sets specific standards for ships and offshore ships, which are called grade rules. DNV operates in more than 100 countries/regions, with more than 13,000 employees from different cultures and nationalities and more than 350 administrative offices around the world. The organization provides various services for many industries outside the maritime sector. It occupies a prominent position in oil and gas, innovation and research and development of renewable energy systems, modern power solutions and health departments. The classification society provides services for more than 14,000 ships and offshore structures worth 265 million tons, accounting for 21% of the global market share. The history of this organization can be traced back to 1864, when it was founded in Oslo, Norway, and was responsible for inspecting the operation of Norwegian merchant ships. Since then, it has made remarkable progress by providing testing and grade certification for ships, offshore installations and technical services.

2. ABS-american bureau of shipping
Founded in 1862, American Bureau Of Shipping, also known as ABS in the shipping industry, is a classification society headquartered in the United States. It outlines the objectives of protecting human life and property as well as the marine and coastal environment. To this end, the society has formulated and formulated specific standards for the design, construction and functional maintenance of ships and offshore equipment.

ABS has formulated its technical and operational framework, which is called "ABS Regulations and Guidelines", and various marine vessels and offshore structures are evaluated and classified according to these rules.

The main business services provided by ABS include the global classification of marine ships, offshore ships and oil and gas industries. According to the records in 2020, it became the second largest classification society, with more than 12,000 ships and offshore structures operating in the commercial maritime field.

3. NK-Japan Classification Society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai was established in 1899, and it is a classification society of shipping industry, also known as ClassNK or NK for short. It is a non-profit non-governmental organization, which aims to ensure the safety of human life and property in the ocean and safeguard the well-being of the marine ecosystem. It is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and has many offices in major cities in Japan and around the world. It is reported that in December 2021, NK owned 9,124 ships with a gross tonnage of over 267 million tons, accounting for 20% of the current global merchant ships. It operates globally through an extensive network of survey officers working in shipbuilding and maintenance units of all major port facilities. Therefore, all major ports provide the services of the Association. There are about 130 administrative offices in the community, which are responsible for conducting surveys to monitor the compliance of all ships and offshore units with social rules. Structural features such as hull type, propulsion, electrical function and navigation equipment are all within the specified range. ClassNK has been authorized by more than 100 countries/regions to provide many services for maritime departments, including environmental and safety systems, and undertake technical and research projects. It also conducts business in other fields, providing services for different customers, including management, technical operation of offshore equipment, engineering solutions and so on.

4. LR-Llyods Register or LR is a classification society that provides commercial and other technical services for the marine industry. Founded in 1760, Lloyds Register Foundation is the holding company of Lloyds Register Foundation, a global independent charity organization headquartered in Britain, which aims to protect life and property on land, sea and air, aviation and engineering through its extensive research and innovative global technology in the scientific field. In the marine field, the organization aims to provide long-term services for managing customers ships and offshore structures to maximize productivity and eliminate redundancy, while giving priority to maritime safety issues and marine environmental regulations. In addition, the organization conducts business around the world through its international employees, and helps customer groups identify operational risks through surveys. It has branches in more than 182 countries/regions to assist customers in building and operating their maritime assets, while ensuring the greatest technical competitiveness and observing maritime safety and effectiveness through its classification standards and operating rules.

5. BV-Bureau Veritas, a French classification society, is one of the worlds leading classification societies and a founding member of the International Association of Classification Societies. It was established in Antwerp, Belgium in 1828 to serve the maritime sector; However, it has extended its functions to laboratory testing, inspection and certification. Today, the headquarters of the Association is located in Paris, France. The association has been in operation for 190 years, with 2,650 maritime and offshore experts and serving about 140 countries/regions through its 550 offices. BV-class fleet has more than 11,500 ships, 180 survey stations, 19 local map review offices and 6 maritime operation centers. It strives to provide customers with the support, expertise and knowledge needed to effectively manage and operate assets, while adhering to environmental protection and social responsibility. It lists the specific rules for designing and building different types of merchant ships, passenger ships, work ships and other ships. The association provides many services, such as drawing review of new ship design and technical investigation of shipyards. Experts also directly evaluate the quality of materials and other equipment. They also supervise the sea trials of ships to ensure that they meet the classification rules specified by the classification society. Bureau Veritas regularly updates its rules to support the safety and innovation of the shipping industry.

