Tasneef, Dubai Drydocks Partner For Classification Services

It was recently announced that Tasneef Emirates Classification, the first classification society in GCC as well as Arab World, and Dubai Drydocks World have entered into a partnership to begin regulating merchant vessels; which will be the first service of its kind in the Middle Eastern region. The partnership will consist of providing classification services to merchant vessels using the country's ports. In addition, this agreement could also encourage more ship owners to register their vessels to sail under the UAE flag, which can help boost the shipping and container sector significantly in the Middle Eastern region.

Under the new agreement between Tasneef and Dubai Drydocks, there will be mass construction of ships, and ships will be able to obtain shipping surveys and certificates, something they need to do to get insurance. More importantly, the agreement would significantly boost national shipping services and also provide support to firms in the UAE's rapidly expanding and lucrative shipbuilding and repair sector. Lloyd's Register, a maritime classification society, had an operating income of £893 million last year, up 3.4 per cent from 2011. Although there are more than 60 established classification societies around the world, only 13 operate under the banner of the global International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). Currently, UAE-based vessels can follow regulations provided by any IACS-accredited society. Additionally, the work of authorizing ships is mostly shared between five long-established societies; Lloyd's, Bureau Veritas, the American Bureau of Shipping, the Norway-based Det Norske Veritas and the Japanese body Nippon Kaiji Kyokai.

With Tasneef already recognized by the International Maritime Organisation through the UAE's National Transport Authority, the company has now set its sights on becoming a member of the IACS, before the end of 2013. Moreover, in January (2013), Tasneef announced that it would be forming a three-year partnership with the Italian-based classification society Rina Group and would be adopting its classification system in the hopes of setting up its own society.