Class Notation

Class notation is a notion to state the vessel special capability and characteristic. It differs from one ship to another and are dependent on the class that are used by the vessel. However, generally different class have will have the same special function and characteristic but different notation. Examples of notation is as below as according to stated rules:

BV rules:

1. COMF-NOISE x: Comfort on board, noise level, "x" is 1,2 or 3. 1 being the most comfortable level for passenger.
2. COMF-VIB x: Comfort on board, vibration level, "x" is 1,2 or 3. 1 being the most comfortable level for passenger.
3. ICE: Ice class vessel. The structural strength of the vessel is strengthened to withstand the navigation on extreme weather in artic area. This notation also will be applied to ship that sails in the Baltic Sea during winter.
4. CLEANSHIP: Notation for ship that have sea and air pollution prevention system
5. CLEANSHIP SUPER: Notation given to ship that have at least 3 eligible pollution prevention system.
6. AWT: Advance wastewater system. Ship is fitted with advance wastewater treatment plant which clean filter both black water and grey water. Eligible for CLEANSHIP SUPER
7. BWT: Ship is fitted with ballast water treatment plant. Eligible for CLEANSHIP SUPER
8. EGCS-SRUBBER: Ship is fitted with exhaust gas cleaning system using scrubber. Eligible for CLEANSHIP SUPER
9. GWT: fitted with grey water treatment plant. Eligible for CLEANSHIP SUPER
10. OWS-x ppm: fitted with Oily water separator with "x" ppm. Eligible for CLEANSHIP SUPER
11. I: (roman numeral one). Assigned to ship that built to the BV class requirement or other recognized rules that are equivalent. The ship is also maintained as per class rules.
12. II: (roman numeral two). Assigned to ship that do not meet all requirement for class symbol, but are deemed acceptable to be entered into Register of Ships.
13. HULL: hull construction mark
14. MACH: Machinery installation construction mark

Construction Mark:

1. ✠ - (Maltese cross). The symbol is assigned to relevant part of ship (usually HULL and MACH) denoting that they have been surveyed during construction and are built according to the rules.
2. • - (Bullet). The symbol is assigned to relevant part of ship (usually HULL and MACH) denoting that they have been surveyed other than (1) above. Usually, this symbol means that the surveyor will check anything that they want.

Service notation:

1. Anchor Handling Vessel: Notation given to ship of suitable type
2. Barge:  Notation given to ship of suitable type
3. Bulk Carrier:  Notation given to ship of suitable type
4. Dredger:  Notation given to ship of suitable type
5. Fishing Vessel:  Notation given to ship of suitable type
6. General Cargo Ship:  Notation given to ship of suitable type
7. Oil Tanker:  Notation given to ship of suitable type
8. Tug:  Notation given to ship of suitable type

And many more. It is best to refer specific class for their notation. Notation can vastly differ and mutually same.

Example of vessel class notation:

I, ✠HULL, ✠MACH, OIL TANKER FP<60°C, BWT, OWS-15ppm,

Class built ship with hull and machinery approved by BV, Oil Tanker ship carrying product with flashpoint lower than 60°C, equipped with ballast water treatment system and oily water separator of 15ppm

IACS Member

International Association of Classification Society (IACS) or commonly known as class is an organization that 

promoting the safety of life, the environment  through the regulation of compliance with rules in their technical and engineering standards for the design, construction and life-cycle maintenance of ships and everything man made on sea.

Class is basically the guidance for all marine vehicle for safety and environmental conservation. There are currently twelve (12) IACS member throughout the world. The List is as per below:

1. American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
2. Bureau Veritas (BV)
3. China Classification Society (CCS)
4. Croatian Register of Shipping (CRS)
5. Det Norske Veritas Germanischer Lloyd (DNV GL)
6. Indian Register of Shipping (IRS)
7. Korean Register of Shipping (KR)
8. Lloyd's Register (LR)
9. Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK/ClassNK)
10. Polish Register of Shipping (PRS)
11. Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
12. Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS)

There are however classification society that are not a member of IACS. These is due to the fact that to become IACS member, classification society must meet a certain requirement that are quite high. Below are some list for classification society that are not IACS Member:

1. Hellenic Register of Shipping
2. Bulgarian Register of Shipping
3. Turk Loydu
4. Vietnam Register
5. Asia Classification Society
6. Ships Classification Malaysia
7. Guardian Bureau of Shipping
8. Overseas Marine Certification Services
9. Venezuelan Register of Shipping
10. Pacific Marine Services

The classification society listed above usually is used for ship that sail in territorial waters as a guide for smaller ship in order to maintain safety at sea, whereas IACS member classification society are used for international waters. However it is not exclusive and non-IACS member class can be used in international water if they have the rules for it. As a conclusion, it all depend on the class itself and the vessel owner if they have the rules and guidance for the vessel.

Material Type for Pipes

Material	Allowable classes	Maximum design temperature (1)	Particular conditions of use
Carbon and  carbon-manganese steels	III, II, I	400 (2)	Class I and II pipes are to be seamless drawn pipes (3)
Copper and  aluminium brass	III, II, I	200	Not to be used in fuel oil systems, except for class III pipes of a diameter not exceeding 25 mm not passing through fuel oil tanks
Copper-nickel	III, II, I	300	Not to be used for boiler blow-down valves and pieces for connection to the shell plating
Special high temperature resistant bronze	III, II, I	260	(4)
Stainless steel	III, II, I	300	Austenitic stainless steel is not to be used for sea water systems
Spheroidal graphite cast iron	III, II (5)	350	Minimum elongation is not to be less than 12% on a gauge length of 5,65.S0,5, where S is the actual cross-sectional area of the test piece  Not to be used for boiler blow-down valves and pieces for connection to the shell plating
Grey cast iron	III  II (6)	220	Grey cast iron is not to be used for the following systems:  boiler blow-down systems and other piping systems subject to shocks, high stresses and vibrations  bilge lines in tanks  parts of scuppers and sanitary discharge systems located next to the hull below the freeboard deck or for passengers ships below the bulkhead deck  ship side valves and fittings  valves fitted on the collision bulkhead  valves fitted to fuel oil and lubricating oil tanks under static pressure head  class II fuel oil systems and thermal oil systems
Aluminium and  aluminium alloys	III, II	200	Aluminium and aluminium alloys are not to be used on the following systems:  flammable oil systems  sounding and air pipes of fuel oil tanks  fire-extinguishing systems  bilge system in boiler or machinery spaces or in spaces containing fuel oil tanks or pumping units  scuppers and overboard discharges except for pipes led to the bottoms or to the shell above the freeboard deck or fitted at their upper end with closing means operated from a position above the freeboard deck  boiler blow-down valves and pieces for connection to the shell plating

( 1 )    

Maximum design temperature is not to exceed that assigned to the class of piping. 

( 2 )    

Higher temperatures may be accepted if metallurgical behaviour and time dependent strength (ultimate tensile strength after 100 000 hours) are in accordance with national or international standards or specifications and if such values are guaranteed by the steel manufacturer. 

( 3 )    

Pipes fabricated by a welding procedure approved by the Society may also be used. 

( 4 )    

Pipes made of copper and copper alloys are to be seamless. 

( 5 )    

Use of spheroidal cast iron for class I piping systems will be given special consideration by the Society. 

( 6 )    

Use of grey cast iron is not allowed when the design pressure exceeds 1,3 MPa.