ABOUT
US
HRS
is a non-governmental International Organization, dedicated to the safeguarding
of life and property at sea, the prevention of marine pollution and
the quality assurance in industry. Since its foundation in 1919, Hellenic
Register of Shipping (H.R.S.) has developed a network of survey offices
worldwide, manned mostly by exclusive surveyors.
H.R.S.
serves the international maritime and industrial communities offering
the following services:
1. Surveys
and classification of all types of vessels and offshore installations.
2. Supervision
and plan approval of newbuildings, conversions, and/or modifications
of vessels, offshore installations, machinery, boilers and industrial
components and materials.
3. Statutory
surveys and issuance of relevant certificates on behalf of 28 Governments.
4. Safety
Management Certification of ship Managing companies as well as their
ships in compliance with the ISM Code.
5. Quality
Systems certification in compliance with the ISO 9000 series standards.
6. Environmental
Management Systems Certification against the ISO 14001 standard.
7. Publication
and codification of technical rules and regulations.
8. Certification
in compliance with International Ship & Port Facility Security Code.
In May
1994, the society made available its revised Rules and Regulations in
line with the IMO resolutions and the IACS Unified Requirements. The
majority of newbuildings and ships submitted to conversion or modification
in the Greek Shipyards are made under HRS’ supervision. It is
to be noted that most ships of the Hellenic Navy built in Greece, are
under HRS’ supervision.
The Society
has signed official agreements with major international Classification
Societies for mutual representation and exchange of technology.H.R.S.
acts as a consultant to the Hellenic Ministry of Merchant Marine on
technical matters and participates as the permanent technical adviser
to the Greek IMO Delegation and to other governmental delegations.
Having
expanded its services, HRS has succeeded to supervise the building of
almost all kinds of metallic constructions in Greece and abroad, while
it has been accredited as a Notified Body to inspect and certify a variety
of products, i.e.: lifting appliances; scaffolds; pressure vessels;
boilers; machines; recreational staff.Its activities in the industrial
field are constantly expanding, following the increasing relevant requirements
of the European Union and of the market.
Also, HRS
plays a leading role in the Research and Development of the maritime
industry, participating in several research programs in cooperation
with many Greek and foreign institutes.
Finally,
the Society follows all developments in maritime legislation and marine
technology and updates its technical personnel accordingly, keeping
at the same time, close contact with its clients and informing them
on the above matters.
1.1
Brief history
Hellenic
Register of Shipping, founded in 1919, is the continuity and the development
of the "Veritas Hellenique et Reglements de Classification des
Navires", which was established back in 1870 by the "Banque
Maritime Archange". In spite of the various constraints and problems
it encountered during this stormy and restless period in the eastern
Mediterranean, it has been able to survive, grow up and gain expertise,
knowledge and experience in the marine classification and surveying
sector. The Greek Maritime Administration has granted official recognition
since 1919,the year it was established and embodied HRS in the national
shipping infrastructure system.
1.2
HRS mission
The mission
of HRS is " to serve the interest
and the needs of the public, as well as of our clients, by promoting
the security of life and property and by preventing the pollution of
the natural environment ".
It is mainly chased through the development and verification of Rules
and technical standards for the design, construction and operational
maintenance of marine related activities.
1.3
Management
The management
has been completely restructured in 2001. Since that period, considerable
efforts and investments towards improving and modernising the overall
organization of the Society have been made, as well as for creating
closer relations with the shipping community. During that period of
time, Hellenic Register of Shippinghas been able to demonstrate its
strong will to upgrade its services, establish reasonable fees and,
generally, create a practically better climate within the classification
sector.
1.4
Personnel
33 exclusive
highly qualified surveyors in the Head Office (28 marine and 5 shore
industry surveyors), 18 surveyors in Greek ports and 15 all over the
world, are employed. Furthermore, 22 technical-9 of whom are directors/principals-
and 31 administrative personnel support the overall operation of the
Society. In addition to this, HRS is respresented in most significant
ports world-wide by surveyors of other classification societies on the
basis of specific mutual agreements. During the new management period,
highly experienced peronnel coming from Greek Maritime Inspectorate
have joined the society, together with carefully selected naval architects
and marine engineers.
