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Leading flag administration, Panama Maritime Authority, has authorised Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) to conduct specific surveys through remote inspection techniques. To overcome travel restrictions, IRClass has developed a remote survey capability for certain types of inspections using an online remote survey application backed up by a dedicated team which can support vessels anywhere in the world. The society has also developed the necessary remote survey guidelines, which were released earlier this year, while a dedicated facility with the requisite IT infrastructure has been put in place at its head office in Mumbai.
Following this authorisation, IRClass can now conduct interim audits, occasional in-water surveys and radio surveys for ships under the Panama Flag. Any other remote surveys will be undertaken after receiving specific authorisation from Panama Flag on a case-by-case basis. IRClass says it is now approaching other flags to be able undertake such surveys for their vessels also.
Vijay Arora, Joint Managing Director of IRClass, said: “This authorisation will help us provide our services during the continued pandemic until the situation normalises sufficiently to enable the conduct of physical surveys. Our customers can benefit from access to our surveyors from any location in the world, faster completion along with documented evidence of survey completion.”
In addition, IRClass has launched a new service to provide the certification of marine containers in accordance with the IMO International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC). The process includes the review and approval of container design, the assessment of production facilities, prototype testing, inspection and testing during container production and final certification. The maintenance of which is subject to periodic examination.
IRClass says it aims to support local container manufacturers in the production of world class containers, which meet global quality standards equivalent to those produced by other leading manufacturers.
