Indian Register of Shipping to expand footprint in SE Asia

Indian Register of Shipping, a Mumbai-based globally recognised ship classification society, is expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, its top official said here.
The Southeast Asian expansion of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) will be managed from the regional office in Singapore, its chairman and managing director Arun Sharma said here yesterday.
Expansion in Hong Kong, with an office, will be managed from China, where IRClass has been operating for several years, he said.
Sharma said IRClass is also in the process of discussing recognised organisation (RO) status with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore for serving Singapore flag vessels.

The Singapore flag is ranked fifth in the world with more than 4,500 vessels of over 80 million gross registered tonnes.
IRClass yesterday held its inaugural meeting of Singapore Advisory Panel, drawing executives from across the maritime sectors.

This panel will advise IRClass and help boost its business across Asian maritime sector.
The Singapore flag will complete the 26-flag global RO for IRClass, which currently classifies under 25 flags.
Stressing the importance of the Southeast Asian maritime region, Sharma said the Malaysian office will be opened in the near future, while Bangkok office is already in operation.
The regional operation will also cover flagging of vessels in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam where the society will open offices.

"IRClass is expected to get recognition from the European Union, which would complement its global portfolio of already being an international classification society," he said.
"We are expecting recognition by the European Union during their October meeting," Sharma said.
IRClass submitted application for EU recognition in November, 2013.
In India, it is also looking forward to joint dual flagging of heavy-duty vessels such as Liquefied Natural Gas ships and Floating Storage and Regasification Units, the presence of which will be increasing in the country in the coming years.
Founded in 1975, IRClass is a full member of the International Association of Classification Societies since 2010.