Lloyd's Register

Lloyd's Register Group Limited (LR) is a technical and business services organisation and a maritime classification society, wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and engineering. The organisation dates to 1760. Its stated aims are to enhance the safety of life, property, and the environment, by helping its clients (including by validation, certification, and accreditation) to ensure the quality construction and operation of critical infrastructure.

Not to be confused with Lloyds Bank, Lloyd's of London, or Lloyd's List.

Lloyd's Register Group Limited
TypeCompany limited by shares. Sole shareholder is the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK registered charity.
IndustryMaritime and shipping
Energy
Management systems
Manufacturing inspection
Food
Cyber security
GenreIndependent risk management organisation and classification society
Founded1760 (1760)
Headquarters
71 Fenchurch Street, London
,
United Kingdom
Number of locations
Worldwide
Area served
Global
Key people
Thomas Thune Andersen (Chairman)
Alastair Marsh (CEO)
Nick Brown (Marine & Offshore Director)
David Clark (Energy Director)
Paul Butcher (Director, Business Assurance and Inspection Services)
ServicesClassification
Risk management
Management systems certification
Revenue£868 million[1]
£18 million
OwnerIndependent
Number of employees
8,000
ParentLloyd's Register Foundation, UK registered charity[2]
SubsidiariesNettitude , Hanseaticsoft
Websitewww.lr.org

Historically, as Lloyd's Register of Shipping, it was a specifically maritime organisation. During the late 20th century, it diversified into other industries including oil and gas, process industries, nuclear, and rail. Through its 100% subsidiary Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Ltd (LRQA), it is also a major vendor of independent assessment services, including management systems certification for quality certification to ISO9001, ISO14001 and OSHAS18001. Lloyd's Register is unaffiliated with Lloyd's of London.[3]

In July 2012, the organisation converted from an industrial and provident society to a company limited by shares, named Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, with the new Lloyd’s Register Foundation as the sole shareholder. At the same time the organisation gave to the Foundation a substantial bond and equity portfolio to assist it with its charitable purposes. It will benefit from continued funding from the group’s operating arm, Lloyd’s Register Group Limited.

Origin

The organisation was named after a 17th-century coffee house in London that was frequented by merchants, marine underwriters, and others, all men associated with shipping. The coffee house owner, Edward Lloyd, helped them to exchange information by circulating a printed sheet of all the news he heard. In 1760, the Register Society was formed by the customers of the coffee house who assembled the Register of Shipping, the first known register of its type. Between 1800 and 1833, a dispute between shipowners and underwriters resulted in each group publishing a list—the "Red Book" and the "Green Book".[4] Both parties came to the verge of bankruptcy. They reached agreement in 1834 to unite and form Lloyd’s Register of British and Foreign Shipping, establishing a General Committee and charitable values. In 1914, with an increasingly international outlook, the organisation changed its name to Lloyd's Register of Shipping.

The Register

The Society printed the first Register of Ships in 1764 in order to give both underwriters and merchants an idea of the condition of the vessels they insured and chartered: ship hulls were graded by a lettered scale (A being the best), and ship's fittings (masts, rigging, and other equipment) were graded by number (1 being the best). Thus the best classification "A1", from which the expression A1 or A1 at Lloyd's is derived, first appeared in the 1775–76 edition of the Register.

The Register, with information on all seagoing, self-propelled merchant ships of 100 gross tonnes or greater, is published annually. A vessel remains registered with Lloyd's Register until she is sunk, wrecked, hulked, scrapped or withdrawn from the register by the vessels owner.

The Register was published formerly by the joint venture company of Lloyd's Register-Fairplay, which was formed in July 2001 by the merger of Lloyd's Register's Maritime Information Publishing Group and Prime Publications Limited. Lloyd's Register sold its share of the venture to IHS Markit in 2009.

Classification rules
The Lloyd's Register load line on the hull of the Cutty Sark

Lloyd's Register provides quality assurance and certification for ships, offshore structures, and shore-based installations such as power stations and railway infrastructure. However, Lloyd's Register is known best for the classification and certification of ships, and inspects and approves important components and accessories, including life-saving appliances, marine pollution prevention, fire protection, navigation, radio communication equipment, deck gear, cables, ropes, and anchors.[5]

LR's Rules for Ships

LR's Rules for Ships are derived from principles of naval architecture and marine engineering, and govern safety and operational standards for numerous merchant, military, and privately owned vessels. LR's Rules govern a number of topics including:

  • Materials used for construction of the vessel
  • Ship structural requirements and minimum scantlings, depending on ship type
  • Operation and maintenance of main and auxiliary machinery
  • Operation and maintenance of emergency and control systems

Specific editions of the rules are available to cater for merchant ships, naval ships, trimarans, special purpose vessels and offshore structures.[6] A ship is known as being in class if she meets all the minimum requirements of LR's Rules, and such a status affects the possibility of a ship getting insurance. Class can be withdrawn from a ship if she is in violation of any regulations and does not maintain the minimum requirements specified by the company. However, exceptional circumstances may warrant special dispensation from Lloyd's Register. Any alteration to the vessel, whether it is a structural alteration or machinery, must be approved by Lloyd's Register before it is implemented.

Ships are inspected on a regular basis by a team of Lloyd's Register surveyors, one of the most important inspections being a ship's load line survey – due once every five years. Such a survey includes an inspection of the hull to make sure that the load line has not been altered. Numerous other inspections such as the condition of hatch and door seals, safety barriers, and guard rails are also performed. Upon completion the ship is allowed to be operated for another year, and is issued a load line certificate.

Rules and regulations

Lloyd’s Register provide a list of rules and regulations to the public.

List of regulations:

Location
Lloyd's Register building

Lloyd's Register's main office is located in London at 71 Fenchurch Street. Lloyd's Register also maintains other offices globally, including Hong Kong and Houston, Texas, US.

Influence in Austria

In 1833 the Österreichischer Lloyd ("Austrian Lloyd") company was formed in the then-Austrian port city of Trieste, consciously modeling itself on the British company and seeking to publish a similar register. Later it also became an important shipping line.

References
  1. "Lloyd's Register Group Review 2018" (PDF). Lr.org. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
  2. Lloyd's Register Foundation
  3. "Are you the same as Lloyd's of London?". Lloyd's Register. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  4. Michael Palmer, Lloyd's Register of Shipping, online, read 29 October 2011
  5. "Anchor Certification, HHP & SHHP Classification, and Type Approval". Petersmith.net.nz. Retrieved 2012-01-31.
  6. "Lloyd's Register publications". Lloyd's. September 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
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