6. CCS-China Classification Society, founded in 1956, is a non-profit organization headquartered in Beijing, China. The main services provided by the association in the marine industry include classified surveys of ships and offshore assets. It also provides services to the administrative departments of China and other governments, aiming at providing classified services and technical expertise by developing the latest technologies. The Association is authorized by 58 countries with national flags and has global business through its branches in more than 129 countries/regions. In addition to providing services for the shipping industry, it has also set foot in the financial industry, engaged in the research and technical development of marine resources, and supervised commercial projects, renewable energy and reduced carbon emissions for customers. It occasionally gives advice to the China government in formulating maritime trade policies, and constantly expands its scope in new areas.

7. KR-Korean Register, a classification society established in 1960, is headquartered in Busan, South Korea. It is a non-profit enterprise, and its work agenda is outlined as ensuring maritime safety and protecting marine ecosystems by developing green technologies in shipbuilding industry. KR is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies, with a fleet of more than 2,840 ships with a total registered tonnage of 60 million. It has been authorized by the competent authorities of more than 65 flag States to classify its ships and offshore structures. In addition to providing services in Korea, the Association has 68 administrative offices around the world, conducted technical business in more than 100 countries/regions, and owned all major port facilities. Although it provides classification services, it has an important influence in the field of maritime research, which can outline more relevant classification laws and regulations and meet the new challenges of marine industry.

8. Rina-Italian Classification Society
RINA is a classification society established in Genoa, Italy in 1861. It is one of the oldest organizations providing ship classification, certification, maintenance and technical services in the world, providing technical assistance to customers in the design, construction, management and measurement of ships, cruise ships, yachts and offshore structures. It outlines its goal, which is to make significant progress in the commercial shipping industry by helping customers achieve better operational standards in asset security and productivity.

It has about 200 administrative offices in 70 countries/regions and 4,000 experts. RINA has expanded its business scope to include other sectors, such as industry, electricity and power sector. It focuses on providing customers with green and environmentally sustainable solutions.

In the marine field, RINA spreads sustainable technologies focusing on reducing carbon emissions, which is reflected in the classification rules of society. Finally, the community has been authorized by the governments of 116 flag States to conduct investigations in their territories.

9. RS-Russian maritime register of shipping, established in 1913 and authorized by 69 flag governments, is related to icebreakers and deals with icebreaking and resistance technologies in the maritime field. It has been an active member of the International Association of Classification Societies since 1969. Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia, it has about 1,500 officials in more than 100 branches around the world, providing classified services to customers. The association outlined the objectives of ensuring the best maritime safety and operational standards and formulated rules to reduce marine pollution. More than 6,000 ships from 40 different flag countries have been certified by the Association.

10. IRClass- Indian Classification Society
Indian Register of Shipping, also known as IRClass, is a classification society with international reputation and recognition. It is a non-profit independent organization, founded in India in 1975, and became part of the International Association of Classification Societies and the Classification Societies of Croatia and Poland.

IRClass provides classification services for marine ships and offshore structures, and implements advanced standards and standards for the construction and maintenance of ships and other shipping machinery. It also serves the energy sector and the engineering industry. The association assists the Indian government and provides grade certificates to Indian flagship ships. It has 25 administrative offices in Indias coastal cities, providing convenient measurement and inspection facilities for all major ports in India. The Association also has many offices in other countries, such as Bangladesh, Thailand, South Korea, China, the United States and Britain.